ITMO University Technopark Signed a Cooperation Agreement with Turku Science Park

Consisting of 11 buildings, “Turku Science Park” occupies an area of 210 000 sq. m. It is a place where business, education and science interact with each other so as to promote a variety of manufacture branches. “Turku Science Park`s” activities are connected with biotechnologies and information and communication technologies.

“Currently “Turku Science Park” can be compared with a well-structured ecosystem,” said Tero Piispanen, director of Internationalization Services and BioTurku at Turku Science Park Ltd. “The most important thing is that universities take part in these activities. Apart from our key participants, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, about 10 research educational centers, more than 300 companies and organizations participate in “Turku Science Park`s” projects. Speaking of biotechnologies we develop this line together with Turku University Hospital Tyks. Thus 31, 000 students, 17, 500 staff members and 400 professors are involved in our projects.”

According to Mr. Piispanen majority of products developed by Turku Science Park are released in Europe and the USA, and only 4% of products are exported to Russia. Thus it is planned to develop trade relations with Russian Federation.

Over the last 10 years biotechnological industry has become an integral part of global academic area. Now it attracts more and more investors. As international experts note this field to be one of the most profitable businesses of 21^st centuries. Furthermore Russians have also appreciated this research line. Thus it is considered as one of the most promising innovative fields along with IT and nanotechnologies.

“Nowadays biotechnologies are in the top developing industries. Our government is going to invest in it because biotechnologies contribute to import substitution projects as well as business development. Moreover, Russian government appreciates collaboration with international partners. Thus joint projects together with Finland are very relevant,” noted Olga Makeeva, senior advisor of St. Petersburg company “FinPro.”

Being a young organization, Technopark of ITMO University also follows this trend by developing biotechnological projects. Olesya Baranyuk, deputy director of “ITMO University Technopark” presented Finnish colleagues three full-fledged projects. The first one was Parseq Lab company, which offered solutions for molecular genetic diagnostics. The second one was Rehabot project, a device for post-stroke rehabilitation. The expert also shared achievements of International Laboratory “Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies.”

“Turku Science Park is in top-100 biotechnological organizations. We are going to offer some projects our Finnish colleagues attracting other international partners. It is very important that not only ITMO University is interested in this collaboration. Having known about our projects they contacted with us in order to develop joint research. Currently some of Russian researchers are going to take part into Turku Science Park internship program,” said Ms. Baranyuk.

Previously ITMO University Technopark signed a memorandum together with Helsinki administration Department of economic development. Bach then Finnish experts chose the best five companies based on Russian Technopark and invited them to take part in “Helsinki Enterprise Castle” accelerator.

Ulyana Malysheva

News portal editorial office