INNO-STU Project partners Savonia Polytechnic, Kuopio University and Oulu University Mission: Transfer Research Knowledge to SMEs Start R&D projects with SMEs Enhance the Regional Innovation System

INNO-STU Project The Innostuva ja oppiva Itä-Suomi project (INNO-STU) is being established under the leadership of Savonia Polytechnic as part of the development the of the region of Ylä-Savo. The objective is to support the enterprise sector in the region to grow and to evolve supported by product and service innovations. INNO-STU is a network-based form of co- operation between the universities and polytechnics in the region ( university and polytechnics innovation network, cf. regional universities and polytechnics). The model comprises three central elements: 1) A regional co-operation group of local districts with the objective of co-ordinating activities and to observe and define educational and development needs. The group includes key persons from companies, educational organisations, and the public sector based in the region. 2) Educational network: a “distribution channel”, which could be used to carry out part of the educational functions of the existing universities and polytechnics in the region. 3) Innovation workshops: Workshop activity is a broadly understood operations model comprised of concrete action modes for supporting innovations. Workshop activity is shown in more detail below:

Ylä-Savo Region around Iisalmi town Northern part of Pohjois-Savo region Ylä-Savo region, town of Iisalmi and the surrounding rural districts. 60,000 inhabitants, about 3,000 enterprises (Only some bigger companies, most of SME´s having 1-10 staff) Services and food, wood and metal industry. Region’s background in dairy production and forestry. The biggest socio-economic problems are the high unemployment rate and depopulation ageing.

Programmes and projects: ESR EKR AKO … Ylä-Savo success programme 2007 – 2013 Markets Demand Market needs Value chain Miniclusters Foodstuff Industry Services Milk Special vehicles House building Bio energy Environment Basic services Private services Tourism Innovation processes in enterprises New / better: Product, Services Processes, Organisations, networks business models ResearchEducation Development Financiers Municipalities Innovation strategy in Ylä-Savo Region Intermediates New miniclusters

Mini- cluster innovation strategy Gatekeepers Tools for innovation processes Enterprise level research programme Idea Generation FeasibilityCapability Launch & Rollout INNO-STU innovation laboratory

Example of Multi field innovation process Product IDEA M ID P D M P D M P D D M=Marketing ID=Industrial design P=Production D=Development = Gatekeepers Picture Reijo Markku : ”monialainen innovaatioprosessi” (Modified) Phase 1Phase 2… Phase n

Multi field innovation process Gatekeepers –Are experts of theme –They come from (example) Companies (relevant fields) Funding instances Middleman organization Research institutions Gatekeepers adjudicate –Should they stop or continue after previous phase –Next phase funding (example Tekes) and partners (example universities and research institutions ) –Focus and intensity between fields –Etc.

More information Mikko Heinonen Innovatuion co-ordinator INNO-STU-project Savonia University of Applied Sciences