ICT Leaders Discuss Opening Finnish Innovation Centre in St Petersburg
A senior delegation of Finnish government and ICT leaders met with Russoft and Ardin Software representatives to discuss the opening of a Finnish Innovation Centre in the city. The meetings took place at the headquarters of Arcadia Inc.
Dec 27, 2006
Finland is a global leader in the field of ICT. The policy of the Finnish government and business leaders is to share their expertise and to develop international cooperation in the sector. To this end, they have successfully set up Finnish Innovation Centers in China and the US. St Petersburg is now on the list.
Mr Joensuu, Finnish Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry expressed his government’s eagerness to strengthen cooperation with the expanding ICT market in St Petersburg. By planning to use their proven Innovation Center model, he said a number of Finnish companies are seriously considering opening offices in St Petersburg. Some would be located at the Center.
Representatives from the Finnish ICT companies Tekes, FinPro and Ardin made short presentations to explain the objectives of the Innovation Center project. In reply, the Russoft President, Valentin Makarov described how the Russian ICT sector is going from strength to strength. He cited the deepening relationship between Russoft and companies in Sweden, Denmark and especially Germany as evidence of a significant shift in Russo-European collaboration in the ICT market. He also highlighted the fact that companies found the Russian ICT sector attractive not due to its low rates but due to its strong science base and innovative drive.
Arkady Khotin, Head of the Finnish outsourcing company Ardin agreed that Russo-European ICT collaboration has become increasingly productive. However, he said that in his view more could be done to raise the profile of these activities. He suggested that part of the role of the Innovation Center could be as an Information Center. The center might start by creating a common online ‘data space’ where partners could showcase their collaboration and serve as an important networking tool.
Mr Khotin also emphasized the benefits of knowledge transfer in the educational sphere. He said that it is vital to maintain the traditionally high R & D skills and culture of innovation on which the ICT industry depends. This could be improved by coordinating the policy objectives of Finnish and Russian Universities, together with input from the regional ICT companies.
He recalled the "ICT Connector Project" 2002-3. A joint Finnish-Russian ICT initiative, it was sponsored by the World Bank, the Finnish Government and several Finnish ICT companies. Mr Khotin suggested that both parties may now be well placed to launch an "ICT Connector 2", which could provide additional support to the development of a successful state-level partnership.
The meetings closed with unanimous agreement that the creation of a Finnish Innovation Centre would be a positive development. Delegates from both countries emphasized the importance of closer cooperation, given the skills and expertise of CIS software companies. They agreed to formalize their collaboration in the form of a ‘roadmap’. It was also agreed to broaden the number of companies involved in the discussions and to seek their ideas and involvement in the project.
The Russia ICT sector was represented by Valentin Makarov (President of Russoft association), Sergei Baklan (Managing Director, Arcadia Inc.), Svetlana Kazanskaya (Business Development Director, Arcadia Inc.) and Gennady Smorodin (ICT consultant, Ardin Software Oy, St. Petersburg office).
Organizations:
The Ministry of Trade and Industry in Finland, as an expert organisation in the field of industrial policy, is responsible for the operating conditions of enterprises, safeguarding the position of the citizens on the market and tending to the State's corporate assets.
www.ktm.fi
Tekes is the main public funding organisation for research and development in Finland. Tekes funds industrial projects as well as projects in research organisations, and especially promotes innovative, risk-intensive projects. Tekes offers partners from abroad a gateway to the key technology players in Finland.
www.tekes.fi
Finpro is a consulting organization focused on accelerating the internationalization of Finnish companies while managing the risks involved. Finpro carries out this national task through a client-oriented approach in co-operation with other service organizations working towards the same goals. It operates through a unique global network: 50 Finland Trade Centers in 40 countries as well as two Trade Centers in Finland.
www.finpro.fi
Ardin Software is an international software outsourcing company based in Vantaa, Finland. Ardin is a partner and commercial hand of 30+ Russian software developing enterprises that combine their technical and marketing efforts to render high-quality services to the Scandinavian market.
www.ardinsoftware.fi
RUSSOFT Association is the nation-wide association of the most technically competent software developing companies from Russia, Byelorussia and the Ukraine. By joining forces under the leadership of RUSSOFT the companies are able to provide customers with a range of comprehensive solutions and IT services.
www.russoft.org
Arcadia is an innovative software consulting company based in St. Petersburg, Russia, with offices and clients across the world. Having started its operations in 1993, Arcadia provides state-of-the-art custom software solutions and development services, proven by ISO 9001:2000 and Microsoft certification. Located in St. Petersburg, Russia, Arcadia is ideally positioned to deliver high-quality software services to clients worldwide.
www.arcadia.spb.ru
Mr Joensuu, Finnish Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry expressed his government’s eagerness to strengthen cooperation with the expanding ICT market in St Petersburg. By planning to use their proven Innovation Center model, he said a number of Finnish companies are seriously considering opening offices in St Petersburg. Some would be located at the Center.
Representatives from the Finnish ICT companies Tekes, FinPro and Ardin made short presentations to explain the objectives of the Innovation Center project. In reply, the Russoft President, Valentin Makarov described how the Russian ICT sector is going from strength to strength. He cited the deepening relationship between Russoft and companies in Sweden, Denmark and especially Germany as evidence of a significant shift in Russo-European collaboration in the ICT market. He also highlighted the fact that companies found the Russian ICT sector attractive not due to its low rates but due to its strong science base and innovative drive.
Arkady Khotin, Head of the Finnish outsourcing company Ardin agreed that Russo-European ICT collaboration has become increasingly productive. However, he said that in his view more could be done to raise the profile of these activities. He suggested that part of the role of the Innovation Center could be as an Information Center. The center might start by creating a common online ‘data space’ where partners could showcase their collaboration and serve as an important networking tool.
Mr Khotin also emphasized the benefits of knowledge transfer in the educational sphere. He said that it is vital to maintain the traditionally high R & D skills and culture of innovation on which the ICT industry depends. This could be improved by coordinating the policy objectives of Finnish and Russian Universities, together with input from the regional ICT companies.
He recalled the "ICT Connector Project" 2002-3. A joint Finnish-Russian ICT initiative, it was sponsored by the World Bank, the Finnish Government and several Finnish ICT companies. Mr Khotin suggested that both parties may now be well placed to launch an "ICT Connector 2", which could provide additional support to the development of a successful state-level partnership.
The meetings closed with unanimous agreement that the creation of a Finnish Innovation Centre would be a positive development. Delegates from both countries emphasized the importance of closer cooperation, given the skills and expertise of CIS software companies. They agreed to formalize their collaboration in the form of a ‘roadmap’. It was also agreed to broaden the number of companies involved in the discussions and to seek their ideas and involvement in the project.
Business info
The Finnish party was represented by Antti Joensuu (Deputy Director General, Technology Department (international technology policy), Ministry of trade and industry), and included Kari Komulainen (Director for Global Operations, Tekes), Kirsi Vaha-Pietila (Head of the Finnish Eureka Office, European Operations, Tekes), Timo Koponen (Director, Finpro, St. Petersburg office), Jarmo Karesto (Key Partner Manager, Finpro), Seppo Laine (Senior Advisor, Finpro), Valery Sitnikov (Project Manager, Finpro, St. Petersburg office), Arcady Khotin (Managing Director, Ardin Software Oy).The Russia ICT sector was represented by Valentin Makarov (President of Russoft association), Sergei Baklan (Managing Director, Arcadia Inc.), Svetlana Kazanskaya (Business Development Director, Arcadia Inc.) and Gennady Smorodin (ICT consultant, Ardin Software Oy, St. Petersburg office).
Organizations:
The Ministry of Trade and Industry in Finland, as an expert organisation in the field of industrial policy, is responsible for the operating conditions of enterprises, safeguarding the position of the citizens on the market and tending to the State's corporate assets.
www.ktm.fi
Tekes is the main public funding organisation for research and development in Finland. Tekes funds industrial projects as well as projects in research organisations, and especially promotes innovative, risk-intensive projects. Tekes offers partners from abroad a gateway to the key technology players in Finland.
www.tekes.fi
Finpro is a consulting organization focused on accelerating the internationalization of Finnish companies while managing the risks involved. Finpro carries out this national task through a client-oriented approach in co-operation with other service organizations working towards the same goals. It operates through a unique global network: 50 Finland Trade Centers in 40 countries as well as two Trade Centers in Finland.
www.finpro.fi
Ardin Software is an international software outsourcing company based in Vantaa, Finland. Ardin is a partner and commercial hand of 30+ Russian software developing enterprises that combine their technical and marketing efforts to render high-quality services to the Scandinavian market.
www.ardinsoftware.fi
RUSSOFT Association is the nation-wide association of the most technically competent software developing companies from Russia, Byelorussia and the Ukraine. By joining forces under the leadership of RUSSOFT the companies are able to provide customers with a range of comprehensive solutions and IT services.
www.russoft.org
Arcadia is an innovative software consulting company based in St. Petersburg, Russia, with offices and clients across the world. Having started its operations in 1993, Arcadia provides state-of-the-art custom software solutions and development services, proven by ISO 9001:2000 and Microsoft certification. Located in St. Petersburg, Russia, Arcadia is ideally positioned to deliver high-quality software services to clients worldwide.
www.arcadia.spb.ru