R&D funding creates innovations and business

Tekes’ funding contributes to the growth of Finland’s economy and competitiveness. Almost 2,000 R&D projects funded by Tekes were completed in 2006. They created more than 830 products or services and over 200 production processes. The projects also produced around 750 patent applications, 950 theses and almost 2,400 publications.

In all Tekes funded 2,157 R&D projects with a total amount of €465 million in 2006. More than half of the funding – €271 million – was granted for research and innovation activity by enterprises and €195 million for research carried out by universities, polytechnics and research institutions.

Tekes has a particular focus on the development of funding and services for innovative business start-ups. More than 50 per cent of enterprise funding was granted to small and medium-sized enterprises. Almost a half of Tekes’ customers were microenterprises employing fewer than 10 persons.

Technology programmes promote networking between enterprises and universities

Tekes provides funding for R&D projects both through programmes targeted at different sectors of technology and innovation and on the basis of self-initiated applications. Technology programmes enforce close cooperation between enterprises, universities and research institutions and increase their competence.

Almost one half of Tekes’ funding was granted through technology programmes, which in 2006 numbered 24. Tekes is currently preparing another 11 technology programmes.

International cooperation by Finnish enterprises and universities was also strengthened in 2006. Nearly 40 percent of the R&D projects were internationally networked.

Among those boosting internationalisation are the FinChi innovation center in Shanghai and FinNode in California offering contacts with R&D organisations, enterprises and government bodies.