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Finnish agencies mull innovation centre

HELSINKI (FINLAND): Leading Finnish funding agencies and research organisations are planning to open an innovation centre in India that would focus on the Indo-Finnish innovation activities. “We along with other Finnish agencies have already conducted a feasibility study to establish FinNode, a Finnish innovation centre, in India,” said Risto Setala, Director (Software and Digital Media), Tekes, a Finnish funding agency for technology and innovation. Other organisations that are likely to be part of this project, which is likely to be finalised by this year-end, include expert and service organisation for Finnish companies Finpro; Finnish innovation fund Sitra; Finland’s funding body for scientific research The Academy of Finland; and VTT Technical Research Centre.

“Despite its small size, Finland is among the top innovators in the world, while India has abundant high-calibre human capital. This innovation centre, with focus on foresight, would not only promote Finnish innovation but also give a boost to Indo-Finnish cooperation in the field of innovations. It would be a continuation to Finland’s existing network of similar centres located in China, the U.S., Japan and Russia,” Mr. Setala told a group of visiting Indian journalists here.

“Apart from promoting Finnish innovation and smoothening the Finnish innovations’ entry into India, the aim of the Indian FinNode would be to give a boost to Indo-Finnish innovation activities by bringing the various actors together; augmenting the mobility of researchers, and increasing research cooperation between the two countries,” Mr. Setala added.

Talking about India as a choice for FinNode, Mr. Setala said India was increasingly becoming a top global innovation player in several sectors, including biotech, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and information and communication technology (ICT). The number of Indian scientists and engineers involved in research and design work is among the largest in the world.

“According to estimates, India has more than 1.25 crore science and engineering graduates. Even tough the domestic R&D spending is dominated by the public sector. A few Indian companies have also emerged as top global innovators. Though the focus areas, location and the exact services of FinNode India are still to be defined, our involvement would certainly give a boost to R&D activities in India,” Mr. Setala added.

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