Innovation strategy 2007-2013

The contents of the Oulu Inspires – Innovation Strategy 2007-2013 have been compiled of key development activities from business success and growth point of view. A well covering number of top-management representatives of local companies was interviewed for this purpose. In addition, the process has involved representatives of key public organisations, whose role has been to pinpoint the actions that ensure other vital prerequisites to business competitiveness.

The key strength of the development work in Oulu has been the cooperation between the private and public sectors. The aim of the Innovation Strategy is to define the roles and cooperation between different operators in a fashion that makes the innovation environment in Oulu one of the best in the world.
 

The Innovation Strategy is managed by Oulu Innovation Ltd.

Oulu Innovation Ltd. is in charge of managing, monitoring and maintaining the Oulu Inspires – Innovation Strategy 2007-2013. It is a development company owned by key actors in the Oulu region promoting the development and competitiveness of growth companies in the area.

From spearhead projects to impressive entities Players implementing the programs are committed to preparing the spearhead projects in accordance with the programme’s focus areas, with the aim of forming entireties in which the allocated resources have as much effect as possible.
 

Funding organisations to support strategic goals

The goal is that funding organisations will support the implementation of the strategy by guiding funds towards the strategy’s focus areas and, when needed, by obligating different operators to engage in cooperation negotiations when project entities are being formed during application rounds. In the Oulu region, application rounds of the EU competition and employment target programme will primarily be focused on entireties formed in accordance with the Innovation Strategy.
 

Bold commitment to cooperation

The following companies and organisations have approved the Oulu Inspires – Innovation Strategy 2007-2013 as their common regional programme and are committed to the implementation of its goals.

Strategy implementers

Organisations and companies (decisions)

• Merikoski Vocational Training Centre (6.9.2006)
• Oulu Innovation Ltd. (1.9.2006)
• Oulu Wellness Institute Foundation (17.10.2 006)
• Vocational Adult Education Centre of Oulu (10.10.2006)
• Oulu Chamber of Commerce (12.9.2006)
• City of Oulu (4.9.2006 §530)
• Oulu University of Applied Sciences (20.9.2006 §44)
• Oulu Vocational College (28.8.2006)
• Oulu region (30.8.2006 §61)
• Oulu Region Joint Authority for Education (28.8.2006 §102)
• University of Oulu (6.9.2006)
• Oulu Regional Business Agency (30.8.2006 §42)
• Pohjois-Pohjanmaan Yrittäjät (6.9.2006)
• POHTO Ltd. – The Institute for Management and Technological Training (8.9.2006)
• Technopolis Group (1.9.2006)
• Technopolis Ventures Oulutech Ltd. (13.6.2006)
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (7.9.2006)

The business sector takes part in the implementation of the strategy through its own activities and by participation in various projects. The challenge for public organisations and development companies is to develop their operation and service provision to the level required by global growth companies.

Regional administration authorities (decisions)

• Oulu State Provincial Office (12.9.2006)
• Oulu Road District (28.8.2006)
• Council of Oulu Region (5.9.2006)
• Employment and Economic Development Centre for Northern Ostrobothnia (8.9.2006)
• North Ostrobothnia Regional Environment Centre (4.9.2006)

Regional administration authorities are responsible for their part of long-term regional planning in an innovative environment (regional strategy programme, other provincial strategies). The guidelines of the Oulu Innovation Strategy 2007-2013 will be adopted as an essential part of various strategies and plans of action. In addition, a number of regional administration authorities will provide various services for businesses.

Another important role of regional administration authorities is to operate as financing authorities of various programmes (centre of excellence programme, EU Structural Fund programmes, national financing): regional administration authorities aim to promote the choices made by targeting available funding on entireties in line with the Innovation Strategy.