|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
NS4187en
|
| German | English | Helsinki Region | Finnish Innovation system | EIBIS Home | |
This story is also available in the languages above
ANOTHER SUCCESS FOR FINLAND'S
INNOVATION SYSTEM
A sophisticated, new learning factory links electronics
students at many educational levels with businesses in the Helsinki area
)
)
Fig 1 -
High Resolution download - Click Here
Fig 2 -
High Resolution download - Click Here
An exciting new world is unfolding in a business park
near Helsinki Airport, where Electria, a manufacturing/learning factory (see
photograph), has launched a new way of blending education with research and
product development in the fields of electronics and micro-system technology.
The Finnish concept of the learning factory differs from other
comparable European initiatives because Electria brings together the needs of a
range of different educational levels and those of companies under one roof. As
a result, the learning factory and its training premises are used in vocational
and polytechnic education as well as by businesses. The collaborative partners
are universities and colleges, including Evtek Institute of Technology and the
well-known Helsinki University of Technology.
From high schools to
universities
Electria is looking to the future too: its premises
and services are also available to science high schools in the Helsinki region.
'Our aim is to develop young people's interest in technology and the
electronics industry,' explains Heikki Tupola, head of the factory. 'We are
lucky to have fertile soil here in Finland, because our pupils' mathematical
skills are among the best in the world, according to a recent international
Pisa study.'
The Electria electronics learning factory, which kicked
off in the spring of 2004, has already begun to fulfil its potential. The
training premises, which Electria supports with a broad network of experts,
serve not only educational institutions, but also companies' training needs,
while the state-of-the-art factory provides an effective product development
and testing environment.
State-of-the-art technology
Electria's focus is on surface-mounting technology and related
soldering techniques, precision mechanics, micro-systems, and clean room
culture and technology.
'Our aim is to help companies succeed, 'says
Tupola. 'In the near future, we are building laboratories for the companies, as
well as a clean room serving both companies and students.'
Backers
from academia and business
Electria is located near Helsinki's
International Airport in a business park built by Technopolis, a group which
develops business environments for high-tech companies. Electria's backers and
investors include educational institutions in the Helsinki region and in the
neighbouring city of Vantaa, as well as the local business community. This area
is the centre of education and research in Finland, and home to eight of the
country's universities as well as polytechnics.
International
interest
The Electria concept has already raised international
interest - especially in Europe and in the Far East - not only for its
originality, but thanks to the high reputation of Finland's education system
and the country's pioneering spirit in the field of innovation. The learning
factory is a model application of Finnish innovation whereby producers and
users of information and knowledge are studied as a whole, rather than as
separate entities. Key tools include increasing research and development
funding and a strong emphasis on know-how and education.
Number one
for creativity
Helsinki was ranked as number one in Europe for
competitiveness in terms of creativity, knowledge economy, sectoral
productivity performance, and economic performance (European Competitiveness
Index, ECI, 2004). The high ranking is based on investment in research and
development, patent applications and the number of people employed in the ICT
field in both the private and public sectors.
For additional information, please
contact:
Factory head Heikki Tupola, Electria,
mobile +358 40 578
4561;
e-mail: heikki.tupola@evtek.fi
More
information on the Helsinki Region: www.helsinkiregion.com
More
information on the Finnish innovation system:
www.tekes.fi/eng/
|
Eibis International. Webdesign by www.easy-pc.biz . |
