Innovation

Best Practices in Innovation Policies
A publication by Heikki Kotilainen, Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes), 2005 

The Regional Innovation System Bottom-up - A Finnish Perspective
Academic Dissertation by Mika Kautonen,
Faculty of Economics and Administration of the University of Tampere

Empirically the study is based on survey with 360 respondent firms and business units and executive interviews of 35 firms in Finland. In addition to the constructed framework, the study results in empirical information on the Finnish firms' innovation activities and their regional, national and international linkages. The outcomes show that there are no particular innovation-related systemic inter-firm entities formed at the regional level. Based on this, the conclusion is that innovation systems, or environments, are spatially multi-level. On the other hand, the study brings forward many of those regional-level ties and linkages that are important for innovation activities, such as regional labour market, universities and other science and technology infrastructure in the regions. In this study three normative models of distinctive regional innovation environments are presented.

Innovation Relay Center (IRC) Network
The mission of the IRCs is to support innovation and transnational technological co-operation in Europe with a range of specialised business support services. IRC services are primarily targeted at technology-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but are also available to large companies, research institutes, universities, technology centres and innovation agencies.

Innovating Regions in Europe Network
The Innovating Regions in Europe (IRE) network is the joint platform for collaboration and exchange of experience for regions that are developing or implementing regional innovation strategies and schemes.

Innovation Systems Research Network
The Innovations Systems Research Network (ISRN) is a network of researchers across Canada examining innovation in various industries and regions throughout the country. ISRN’s goal is to better understand how social, economic and political conditions influence innovation and hence economic development at the local, regional, and national level. The knowledge produced by this research will assist policy-makers better understand innovation dynamics and craft more effective economic policy.

 Programme of the Entrepreneurship Week in Tartu, Estonia (in Estonian) 1 - 5 October 2007

The Summary of the Research and Innovation Programme for University Network "Epanet" in South Ostrobothnia for years 2007–2013 by Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia, Finland, December 2007

Full programme "The Research and Innovation Programme for University Network "Epanet" in South Ostrobothnia for years 2007-2013" and more information of VBN InnoReg activities in South Ostrobothnia, Finland, can be found in Finnish here.

In South Ostrobothnia, Finland, Professor Markku Sotarauta from University of Tampere participated in VBN InnoReg project, among others, by collecting a material pack for actors interested in regional development and innovation policy. Prof. Sotarauta with his research group has studied regional development and innovation policy for several years. In the material pack, there are articles in English, Finnish and Swedish. The material pack can be found here.