Viikinkaari 4, FIN-00790 Helsinki, Finland
F +358 9 3193 6554
06/08/2010
Lahti and Helsinki science parks strengthen cleantech co-operation through ownership reorganisation
Sitra sells its share in Helsinki Business and Science Park to Lahti Science and Business Park Ltd.
Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, has sold its 14% shareholding in Helsinki Business and Science Park (HBSP Ltd) to Lahti Science and Business Park Ltd. Through the transaction, Finland will gain strategic consortia of two significant environmental research and business clusters, which will play an important role in the commercialisation and internationalisation of one of the country's future key pillars – clean technology.
In the early stages, the themes of co-operation between the science parks concerned the study of such things as new innovation- and research-centred cleantech solutions and companies, as well as the development of a research- and laboratory environment and office services to support environmental research.
Since the 1990s, Sitra has been developing in Finland a comprehensive network for the commercialisation of technology, and for a long time was also involved in the development of the Helsinki Business and Science Park. - It’s Sitra’s job to develop new things, and when we found a good strategic buyer for the shares we owned in Helsinki Business and Science Park, we felt it was time to let them go. I believe that this new arrangement will provide new opportunities both for Helsinki Business and Science Park and for Lahti Science and Business Park to participate in the development of the metropolitan region, says Anu Nokso-Koivisto, Director of Sitra.
According to Eero Holstila, Director of Economic Development for the City of Helsinki and Chairman of the Board of Helsinki Business and Science Park, the intensifying co-operation between Lahti Science and Business Park and Helsinki Business and Science Park is a logical step in pooling the resources of the metropolitan region. - We already have excellent experiences of the dynamic contribution of Lahti in the preparation of the World Design Capital 2012 project, and now this co-operation is being extended, says Holstila. - The services for growth companies provided by Lahti Science and Business Park have proven to be very efficient, so I believe that Helsinki Business and Science Park will be boosted by this co-operation in its quest to develop university-centred businesses. Correspondingly, the extensive connections of Helsinki Business and Science Park to the top-class expertise on the campus of the University of Helsinki will undoubtedly create new opportunities for Lahti, continues Holstila.
Lahti Science and Business Park Ltd in brief
Lahti Science and Business Park Ltd is responsible for the development of top-class fields of expertise, the environment, design and business in the Lahti region, and promotes the establishment and development of growth companies and investments in the Lahti region, with the help of about 50 specialists. The City of Lahti owns 74% of the shares in Lahti Science and Business Park Ltd. The rest of the shares are divided amongst companies, universities, colleges and other municipalities in the Lahti region.
Lahti Science and Business Park is the largest cluster for environmental business and research in the Nordic countries.
Lahti Science and Business Park Ltd conducts an international IASP (International Association of Science Parks) Enviroparks network and is coordinator of the Cleantech Cluster of the Finnish Centre of Expertise Programme (OSKE). For further information, go to: www.lahtisbp.fi
Helsinki Business and Science Park Ltd in brief
Helsinki Business and Science Park Ltd operates in the fields of biotechnology, drug development and diagnostics, and food and environmental technology. Helsinki Business and Science Park helps in the commercialisation of innovations generated in academic research through incubator activities, as well as promoting the start-up of new companies. The HBSP operation is concentrated in the biotechnology and medical campus areas of the University of Helsinki, the Viikki biocampus and the medical campus of Meilahti.
The ownership of HBSP is divided as follows: The Finnish State (29%), the City of Helsinki (29%), the University of Helsinki (14%), Lahti Science and Business Park Ltd (14%) and industrial organisations (14%).
For further information, go to: www.hbsp.net
Further information:
Lauri Ylöstalo, CEO
Lahti Science and Business Park Ltd
Niemenkatu 73, 15140 Lahti
tel. +358 (0)400 708 719
lauri.ylostalo@lahtisbp.fi
www.lahtisbp.fi
Pia Westerling, Managing Director
Helsinki Business and Science Park Oy Ltd
Viikinkaari 4, 00790 Helsinki
tel: +358 (0) 400 822 411
Anu Nokso-Koivisto, Director
Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund
Itämerentori 2 (PO Box 160)
00181 Helsinki
tel: +358 (0)9 6189 9228