Lauri Hietaniemi lauri.hietaniemi@greennetfinland.fi

InnoEnvi ProjectInnoElli Innovative Actions Programme (PRAI) in

South Finland in 2002-2004

Green Net Finland public- private partnership of the Finnish environmental technology and services

www.greennetfinland.fi

Lauri Hietaniemi lauri.hietaniemi@greennetfinland.fi

Background: Finnish Environmental Technology

3600 environmental companies and public service providers in Finland, Turnover 4-7 Billion euros/year

Several World Economic Forum’s best prices in environmental protection: in 2001, 2002, 2005

Mainly companies are too small in global business, although ca. 20 global top level companies on narrow segments (networking and consolidations are needed)

Image of Finnish environmental expertise is good in EU and globally

Main challenge for the InnoEnvi project was: Development of SMEs for global markets as a South Finnish Environmental Cluster

Lauri Hietaniemi lauri.hietaniemi@greennetfinland.fi

InnoEnvi covered the whole Programme AreaBudget: 1,4 M€

Project partners operated in all South Finnish Regions (possible only in the PRAI):

• HämeHäme

• Itä-UusimaaItä-Uusimaa

• KymenlaaksoKymenlaakso

• Päijät-HämePäijät-Häme

• South KareliaSouth Karelia

• Southwest FinlandSouthwest Finland

• UusimaaUusimaa

P ori

Lahti

Tam pere

Im atra

M ikke li

Suomen lahti

P ori

P o rvoo

Lahti

H äm een-linna

Tam pere

Im atra

K ouvo la

M ikke li

V iipu ri

Tu rku

0 50 km

Lappeen ran ta

K o tka

H els ink i

E 18

E 12

E 18

E 75

Lauri Hietaniemi lauri.hietaniemi@greennetfinland.fi

The Project Selection Process of the PRAI

Application process in two stages First stage: 71 one-page project ideas List of the ideas and actors for possible

joint projects Second stage: 23 project applications Three logistic and two environmental technology

projects (the other one was InnoEnvi) were funded

InnoEnvi project idea was chosen and funded in a well organized process

Lauri Hietaniemi lauri.hietaniemi@greennetfinland.fi

InnoEnvi Objectives

1. To create a comprehensive company register

2. To study existing environmental know-how, products and services in the region

3. To study markets and export opportunities for the environmental cluster

4. To set up 5-6 strong mini clusters, supported by strategies and development programmes

5. To create an innovative portal for networking

6. To create new development projects to strengthen the future co-operation of mini clusters

Lauri Hietaniemi lauri.hietaniemi@greennetfinland.fi

InnoEnvi Partners Partners: 1. Green Net Finland, leading partner2. Lahti Science and Technology Centre3. Häme Polytechnic4. Lappeenranta Technical University5. Turku Science Park Ltd Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT),

outsourced service, consultation in clustering work All partners did know well the companies on their own

area, had long term strategy and good motivation in business development of the companies

There was a obvious possibility to create a good co-operation of regional business developers, universities and companies

Lauri Hietaniemi lauri.hietaniemi@greennetfinland.fi

InnoEnvi Mini Clusters Clean energy Clean and waste water management Environmental management of mining operations Solid waste management Environmental monitoring

Lauri Hietaniemi lauri.hietaniemi@greennetfinland.fi

Different Activities in Mini Clusters

Clean energy:15 companies, focus in preparing new joint international projects

Solid waste management: 7 companies, market surveys, road show in Budapest, strategy, one seminar

Environmental monitoring: 16 companies, two new R&D projects, one market survey, marketing co-operation, one seminar

Environmental management of mining operations: 7 members, funding survey, strategy, market material and road show in USA(World Bank), handbook

Water management: 7 companies, strategy, market survey, R&D planning, expert register

Lauri Hietaniemi lauri.hietaniemi@greennetfinland.fi

InnoEnvi Results (2002-2003) Networking of companies and public sector in South Finland in five

mini clusters was planned, established and supported by strategies Classified register of ca 700 companies and public service providers

(Also other e-tools, 2006 there are 7000 members in 7 countries in international register)

33 publications, market studies etc. 15-20 new project preparations (until 2006 ca. 80 second and third

generation projects under implementation by the InnoEnvi partners) Co-operation of seven Finnish regions was established by InnoEnvi (at

the moment new national wide work is going on in big programmes: Sitra Environmental Programme, National wide environmental cluster programme presented for next 2007-2013 period)

InnoEnvi resulted in later an important snowball effect of the environmental business development in whole Finland

Lauri Hietaniemi lauri.hietaniemi@greennetfinland.fi

Key Success Elements of the Project Well organised project selection process of the PRAI Industrial experienced experts accepted the final strategy

for the work (industrial side motivation) Real need of the industry to find benefits vs project plan Good motivation and competence of the project partners to

reach project objectives Latest clustering theory was used but still working was

very practical Good working atmosphere within project partners Good political acceptance and support in all seven South

Finnish regions for the project (knowledge transfer important)