Science, Technology and Industry Co-operation in Finland - Technopolis: Best Practices for Science and Technology Cities - page 437

Tekes services. Tekes has active co-operation processes with Finpro and Sitra.
There is an extensive network of intermediary organisations such as technology
and science parks, local or regional business development companies and business
incubators. The association of Finnish Science parks—TEKEL—has 30 members,
and additionally there are other innovation centres (40), local or regional business
development companies (100-160, including 60 incubators), business incubators
(100) and university technology transfer offices or companies (in 12-14 univer-
sities). These organisations operate as intermediaries between the producers and
users/appliers of new knowledge, research results and technology. They are either
private or public entities, and they perform a variety of tasks on a regional basis
and according to their funding base.
TEKEL, Finnish Science Park Association
The first science park in Finland started in 1982 in Oulu and it was also the first
in the Nordic countries. Short after that the first incubator was established 1985.
The Finnish Science Park Association (TEKEL) was founded in 1988. At the
moment TEKEL has 32 members, which call themselves Science Parks or
Technology Centres. The TEKEL members have 1,300,000 m 2 of space, 780
employees, 2.200 customer companies and organisations with 14.100 business
contacts. Most of the member centres are located in Finnish university cities. The
TEKEL members provide companies and other organisations with premises,
assistance and support. Building up common technology projects between uni-
versities and companies is especially encouraged.
Benefits for the client companies of the TEKEL members: