Technopolis came to Jyväskylä in the summer of 2006 through the acquisition of the majority of Jyväskylä Science Park Ltds (JSP) shares. After the acquisition, JSPs operations were divided into three companies: Technopolis JSP, Technopolis Ventures JSP and Jyväskylä Innovation Ltd, a joint venture of Technopolis Plc and Jyväskylä Regional Development Company Jykes Ltd.
As the clearly largest technology centre operator in Finland, Technopolis offers its customers a wide range of services in line with its service concept.
In practice, the service palette is complete, ranging from premises and business services to development programmes, like incubator services and clustering services.
We have developed the concept and its content with a keen ear to customers wishes and opinions for as long as 25 years. Experience has shown that we can support the growth and success of our customers. These services are also available for international companies establishing operations in Jyväskylä, says Pertti Huuskonen, President and CEO of Technopolis Plc.
Jukka Akselin, Vice President of Technopolis Plc, adds that the services of the large technology centre aim at enabling the customers to focus on their core activities.
The Jyväskylä Region possesses special expertise that can help to shape its profile. Examples of such expertise can be found in the fields of nanotechnology, sports technology and the bioenergy industry. One attraction for international businesses is the presence of major global enterprises such as Metso Paper and Nokia, who can entice smaller companies to the region.
Jyväskylä has skilled labour resources that are very much wanted, for example in the ICT industry. The region needs strong companies to drive the development and open networks to international fields, Akselin says.
He lists North America, Sweden, Japan, China and Russia as prospective directions of co-operation. Technopolis has already established an office in St. Petersburg, Russia. Technopolis aims at growing and generating growth for others in all of its operating locations. Akselin estimates that the Jyväskylä Region could accommodate approximately ten new international companies that would employ some 200 people by 2010. In addition, business incubator activities could give rise to some 70 new companies with approximately 300 employees.
According to Huuskonen, there are a number of industries that are luc¬rative for business in the Jyväskylä Region.
Strong local industries include ICT, energy, various industrial processes and machine construction. There is both cutting edge research and solid business in these fields in the region. Huuskonen points out two particularly attractive features: the strong scientific research-based expertise in the selected core areas and the City of Jyväskylä itself. Jyväskylä is a very nice, beautiful city, he says.
He believes that Technopolis services can add to the regions attrac¬tiveness to international companies in search of know-how, skilled peo¬ple and access to various co-operation networks.
Technopolis provides companies with a channel to a very extensive network. The companys premises currently accommodate approximate¬ly 930 companies with a total of 12,000 employees.
Naturally, Technopolis does not work alone in the Jyväskylä Region. Akselin tells us that Technopolis, Jyväskylä Innovation, the University of Jyväskylä and Jyväskylä Polytechnic, together with their respective co-operation partners, are jointly devel¬oping the Jyväskylä Region into a strong hub of technology business expertise.
-------- Photo 2 (below): Jukka Akselin, Vice President of Technopolis Plc. (Photo: Pekka Rötkönen)
Photo 3 (below): Technopolis services can add to the regions attractiveness to international companies in search of know-how, skilled people and access to various co-operation networks, Pertti Huuskonen says.
By Tommi Salo Photos by Petteri Kivimäki and Technopolis