FinNode – the new Finnish innovation centre in Silicon Valley

FinNode, the new Finnish innovation centre, will open in Silicon Valley, USA in January 2007. The innovation centre will serve Finnish and American companies and researchers and the objective is to accelerate the arrival of Finnish companies into the USA market, to augment the mobility of researchers and research cooperation between Finland and the USA, and to add to the attraction of Finland as a target for investment and as a place to establish a business. The innovation centre has been established by Finpro, the Finnish National Fund for Research and Development, the Academy of Finland, Tekes – Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

Almost all the founding organisations already operate in the USA. However, FinNode brings all their services under one roof, making them more easily accessible to customers. The centre will also develop new joint services.

The official opening of the FinNode office in Santa Clara, Silicon Valley, will take place on 24 January 2007. In the initial phase, staff from Finpro, Tekes and VTT will work in share premises. The International Business Accelerator Centre INBAC, which is a business accelerator owned by VTT and Technopolis Ventures, will also operate out of the same premises.

FinNode is Finland’s second innovation centre. The first one, the FinChi innovation centre, was established in Shanghai, China, in 2005. Innovation centres involving Finnish actors are also being planned for St Petersburg and Tokyo.