Finland and Sweden, guest countries in 2023
Finland and Sweden have been the guest countries in the 12th edition of Transfiere. Thus, the nordic R+D+i ecosystem have been present in the different activity areas of the event – networking, content programme and commercial exhibition, among others.
Both countries are leading the european innovation ranking, as well as in the top positions at the global level. In this edition of Transfiere, they have presented their models of success based on learning, implementing a national model of R+D+I, increasing the investment in this sector and putting in place the results within society.
Innovation in guest countries 2023
Finland
In global rankings, Finland has been qualified as the most stable, happiest and innovative country in the world. The European Innovation Scoreboard 2022 measuring innovation performance awards Finland the status of an innovation leader, performing at a rate that is considerably higher of the EU average.
Finland stands out favourably in the comparison due to strengths such as lifelong learning, public-private partnerships and collaboration between small and medium enterprise. The most R&D intensive Finnish sub-regions are among the largest city regions in Finland including Helsinki, Tampere and Oulu.
Innovation is also a priority for the public sector in Finland. In relation to GDP, Finnish public investment to innovation is among the highest in Europe and the country is committed to reaching the level of 4 %/GDP by the year 2030.
The backbone of the Finnish success consists of universal public services, high-level of generalized trust in the society, strong tradition of local governance as well as a large-scale participation in civic associations. Finland’s renowned education system is also a crucial factor that lays the foundation for cutting-edge research and provides the country with high-quality workforce.
Ranked as the best business environment in the world, Finland is a country of digital and tech-savvy people, who are used to utilizing the latest technologies as well as developing them further. Finnish down-to-earth approach guarantees that the Finns listen the needs of a partner or a customer, and come up with a truly functioning answer.
In Transfiere there will be a chance to meet and greet the most important stakeholders of innovation in Finland: governmental organizations, leading technology research centers and universities as well as innovative Finnish companies presenting their success stories and looking for partners abroad.
Sweden
Last century, Sweden was one of the poorest nations of Europe. It is a small country, where only 0.13% of the world’s population lives. Nevertheless, it is today one of the leading countries in innovation worldwide, according to several international rates.
Millions of hearts around the world beat with the help of a pacemaker. Candles are lit up by matches and countless lives were saved thanks to the three-point safety belt. Swedish solutions like Klarna, Skype and Spotify have hundreds of millions of users in the whole world. These are only a few Swedish innovation examples that have entailed important changes in society.
Sweden is one of the main countries in innovation in the European Union. Some of the reasons are the following: a historic tradition of inventors (even getting to be the country of origin of the Nobel Prize), a diverse society with a significant commitment to gender equality and a strong belief in the individual. The close collaboration between research institutes, the private and public sector (the so-called “triple helix”), is another key factor within the innovation ecosystem in Sweden, and it lays the foundations of Swedish multinationals like AstraZeneca, Ericsson, Volvo, H&M and Scania.
Innovation is closely linked to research and development. Sweden is one of the EU and OECD countries that allocates the most to R+D+i (3,5% of the GDP in 2020). It should also be highlighted the fact that the most part of the research is funded by the companies (70% of the total funding in 2020).
Sweden is one of the leading countries in terms of knowledge creation and technological production, which means that it has an infrastructure that fosters a creative environment. It is particularly strong in sectors like digitalization and connectivity, biotechnology and life-science. Also, in sustainable solutions.
Through this country’s participation in Transfiere you will have the chance to discover more about the Swedish Innovation Ecosystem and several Swedish companies, in terms of digitalization and connectivity.
Participating institutions and companies
Gofore
Gofore Plc is a digital transformation consultancy with some 1,300 impact-driven employees across Finland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Estonia – top experts in our industry who are our company’s heart, brain, and hands. We use our holistic service offering – consulting, coding, design, and verification – as tools to incite positive change.
IoT Sweden
Internet of Things Sweden – IoT Sweden – is a strategic innovation programme that supports and funds innovative IoT project in public-sector all-over Sweden.
IoT Sweden is one of 17 strategic innovation programmes funded by the three Swedish authorities Vinnova (the innovation agency); the Swedish Energy Agency; and Formas (a Swedish research council for sustainable development). Through collaboration in areas that are strategically important for Sweden, conditions are created for sustainable solutions to global societal challenges and increased international competitiveness.
To date we have funded more than 100 innovative IoT projects with more than 200 million SEK. The projects have contributed with the same amount of funding, either with money or in kind. Our projects are centred around the following themes:
• Healthcare
• IoT infrastructure
• Climate and environment
• Increased IoT ability
• Sustainable built environments
• School and education
• IoT procurement
KONE
At KONE, our mission is to improve the flow of urban life. As a global leader, KONE provides elevators, escalators, and automatic building doors and solutions for maintenance and modernization to add value to buildings throughout their life cycle.
Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) is Finland’s second largest government research institute. It operates under the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry of Finland. Luke’s R&I services are organised into 4 broad, interdisciplinary programmes based on the strategic objectives: Climate Smart Carbon Cycle (LandClimate); Adaptive & Resilient Bioeconomy (Resilience); Profitable & Responsible Primary Production (ValueBio); and Circular Bioeconomy (Circular). Each programme oversees several focus areas co-developed with end-users, which aim to: create new bio-based products and business opportunities, increase productivity by digitalisation, support regional vitality via the circular economy, create wellbeing through immaterial values, and support the profitability of healthy food production.
Luke carries out statutory government work, monitoring natural resources, certifying plant production, inspecting control agents, storing genetic resources, producing data on greenhouse gases, supporting natural resource policies, and producing Finland’s official food and natural resource statistics.
Luke has vast experience in R&I project coordination and participation. It is currently participating in >700 ongoing national and international projects, including 58 Horizon 2020 projects, 9 of which are coordinated by Luke. Luke’s researchers and specialists provide new solutions towards the sustainable development of the Finnish and global bioeconomy and promotion of new biobased businesses. Together with its partners, Luke is building a society based on the bioeconomy.
Nokia
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.
As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.
Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world.
Oulu Innovation Alliance
Oulu Innovation Alliance is a strategic coalition of organizations and an active roundtable of leaders who aim to promote innovations and sustainable growth both locally and globally.
We have three thematic target fields and ecosystems: Digitalisation in the changing urban environment, OuluHealth – Digital well-being and health solutions, Sustainable circular economy & cleantech solutions and a cross cutting ecosystem services: continuous learning, support for entrepreneurship and startups. Our vision is to be Europe’s best ecosystem to create global added value with digitalisation.
Region Västerbotten
In the Arctic part of Sweden – Region Västerbotten has established itself as a European innovation leader. For example, in digital areas such as e-health. We have distinguished ourselves internationally in areas such as public health and health care science, rural medicine, medical technology, data-driven life science, AI and ICT.
Region Västerbotten is responsible for regional development and healthcare in Västerbotten County and is home to the Northern Sweden University Hospital. Region Västerbotten currently offers online healthcare services to the population of Västerbotten from an office located in the Málaga Technology Park.
The region helps organizations and companies, public and private, to further develop international collaboration in research and innovation as well as establish business opportunities.
Region Västerbotten sees its participation in Transfiere as a magnificent opportunity to interact with the Andalusian and Spanish innovation ecosystem, both public and private.
STEP
University of Umeå
At Umeå University over 2,000 researchers work to help promote objectivity and contribute to scientific progress. Research at Umeå University span the fields of medicine, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the science of education. With over 35,000 students, we are the largest university in northern Sweden.
The Support Office for Life Science & Health is a platform for sharing knowledge and learning, as well as opportunities for collaboration, research, and innovation. Through collaboration, we aim to attract more EU-funded projects, with innovative results that improve the way health and care are delivered and help the health sector to meet major societal challenges.
VTT
VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner and one of the leading research organisations in Europe. Our role is to promote the utilisation and commercialisation of research and technology in business and society. Through science and technology, we turn global challenges into sustainable solutions for business and society in a responsible way.
Finland and Sweden Patents, Trademarks and Designs (2015 – 2021)
Consult the grants of national patents for residents of these countries distributed by technical sector and the patents granted in Spain for residents of both countries distributed by year.
Guest countries from previous years
Get to know the world reference countries that were present in past editions of the Transfiere Forum.
