SPARK Finland listed as one of major European incubators
The SPARK Finland programme aims to build the commercialisation capacity of health researchers and research-based companies and foster internationally competitive, growing businesses in Finland. The sectors may include pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, health technology or health-related IT solutions.
In the first four years of operation, 14 new companies have already emerged from the programme's participants funded by domestic and international business angels or investors. The programme currently includes 33 projects.
“Being listed among the top incubators and programmes in Europe is a great recognition of the work we are doing,” says Juho Väisänen, Development Manager of SPARK Finland at Tampere University.
SPARK Finland is a young player and has far fewer resources than the other projects. Väisänen points out that the ranking is also a clear indication that good results can be achieved by allocating resources in the right way.
“Tampere University has also participated in the programme with a number of projects and ideas that have either led to or are about to lead to new companies and innovations, so the list is also an indirect indication of the excellence of the innovations that our University is producing,” Väisänen says.
Together with the University of Helsinki and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Tampere University was one of the founding organisations of the SPARK programme in 2017. From the period from 2020 to 2023, the University will coordinate the programme and be responsible for developing its international education platform.
Enquiries:
Juho Väisänen, Development Manager, SPARK Finland, juho.vaisanen [at] tuni.fi
Read also:
Tampere University coordinates the national SPARK programme (in Finnish)
