The document provides information about the FiDiPro program, which funds international scientific collaboration projects between highly accomplished foreign researchers and Finnish universities and research institutes. Some key details include:
- FiDiPro aims to raise scientific and technological excellence through long-term collaboration between outstanding researchers worldwide.
- The initial round of FiDiPro provided €17.5 million total funding for 24 research projects.
- FiDiPro offers competitive grants covering salaries, travel costs, research costs and family expenses to recruit distinguished foreign researchers for 2-5 year projects.
- Interviews with current FiDiPro professors describe their collaborative projects in fields like nuclear physics, wireless communications, and biotechnology research and praise Finland's research
This document provides contact information for the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore for its graduate programs. It lists the school's address, telephone and fax numbers, email, and website. It also notes the school's company registration number and indicates that the contact information regards the school's higher degree programs by research.
UK Knowledge Exchange, TechnologieAllianz, Berlin 16.04.2013David Bembo
The document summarizes research and knowledge exchange activities in the UK. It discusses the structure and activities of AURIL, the main professional body. It also provides statistics on the UK research base from the Higher Education-Business and Community Interaction Survey, showing trends such as increasing collaborative research income. Barriers to commercializing university research are discussed, such as accessing early-stage "valley of death" funding.
Research in Distance Education: impact on practice conference, 27 October 2010. Presentation in Supporting Teaching and Learning Strand by Dr Joanna Newman from the British Library: Supporting researchers at the British Library.
Franz tödtling: Knowledge sourcing and innovation in austrian ict companiesMOC2010
This document discusses a study on knowledge sourcing and innovation in Austrian ICT companies. It examines how the location of companies (type of regional innovation system) influences their pattern of knowledge sourcing and innovation performance. The study analyzes data from 110 ICT companies in three Austrian regions. It finds that both internal knowledge and external knowledge from various sources, including R&D cooperation, influence company innovativeness. Location in a "thick" regional innovation system is also identified as a key determinant of innovation in the knowledge-intensive ICT sector.
The slide set was presented during the introductory event with the aim to familiarize Aalto University and VTT researchers with CERES Flagship strategic goals, upcoming plans and welcome everyone to start discussing the joint research and actions.
This document discusses global scientific cooperation and the Strategic Forum for International S&T Cooperation (SFIC). The SFIC is a partnership that aims to facilitate the development of the European Research Area by sharing information and coordinating activities between members and third countries. It also discusses the important cooperation between Europe and the United States in research. Finally, it provides details about the Finland Distinguished Professor Programme which funds top researchers from around the world to collaborate with Finnish research groups and companies.
This document provides contact information for the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore for its graduate programs. It lists the school's address, telephone and fax numbers, email, and website. It also notes the school's company registration number and indicates that the contact information regards the school's higher degree programs by research.
UK Knowledge Exchange, TechnologieAllianz, Berlin 16.04.2013David Bembo
The document summarizes research and knowledge exchange activities in the UK. It discusses the structure and activities of AURIL, the main professional body. It also provides statistics on the UK research base from the Higher Education-Business and Community Interaction Survey, showing trends such as increasing collaborative research income. Barriers to commercializing university research are discussed, such as accessing early-stage "valley of death" funding.
Research in Distance Education: impact on practice conference, 27 October 2010. Presentation in Supporting Teaching and Learning Strand by Dr Joanna Newman from the British Library: Supporting researchers at the British Library.
Franz tödtling: Knowledge sourcing and innovation in austrian ict companiesMOC2010
This document discusses a study on knowledge sourcing and innovation in Austrian ICT companies. It examines how the location of companies (type of regional innovation system) influences their pattern of knowledge sourcing and innovation performance. The study analyzes data from 110 ICT companies in three Austrian regions. It finds that both internal knowledge and external knowledge from various sources, including R&D cooperation, influence company innovativeness. Location in a "thick" regional innovation system is also identified as a key determinant of innovation in the knowledge-intensive ICT sector.
The slide set was presented during the introductory event with the aim to familiarize Aalto University and VTT researchers with CERES Flagship strategic goals, upcoming plans and welcome everyone to start discussing the joint research and actions.
This document discusses global scientific cooperation and the Strategic Forum for International S&T Cooperation (SFIC). The SFIC is a partnership that aims to facilitate the development of the European Research Area by sharing information and coordinating activities between members and third countries. It also discusses the important cooperation between Europe and the United States in research. Finally, it provides details about the Finland Distinguished Professor Programme which funds top researchers from around the world to collaborate with Finnish research groups and companies.
The University of Bordeaux is developing a campus of excellence focused on key scientific pillars including laser optics and digital technologies. The University has strengthened this focus through certifications from the national Investments for the Future program. The Laser and Photonics in Aquitaine (LAPHIA) initiative further boosts research in lasers, photonics, and materials science through collaborative projects. LAPHIA aims to develop the scientific community in these areas, strengthen industry partnerships, and provide internationally recognized training to students.
The document is the annual report from 2007 for the Technical University of Denmark's Department of Chemical Engineering. It discusses the department's research focus areas including combustion and emissions control, phase equilibria, computer aided process engineering, bioprocess engineering, and the Danish Polymer Centre. It provides an overview of the department's education activities, organization, productivity, staff, and guests. It also summarizes the department's finances and key figures for 2007.
The SCIEX Scholarship Fund aimed to contribute to reducing economic and social disparities in the enlarged EU by fostering scientific capacities of researchers in new member states and promoting sustainable research partnerships between them and Switzerland. Over 135 Polish doctoral students and young scientists received grants totaling 12 million CHF to conduct fellowships of 6-24 months at Swiss research institutes, covering various research areas. The projects developed individual researchers' capacities, fostered scientific progress and innovation, and established or enhanced networks between researchers. The fellows emphasized the value of access to top resources and ability to attend conferences. The fellowships significantly impacted their professional and private lives, enhancing skills, career opportunities, and international experience.
Research Council of Norway on eGov R&ITrond Knudsen
Short presentation from the Research Council of Norway on Research for Public Sector Innovation and Renewal, given at National Science Foundation, Washington DC, USA, March 18th, 2010.
Attracting Talented Researchers To Ireland A Review Of The European Marie Cu...Brooke Heidt
This document provides an overview of the European Marie Curie Programme and its funding of research in Ireland. It discusses how the programme has funded early career researchers through training fellowships, enabling institutions like Dublin City University to recruit international PhD students. It also describes how the programme has supported researchers at all career stages and helped build research capacity in Ireland by attracting over €60 million in funding, significantly more than expected given Ireland's research population size. The programme has had a major positive impact on research in Ireland by developing researcher careers and forging links between academia and industry.
Knowledge Lab is a research collaboration center located in Southern Denmark that is part of the University of Southern Denmark. It focuses on research related to robotics, welfare technology, and traditional industries incorporating high technology. Knowledge Lab was established in 2002 as one of four ICT competence centers in Denmark to develop IT-related research at universities and improve collaboration between academia and public/private organizations. It is financed by the Danish government, regional authorities, and private companies. Knowledge Lab structures its research focus around learning and ICT, innovation and ICT, and play, learning and ICT through partnerships between industry, government, and academia.
This document discusses how Danish companies can become suppliers to large science projects in Europe, known as "Big Science". It notes that Denmark invests tens of millions annually in projects like CERN and ESA. Big Science facilities purchase billions worth of goods and services each year from industry. The Big Science Secretariat helps Danish companies get involved by providing information on tenders, making connections between companies and facilities, and supporting skills development and partnerships. Their goal is to support Danish businesses winning contracts and accessing new markets through their country's investments in large science projects.
170309 press-release-world-record-r2 r-peroskite-solar-cells-enTSE TROLLER AG
Solliance set a world record for perovskite-based solar cells produced through a roll-to-roll process, achieving 12.6% conversion efficiency. This demonstrates the potential for high-volume, low-cost production of these thin-film solar cells using industrially applicable coating and annealing processes. The roll-to-roll production was performed at 5 meters per minute on a flexible PET substrate using low-cost materials and temperatures below 120°C. This breakthrough paves the way for accelerated commercialization of perovskite photovoltaics.
This document discusses research data management. It defines research data and explains that funders expect open publishing of research outputs, which requires data management planning. Good data management ensures integrity, reproducibility and is essential for excellent science. Key aspects of data management include documentation, metadata, sustainability through identifiers and repositories, and considering resources, quality, laws and publication. Services in Finland aim to support open science through metadata catalogues, research data storage and publishing platforms.
Embedding impact in a Biomedical Research Centre through partnershipsPavel Ovseiko
The document discusses the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and its focus on partnerships. It makes the following key points:
1. The NIHR Oxford BRC is a partnership between Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University. It has an annual budget of £20 million.
2. The BRC catalyzed partnerships across the wider health economy in Oxford. It has had impact through increasing clinical research funding and outputs for Oxford University.
3. A new theme within the BRC is focused on partnerships. It aims to strengthen partnerships and generate knowledge about research partnerships. Key partnerships discussed include those with patients, clinical services, industry, and policymakers.
2009 - Science parks a real estate development or regional economic value - P...Jacques Van Dinteren
Given the increased importance of knowledge as a production factor in many companies it is not surprising that there is a growing interest in the development of science and technology parks. These parks often have a high quality. The question comes up whether a science park is a real estate concept or an ‘engine’ that stimulates the exchange of information and innovation.
Research results (mainly in the United Kingdom) suggest that for entrepreneurs the importance of proximity to other firms and universities is limited when it comes to strategic knowledge. Being established on a science or technology park can nevertheless be interesting for firms: a stimulating informal circuit can occur and, moreover, the proximity of a university offers possibilities to attract young talent. With regard to attracting people in a labour market that will become more and more stressed in the coming decade, the high quality of the buildings and environment of a science park can be of importance. In that light a science park could be a real estate concept rather than an engine for innovation. If such a high quality development will have success attention has to be paid to, among others, location, market and target group identification, management and customer orientation.
In this paper I will elaborate these ideas and I will present the results of research on two science parks in the Netherlands. Are these parks of importance for the regional economy (linkages, innovation) or are science parks mainly a real estate concept?
2009 - Science parks a real estate development or regional economic value - p...Jacques Van Dinteren
Given the increased importance of knowledge as a production factor in many companies it is not surprising that there is a growing interest in the development of science and technology parks. These parks often have a high quality. The question comes up whether a science park is a real estate concept or an ‘engine’ that stimulates the exchange of strategic information and innovation.
On the basis of the results of studies, it may be assumed that there are either no strategic relationships between companies and between companies and the local university/universities at science parks or that such relationships are not very strong Angle, 2003; Capello & Morrison, 2005; Ponds & Van Oort, 2006; Weterings & Ponds, 2007). The added value of a science park is therefore not to be found in this context. Perhaps then we should view a science park primarily as a real estate concept. Not in the narrow sense of the word (property development) but more widely, so that the facilities, etc., are also included in the concept – a development that differs from other commercial sites by its high level of spatial quality, services and facilities.
Jari lavonen doktoranturos_studiju_tendencijos_suomijoje-2staigmena
The document discusses PhD education in Finland, focusing on the University of Helsinki. It provides details on applying for and completing a PhD degree, which typically takes 4 years and involves both coursework and a thesis. It describes Helsinki's graduate schools and efforts to develop high quality PhD programs, including establishing research groups, offering courses, and increasing international collaboration through joint seminars and training with other universities. Peer review of student work is emphasized as a way to provide feedback and improve quality, though students find it challenging. The document concludes by outlining further trends to increase supervision quality, research, and career prospects for PhD students.
This annual report summarizes Isis Innovation's activities and financial performance for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. Key highlights include:
- Revenues increased 13% to £11.5 million.
- £5.6 million was returned to Oxford University and its researchers, a 6% increase from the previous year.
- 2015 patents and patent applications were managed, along with 644 technology licensing deals.
- Four new spin-out companies were created, providing £0.5 million in shareholdings for the University.
- Oxford University Consulting revenues increased 31% to £2.5 million, with over 300 client contracts negotiated.
This document discusses data management practices in research. It defines research data and emphasizes the importance of good data management for ensuring integrity, reproducibility and excellence in science. Key aspects of data management include planning, documentation, metadata, sustainability, and publication. Funders increasingly require and support open access to publications and research data. The document provides guidance and considerations for implementing responsible data management and open science practices.
The European Synchrotron (ESRF) in Grenoble, France is an international research facility that produces synchrotron radiation 100 billion times brighter than hospital X-rays. It functions as a "super-microscope" for exploring materials and living matter across many industrial fields. The ESRF runs specialized beamlines for experiments and works with over 40 countries. It provides access and services for industry research in areas like catalysis, materials engineering, and drug discovery.
The EOSC-Nordic project received €5.9M in funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme to coordinate policies and practices around research data services across Nordic and Baltic countries. The project involves 24 participants from 11 countries and is led by Gudmund Høst of NeIC. The project aims to increase discoverability of Nordic and Baltic services through the EOSC portal, promote FAIR data practices, accelerate EOSC through demonstrations, and provide training through a Knowledge Hub.
Jarkko Siren is Project Officer in DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology at the European Commission.
Jarkko's presentation gives an introduction to public engagement in research at the European Commission
The University of Bordeaux is developing a campus of excellence focused on key scientific pillars including laser optics and digital technologies. The University has strengthened this focus through certifications from the national Investments for the Future program. The Laser and Photonics in Aquitaine (LAPHIA) initiative further boosts research in lasers, photonics, and materials science through collaborative projects. LAPHIA aims to develop the scientific community in these areas, strengthen industry partnerships, and provide internationally recognized training to students.
The document is the annual report from 2007 for the Technical University of Denmark's Department of Chemical Engineering. It discusses the department's research focus areas including combustion and emissions control, phase equilibria, computer aided process engineering, bioprocess engineering, and the Danish Polymer Centre. It provides an overview of the department's education activities, organization, productivity, staff, and guests. It also summarizes the department's finances and key figures for 2007.
The SCIEX Scholarship Fund aimed to contribute to reducing economic and social disparities in the enlarged EU by fostering scientific capacities of researchers in new member states and promoting sustainable research partnerships between them and Switzerland. Over 135 Polish doctoral students and young scientists received grants totaling 12 million CHF to conduct fellowships of 6-24 months at Swiss research institutes, covering various research areas. The projects developed individual researchers' capacities, fostered scientific progress and innovation, and established or enhanced networks between researchers. The fellows emphasized the value of access to top resources and ability to attend conferences. The fellowships significantly impacted their professional and private lives, enhancing skills, career opportunities, and international experience.
Research Council of Norway on eGov R&ITrond Knudsen
Short presentation from the Research Council of Norway on Research for Public Sector Innovation and Renewal, given at National Science Foundation, Washington DC, USA, March 18th, 2010.
Attracting Talented Researchers To Ireland A Review Of The European Marie Cu...Brooke Heidt
This document provides an overview of the European Marie Curie Programme and its funding of research in Ireland. It discusses how the programme has funded early career researchers through training fellowships, enabling institutions like Dublin City University to recruit international PhD students. It also describes how the programme has supported researchers at all career stages and helped build research capacity in Ireland by attracting over €60 million in funding, significantly more than expected given Ireland's research population size. The programme has had a major positive impact on research in Ireland by developing researcher careers and forging links between academia and industry.
Knowledge Lab is a research collaboration center located in Southern Denmark that is part of the University of Southern Denmark. It focuses on research related to robotics, welfare technology, and traditional industries incorporating high technology. Knowledge Lab was established in 2002 as one of four ICT competence centers in Denmark to develop IT-related research at universities and improve collaboration between academia and public/private organizations. It is financed by the Danish government, regional authorities, and private companies. Knowledge Lab structures its research focus around learning and ICT, innovation and ICT, and play, learning and ICT through partnerships between industry, government, and academia.
This document discusses how Danish companies can become suppliers to large science projects in Europe, known as "Big Science". It notes that Denmark invests tens of millions annually in projects like CERN and ESA. Big Science facilities purchase billions worth of goods and services each year from industry. The Big Science Secretariat helps Danish companies get involved by providing information on tenders, making connections between companies and facilities, and supporting skills development and partnerships. Their goal is to support Danish businesses winning contracts and accessing new markets through their country's investments in large science projects.
170309 press-release-world-record-r2 r-peroskite-solar-cells-enTSE TROLLER AG
Solliance set a world record for perovskite-based solar cells produced through a roll-to-roll process, achieving 12.6% conversion efficiency. This demonstrates the potential for high-volume, low-cost production of these thin-film solar cells using industrially applicable coating and annealing processes. The roll-to-roll production was performed at 5 meters per minute on a flexible PET substrate using low-cost materials and temperatures below 120°C. This breakthrough paves the way for accelerated commercialization of perovskite photovoltaics.
This document discusses research data management. It defines research data and explains that funders expect open publishing of research outputs, which requires data management planning. Good data management ensures integrity, reproducibility and is essential for excellent science. Key aspects of data management include documentation, metadata, sustainability through identifiers and repositories, and considering resources, quality, laws and publication. Services in Finland aim to support open science through metadata catalogues, research data storage and publishing platforms.
Embedding impact in a Biomedical Research Centre through partnershipsPavel Ovseiko
The document discusses the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and its focus on partnerships. It makes the following key points:
1. The NIHR Oxford BRC is a partnership between Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University. It has an annual budget of £20 million.
2. The BRC catalyzed partnerships across the wider health economy in Oxford. It has had impact through increasing clinical research funding and outputs for Oxford University.
3. A new theme within the BRC is focused on partnerships. It aims to strengthen partnerships and generate knowledge about research partnerships. Key partnerships discussed include those with patients, clinical services, industry, and policymakers.
2009 - Science parks a real estate development or regional economic value - P...Jacques Van Dinteren
Given the increased importance of knowledge as a production factor in many companies it is not surprising that there is a growing interest in the development of science and technology parks. These parks often have a high quality. The question comes up whether a science park is a real estate concept or an ‘engine’ that stimulates the exchange of information and innovation.
Research results (mainly in the United Kingdom) suggest that for entrepreneurs the importance of proximity to other firms and universities is limited when it comes to strategic knowledge. Being established on a science or technology park can nevertheless be interesting for firms: a stimulating informal circuit can occur and, moreover, the proximity of a university offers possibilities to attract young talent. With regard to attracting people in a labour market that will become more and more stressed in the coming decade, the high quality of the buildings and environment of a science park can be of importance. In that light a science park could be a real estate concept rather than an engine for innovation. If such a high quality development will have success attention has to be paid to, among others, location, market and target group identification, management and customer orientation.
In this paper I will elaborate these ideas and I will present the results of research on two science parks in the Netherlands. Are these parks of importance for the regional economy (linkages, innovation) or are science parks mainly a real estate concept?
2009 - Science parks a real estate development or regional economic value - p...Jacques Van Dinteren
Given the increased importance of knowledge as a production factor in many companies it is not surprising that there is a growing interest in the development of science and technology parks. These parks often have a high quality. The question comes up whether a science park is a real estate concept or an ‘engine’ that stimulates the exchange of strategic information and innovation.
On the basis of the results of studies, it may be assumed that there are either no strategic relationships between companies and between companies and the local university/universities at science parks or that such relationships are not very strong Angle, 2003; Capello & Morrison, 2005; Ponds & Van Oort, 2006; Weterings & Ponds, 2007). The added value of a science park is therefore not to be found in this context. Perhaps then we should view a science park primarily as a real estate concept. Not in the narrow sense of the word (property development) but more widely, so that the facilities, etc., are also included in the concept – a development that differs from other commercial sites by its high level of spatial quality, services and facilities.
Jari lavonen doktoranturos_studiju_tendencijos_suomijoje-2staigmena
The document discusses PhD education in Finland, focusing on the University of Helsinki. It provides details on applying for and completing a PhD degree, which typically takes 4 years and involves both coursework and a thesis. It describes Helsinki's graduate schools and efforts to develop high quality PhD programs, including establishing research groups, offering courses, and increasing international collaboration through joint seminars and training with other universities. Peer review of student work is emphasized as a way to provide feedback and improve quality, though students find it challenging. The document concludes by outlining further trends to increase supervision quality, research, and career prospects for PhD students.
This annual report summarizes Isis Innovation's activities and financial performance for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. Key highlights include:
- Revenues increased 13% to £11.5 million.
- £5.6 million was returned to Oxford University and its researchers, a 6% increase from the previous year.
- 2015 patents and patent applications were managed, along with 644 technology licensing deals.
- Four new spin-out companies were created, providing £0.5 million in shareholdings for the University.
- Oxford University Consulting revenues increased 31% to £2.5 million, with over 300 client contracts negotiated.
This document discusses data management practices in research. It defines research data and emphasizes the importance of good data management for ensuring integrity, reproducibility and excellence in science. Key aspects of data management include planning, documentation, metadata, sustainability, and publication. Funders increasingly require and support open access to publications and research data. The document provides guidance and considerations for implementing responsible data management and open science practices.
The European Synchrotron (ESRF) in Grenoble, France is an international research facility that produces synchrotron radiation 100 billion times brighter than hospital X-rays. It functions as a "super-microscope" for exploring materials and living matter across many industrial fields. The ESRF runs specialized beamlines for experiments and works with over 40 countries. It provides access and services for industry research in areas like catalysis, materials engineering, and drug discovery.
The EOSC-Nordic project received €5.9M in funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme to coordinate policies and practices around research data services across Nordic and Baltic countries. The project involves 24 participants from 11 countries and is led by Gudmund Høst of NeIC. The project aims to increase discoverability of Nordic and Baltic services through the EOSC portal, promote FAIR data practices, accelerate EOSC through demonstrations, and provide training through a Knowledge Hub.
Jarkko Siren is Project Officer in DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology at the European Commission.
Jarkko's presentation gives an introduction to public engagement in research at the European Commission
1. FiDiPro Professor Jacek Dobaczewski
We have common
interests, available
resources and
synergy.”
“
PETTERIKIVIMÄKI
2. A fresh approach to interna-
tional scientific cooperation
Led and financed by the Academy of
Finland and Tekes – the Finnish Fund-
ing Agency for Technology and Inno-
vation – FiDiPro raises scientific and
technological excellence by establish-
ing long-term international collabora-
tion among outstanding researchers
around the world.
The initial round of FiDiPro pro-
vided funding for 24 research projects
with a total budget of 17.5 million
euros. The first professors began their
work in Finland at the beginning of
2007.
An excellent arena for
research and innovation
At present, Finland invests more than
3.4 per cent of GDP in research and
development, making it one of the
most research-intensive countries in
the world.
Networking and teamwork are
valuable tools in Finland. R&D pro-
grammes run by the main public fund-
ing bodies create meaningful tie-ups
between companies, universities and
research institutes. The new Strategic
Centres for Science, Technology and
Innovation to be established will also
set up a more efficient framework for
collaboration.
The first strategic centres will be
launched in the fields of energy and
the environment, metal products and
mechanical engineering, the forest
cluster, health and well-being, and
information and communication indus-
try and services. These are relevant
topics for FiDiPro research projects
as well.
Who are eligible
for FiDiPro?
Funding is awarded to projects re-
cruiting highly merited international
researchers with strong experience in
researcher training and who are able
to commit to long-term cooperation
(2–5 years).
How does FiDiPro work?
Tekes and the Academy of Finland
open calls on a regular basis. Finnish
universities and research institutes
may propose FiDiPro professors from
all disciplines.
Finnish universities and research
institutes outline their project plan and
explain the collaboration between the
professor and the Finnish research
teams and companies. Applicants
should also define how the cooper-
ation strengthens research excellence
in their field. The research projects
need to have strategic importance
to the host universities and research
institutes.
Evaluation
A panel of experts evaluates the com-
petence of the proposed candidates
and the excellence of the project pro-
posals. The Academy of Finland em-
phasises researcher training in its
evaluation, while Tekes requires active
cooperation with companies.
Funding
FiDiPro offers competitive grants cov-
ering salary and travel expenses, re-
search costs and related expenses of
accompanying family members. FiDi-
Pro professors may bring along a key
member or key members of their own
research team, whose expenses may
also be partially covered.
www.fidipro.fi
The FiDiPro funding pro-
gramme enables distinguished
researchers, both foreign and
expatriates to work and team
up with the ‘best of the best’
in Finnish academic research,
creating long-term synergy in
science and technology.
3. Green forests, good bike paths and
a steamy sauna could be Professor
Adriaan van Heiningen’s reasons to
return to Finland after previous consulting
stints. The Dutch-born Canadian living in
Espoo is reminded of Northern Canada,
where he goes canoeing every year.
He works on a five-year project
dubbed “Innovative Forest Products
Biorefinery” at the Forest Products Tech-
nology Department of Helsinki University
of Technology and the Department of
Chemical Engineering of the University
of Maine (USA).
“Finland serves as a headquarter for
some of the world’s most successful pulp
and paper companies, which are now
looking into fitting eco-friendly biorefiner-
ies in their business strategy,” notes van
Heiningen, whose expertise in chemical
engineering, pulp and paper technology,
and energy production brings a unique
set of skills complementing Finnish know-
how.
One of the project’s goals is to con-
vert existing kraft pulp mills into integrated
forest product biorefineries. By extracting
hemicelluloses from wood chips before
pulping, and converting this new feed
stream of sugars into chemicals and poly-
mers, yields are integrated into new high-
er-value products.
While the US seeks to make cellu-
losic ethanol competitive with petrol by
2012, Finnish companies such as Stora
Enso and Neste Oil adapt by building a
demonstration plant to convert woody
biomass into crude biodiesel.
Forest biorefinery expert
develops eco-friendly innovations
Collaboration grows from
complementing know-how
Interviews with FiDiPro
professors shed light on
the experiences of the
distinguished researchers
and their thoughts during
their FiDiPro stint in
Finland.
MARKUSSOMMERS
4. “Finnish basic research on nuclear physics
is focused,” observes Jacek Dobaczewski,
Professor at the Institute of Theoretical Phys-
ics of Warsaw University. “A small team of
Finns is competitive, well-trained and quali-
fied to compete with large research centres.”
In 2007–2011, Dobaczewski leads a
new theoretical research project, “Nuclear
Structure by the Energy Density Functional
Theory”. The aim is to explain the global
properties of nuclei with special emphasis
on describing nuclei far from stability.
Based at the University of Jyväskylä,
Dobaczewski works with international cen-
tres of nuclear physics research and con-
ducts seminars in nanoscience and accel-
erator laboratories in Finland.
“Questions relating to nuclear science,
future energy needs and proper disposal of
nuclear waste are common concerns in
many countries,” Dobaczewski says. “In the
future, countries can avoid dumping waste
in water pools and produce new generations
of harmless nuclear reactors.”
Dobaczewski praises the absolute
transparency and absence of bureaucracy
in Finland. One less thing to worry about
leaves him plenty of time to enjoy downhill
skiing and the ‘marvellous’ philharmonic or-
chestra.
Opportunities to meet highly
trained people and a good team
Telecom giant Nokia brought Behnaam
Aazhang from Switzerland to Finland more
than ten years ago. “The achievements in
mobile communications are direct results of
the great synergy between Finnish industry
and academia,” he says.
Today, the Rice University professor
works at the Centre for Wireless Communi-
cations (CWC) at the University of Oulu
with a team of experts on broadband wire-
less access.
“Flexible Wireless Communication Sys-
tems” is a five-year research project on cog-
nitive radio technologies, effectively using
frequency spectrum and reconfigurable soft-
ware defined radio (SDR) platforms.
Synergy between
industry and academia
Leading nuclear theorist applauds Finnish research
Wireless communication
from the top of the world
Only 160 kilometres
south of the Arctic Circle,
CWC’s pioneering re-
search on the Wireless
Hospital and its dynamic
Embedded Communica-
tions Research Lab have
cemented its reputation
as an international hi-tech
hub.
“Expectations of high
data rates and increased
battery life put tremen-
dous pressure on all as-
pects of wireless system
design – cooperative
communication can rise
to this challenge,”
Aazhang says.
PAULIINAMUSTONEN
5. Innovation is the heart of science
The weather in Turku is similar to that of
Lund, notes Descartes Prize awardee,
Dr Rikard Holmdahl. “Since both cities
are located in the same latitude, it feels like
coming home,” he says. This is convenient
for a Swede who regularly travels to Turku,
Finland’s candidate for European Culture
Capital in 2011.
The city also hosts one of the most
advanced biotechnology research clusters
in Europe. Thanks to excellent resources
conducive to research “I’d still come here
even if it’s at the North Pole,” Holmdahl says
with a smile.
Since January 2007, his research
project on chronic inflammatory and autoim-
mune diseases seeks advanced understand-
ing of common yet complex ailments that
have no treatments to prevent or reverse
the disease course. The research focuses
on rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis
and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Holmdahl’s expertise in rheumatoid arthritis
and multiple sclerosis is strengthened in
collaboration with respected Finnish scien-
tists
“Commercialisation of scientific discov-
eries in the last decade has been possible
through increased collaboration and funding
in Europe”, Holmdahl says. “An entrepre-
neurial drive and venture capital investments
are equally important to scientists.”
Biotech break-
throughs in bustling
cultural capital
VESA-MATTIVÄÄRÄ
6. Arctic Circle
60°
Helsinki
FINLAND
Sweden
Norway
Russia
The European Innovation Scoreboard 2006 puts Finland in the top three in
terms of public R&D expenditure, business R&D expenditure, tertiary education,
innovative SME cooperation, European Patent Office patents and triad patents.
Finnish research teams actively participate in global R&D networks and have
been successful, for example, in EU Research Framework Programmes.
Relative to population and GDP, Finland is one of the world’s biggest
science publishers, ahead of such traditionally strong countries in
scientific research as the UK and Germany.
Finnish research personnel represent the highest percentage of
the employed labour force in the OECD countries. The number of
doctorates has nearly doubled in the last ten years.
There are 20 universities and 21 public research institutes
in Finland. The national university network provides a study place
for almost one-third of the age group.
For more information on FiDiPro | www.fidipro.fi
Academy of Finland | www.aka.fi/eng
Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation | www.tekes.fi/eng
Researcher’s Mobility Portal Finland | www.aka.fi/eracareers
Fast facts about Finland
LAYOUT:AHOY|PHOTO:GORILLA|PRINTING:ERWEKO|MAY2007|ISBN:978-951-715-653-7(PRINT),978-951-715-654-5(PDF)