A Centre of Expertise programme was implemented in Satakunta for the period 1999–2006 in two areas of expertise: remote technology and materials engineering. With the introduction of this project, the activities of Prizztech Oy, the organisation in charge, extended to cover the entire region.
In the new project phase, Prizztech Oy is serving as a Centre of Expertise participant in three expertise clusters: Future Energy Technologies, Ubiquitous Computing and Maritime Cluster.
The Centre of Expertise programme succeeded in uniting leading-edge knowledge and research for the benefit of the whole economy. As a result of this integration, three research units have been established in Satakunta: the Research Centre for Magnet Technology, the Drinking Water Institute and Äetsä Hydrogen Village. The implementation of the programme also brought about research and development environments in conjunction with the University Consortium of Pori and Satakunta University of Applied Sciences.
Various parties in Satakunta have made strong commitments to the realisation of the programme. A good example of this is the fact that every sub-region will be participating in basic funding of the programme in the new programme phase as well.
New business model for funding from Satakunta
Implementation of the programme gave rise to a new business model for setting up development projects. During the project phase, this ‘seed capital’ model has proved to be successful and advantageous in starting up development processes in Satakunta. This model has been adopted as an example of national ‘best practice’.
For example, in the Remote Technology area of expertise, seed capital had a 21-fold effect over the course of the programme in relation to investment: 1.5 million euros from projects generated over 32 million euros in follow-on projects. In the Materials Engineering area of expertise, a range of business, research facility and university R&D product development projects were set up, as well as reports and procedures which led to the development of Satakunta into a centre of expertise with 25 new specialists, around 5 million euros have been invested in high technology in regional industries, and regional industries have developed and introduced 22 new products and processes.
With the end of the current programme phase, we can confirm that the work has been productive, even better than anticipated. The number of participating companies and business networks will enable an ongoing influence on significant development work. In the new programme phase Prizztech Oy will participate in three Competence Clusters: Future Energy Technologies, Ubiquitous Computing and the Maritime Cluster. Prizztech Oy will also be a local cooperation partner in the Welfare Cluster and the Environmental Technology Cluster.