Background

The Finnish-Russian Innovation Centre, opened in early 2008 as a joint initiative of Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy “FinNode Russia”, educational institutions and business development companies of Lappeenranta-Imatra region, including Lappeenranta City Holding Company Ltd. with technical assistance of Technopolis Plc. Innovation Centre, provides a platform for national innovation strategies where Finpro under the umbrella of “FinNode Russia” spearheads the governmental organizations.

The driving forces behind the Innovation Centre in St. Petersburg consist of the group of Finnish governmental organizations FinNode (Finpro, Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation Tekes, Technical Research Centre VTT, National Fund for Research and Development Sitra, Academy of Finland) and Lappeenranta Group (Municipalities Lappeenranta and Imatra, Lappeenranta University of Technology, South Karelia Joint Authorities, Lappeenranta City Holding Company, Lappeenranta Innovation, Imatra Region Development Company and Lappeenranta Business Development. The Finnish Government supports similar Centers in Silicon Valley in California, Shanghai and Tokyo.

The opening of the Innovation Centre demonstrates a tangibleresult of  cooperation among “St. Petersburg Corridor the Heart of Northern Dimension”, the regional partnership between Southeast Finland, the City of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. The Centre is a versatile innovation community of public operators capable of serving European and Russian companies i.e. when they are struggling with challenges of globalisation. The Centre helps companies from Finland and other EU states to set up and start business in the Russian market. It also aims to strengthen the relationships between enterprises, public institutions and rapidly developing innovation environment of Russia. The services focus on identification and commercialization of innovations, as well as IPR-protection.

Lappeenranta–Imatra Region has its Representative Office located in the premises of Finnish-Russian Innovation Centre. The Office coordinates the activities of the region in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region. Representative Office provides an on-going dialog between the Finnish and Russian regions; local authorities, universities and businesses.

European–Russian InnoPartnership as a strategic partner

Lappeenranta City together with St. Petersburg City Administration takes the Innovation Centre services further through European-Russian InnoPartnership organization (ERIP). The European-Russian InnoPartnership was registered in February 2008 to enhance innovation collaboration between Russia and Europe. The founding members are Lappeenranta City Holding Company Ltd, Lappeenranta Innovation Ltd, St. Petersburg Information and Analytical Centre (IAC) and St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance (FINEC). The partnership develops innovation activities in St. Petersburg and expands the St. Petersburg - Lappeenranta innovation axis overother parts of Europe and Russia.