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

Box 4.4 The cluster of expertise in renewable energyIn the initial phase of the Centre of Expertise Programme in the mid 1990s the professorships ofenvironmental technology were created at the University of Jyväskylä with the financial support ofproject and private sector funding. This was followed by the allocation of project funding to thedevelopment of expertise in biogas technology by getting pilot equipment and instruments for forming aresearch environment. This process has allowed the development of expertise in the field of renewableenergy, and businesses connected to it are expected to increase in number and to extend eveninternationally in the future.A large group of actors cooperates in the field of renewable energy in Central Finland. In addition to theHEIs, this group includes the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Jyväskylä Science Park,municipalities and enterprises. The Jyväskylä Polytechnic’s Institute for Natural Resources is asignificant provider of education in the field of bioenergy within the province and has notable expertisein project work. It also functions as an expert for an international centre of expertise in bioenergy. TheUniversity of Jyväskylä has established a Study and Research Programme in Renewable Energy, whichrelies heavily on the expertise in the Faculty of Mathematics and Science. Research focuses on biogas,liquid biofuels, solar heat and electricity, local hybrid solutions and hydrogen technology. Theprogramme is a joint educational and research effort of three faculties of the University of Jyväskylä(coordinated by the Chemistry Department), and it received EU structural funding in the amount of EUR1.5 million for the years 2003 – 2006. The cluster of expertise in the area is strengthened by BENET, abioenergy consortium of enterprises and public organizations of Central Finland managed by theJyväskylä Science Park. BENET aims at combining the resources of regional enterprises and carrying outlarger and more challenging development projects than the member organizations could manage on theirown.Energy technology is one of the key fields of the Jyväskylä Centre of Expertise Programme.Emphasising renewable energy supports on its part the much needed prioritization of activities. Themultidisciplinary challenges and horizontal innovations involved in the field of renewable energy requirecooperation of many different types of experts. The aim is to transfer this expertise to the use of region’sbusiness life through project work, thus creating new business that would further strengthen the cluster ofexpertise. The development of the renewable energy field supports goals set for sustainable developmentat both national and EU-level and conforms with the policies of the Lisbon strategy on commercializinginnovations. The project is expected to have significant regional effects in the future. Knowledgedevelopment and the networked based operation aiming at the development of business are in a keyposition.Two aspects are important to consider when analysing the transfer of R&D knowledge of HEIs to regionalactors. Firstly, it is essential to meet the emerging needs and demands of firms (demand orientation), andsecondly, the HEIs’ expertise should be easily accessible (availability). According to the findings, mappingout the R&D needs and demands of firms and other regional actors is not systematically organized in theHEIs of the Jyväskylä region even if its relevance is well acknowledged among the staff. There is alsosignificant variation in the level of demand orientation between the fields of study of both institutions. Oneimportant step towards more systematic information gathering was the launching of the learning networkteam of Central Finland – OPTIIMI, in 2004. It aims at mapping out the future needs of firms and otherorganizations in Central Finland. However, the possibilities of OPTIIMI to concentrate on the needs ofindividual firms are limited and thus remain in charge of the faculties and schools.Due to the more regionally oriented role of polytechnics, the Jyväskylä Polytechnic seems to be more activein surveying the regional needs. To support the continuing interaction with the regional actors thePolytechnic has developed a system of advisory councils, which allows for the representatives of firms,regional organizations and other important partners to discuss the new development ideas and needs. Theexperiences of this type of an activity have been quite positive.The representatives of both HEIs are unanimous in their opinion about the importance of networks. Effectiveinteractive networks based on partnership and common goals among firms, HEIs and other regional actors53