Finland - Jyvaskyla Region - Final Self-Evaluation Report.pdf

Currently the priority of ITRI’s development activities is further elaborating of its strengths, its projectmanagement expertise and co-operation with the enterprises and between the other research and educationunits locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.Institute for Environmental ResearchRoleThe Institute for Environmental Research of the University of Jyväskylä is a national institute set up in 1968to produce research data on the environment. The Institute provides scientific research, services, training andaccredited laboratory services in the environmental field for authorities, private and public organizations andenterprises. The number of regular staff employed by the institute is 40, and 5-10 trainees and studentsworking on their graduation thesis are recruited for projects yearly. The operation of the institute is fundedby external sources. The operation area covers the whole Finland and approximately fifth of all activities istargeted to Central Finland.Starting points and channels of regional effectivenessThe regional effectiveness of the research centre is channelled by various environmental developmentprojects and laboratory services. Integrating certain functions of the Finnish Environment Institute with theUniversity of Jyväskylä is seen as a great opportunity for increasing regional effectiveness in the future.Regional co-operation and the division of tasksThe institute has intensive co-operation with regional intermediary organizations (Jyväskylä RegionalDevelopment Company Jykes Ltd. and Jyväskylä Science Park) focusing, e.g., on regional strategy work(research strategies and other operational strategies). Connections to large-scale industrial firms of the regionare based on customer co-operation whereas the small and medium-sized enterprises of the region participatein many development projects. However, due to the small size of the Jyväskylä region it is not able to exploitthe whole potential of the institute’s expertise, and thus it is impossible to maintain the large environmentallaboratory by regional resources alone.The Institute for Environmental Research carries out annually at least one large project in co-operation withthe Jyväskylä Polytechnic. Both institutions aim to increase co-operation in the future.Areas of strength and prioritising of activitiesThe strength of the Institute for Environmental Research is versatile expertise. The operations are expandedby the accredited laboratory services and co-operation with other units of the university. Areas of researchand development expertise include watercourses, air quality and environmental noise, soil and contaminatedareas, biological effects of contaminants, and questions connected to waste management, water treatment andother environmental technology.Regional stakeholdersJyväskylä Regional Development Company Jykes Ltd.Role of the organizationThe main tasks of the Jyväskylä Regional Development Company Jykes Ltd. are (1) developing the regionalenterprises and supporting innovation processes (especially in the business competence phase) and (2)creating preconditions for an innovative operational environment (infrastructure, availability of competentlabour force, developing networks and entrepreneurial atmosphere, and increasing the attractiveness of theregion etc.). Jykes provides services especially for smaller growth enterprises in low technology fields.Defining the roles of regional actors is considered important, although, from the point of view of Jykes, cooperationalready has a good foundation. The importance of co-operation is further emphasized when thenew period of EU funding starts, and instead of having small individual projects, new projects have to formlarge-scale programmes with multiple participating actors. Jykes co-operates closely with the JyväskyläScience Park. The Regional Council of Central Finland and Employment and Economic Development Centreare the most significant financiers of Jykes’ projects. The goals of provincial development and developmentof the Jyväskylä region are not considered to be controversial.138