HealthBIO - Business at the forefront of science
The HealthBIO cluster strives to increase, internationalize and generate new biotechnology business in Finland. The cluster’s major target group consists of Finland’s approximately 150-200 biotechnology-related companies. A further aim is to support the creation of service enterprises derived from higher education research, and the transfer of technology from higher education institution to businesses.
To support business growth and internationalization, the cluster actively participates in major partnership events within its sectors (pharmaceutical development, diagnostics, biomaterials) in order to acquire customer and financing contacts and visits. The cluster also strives to increase the visibility and raise the profile of the Finnish biotechnology sector, for instance by organizing shared stands in international conferences and producing shared background and marketing materials (such as the BioFinland company catalogue) for use by companies and centres of expertise.
Networking activities
The cluster boosts networking between companies and with research institutions by organising various thematic seminars and national networking events. Seminars are also run on cross-disciplinary topics that are expected to provide new business opportunities in the growing industry. A further aim of the cluster is to improve business competence in the field by organizing training events and participating in business research.
HealthBIO’s infrastructure projects gather together the (thematic) competencies of various centres of expertise under one umbrella, thereby increasing cooperation between areas and fostering their specialisation. The formation of larger competence hubs creates critical mass, provides opportunities for testing new operating models and helps in reaching an international clientele.
The HealthBIO cluster comprises four centres of expertise: Kuopio Innovation Ltd (Kuopio Region Centre of Expertise), Business Oulu (Oulu Region Centre of Expertise), Culminatum Ltd Oy (Helsinki Region Centre of Expertise), Finn-Medi Ltd (Tampere Region Centre of Expertise) and Turku Science Park Ltd (Southwest Finland Centre of Expertise).
Competence Clusters
The Centre of Expertise Programme is implemented by 13 national competence clusters, each of which comprises four to seven regional centres of expertise. A competence cluster forms a network and cooperation forum for its centres of expertise, which is managed with a view to fulfilling shared objectives. Each cluster is appointed a programme director to coordinate the cluster’s national and international operations.
