Innovations and Ecosystems
In Oulu, innovations and their development have always been based on co-creation and collaboration between different operatives.
The ecosystems and clusters of different industries all have diverse representation from education, research, business, and the public sector in Oulu. In 2009, a network of networks called Oulu Innovation Alliance was established to support this collaboration.
On top of digitalisation
One of the things we in Oulu know exceptionally well, is product development – you can come to Oulu with an idea and leave with a finished product in hand. We have all the know-how you will ever need to productise, fund, test, and commercialise your innovation to the international market.
Every day, close to 3 billion people globally use mobile technologies developed in Oulu. By combining expertise and wireless know-how to different sectors, like health and life science technologies and the industry, smart ICT solutions are introduced to deliver advanced, personalised, and connected services for all business sectors.
The OuluHealth ecosystem is at the forefront of digital health by converging health and life science solutions with ICT. As one result, the world’s smartest hospital is being built in Oulu and completed by the year 2030. Oulu is also e.g., home of printed electronics, which is dramatically changing the way in which automotive industry is designing, developing, and manufacturing cars.
Testbed for smart solutions
In recent years, the ecosystem of the technology industry of Oulu has changed into a hub of tens of global product development units. In Oulu, end users and developers meet in a real-world operating environment in which solutions become functional.
Innovation environments are meeting places for ideas, teams and companies, and places where new solutions and businesses can be developed and tested. They use methods of co-development and provide innovation services.
Oulu Innovation Alliance
In Oulu, innovations and their development is based on co-creation and collaboration between different operatives. The ecosystems and clusters of different industries all have diverse representation from education, research, business, and the public sector. In 2009, a network of networks called Oulu Innovation Alliance was established to support this collaboration. Oulu Innovation Alliance is your gateway to the best networks and ecosystems in the Oulu region.
The place to be for startups
Collaboration between companies, the public sector, and the universities is seamless, and the city is bursting with innovations and opportunities for creating new things. Oulu offers world-class education and training as well as technological expertise that will elevate the know-how of your company to a new level.
Startup Station
Startup Station is a hub offering inspiration, knowledge and networking for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups through events and training programs. Our premises include a studio, an event space and temporary co-working for the members.
Dealroom
The Oulu Dealroom database contains information about startups, new innovations, investors, funding rounds and many other matters concerning business operations in the Oulu region.
All startups, investors, and other stakeholders in the ecosystem can add information about their companies and organizations to the database, as well as customize their profiles as needed.
Business and innovation ecosystems
Take a closer look at our networks and ecosystems. You’re welcome to boost your business with us!
Leading digitalisation and ICT
A pioneering city for digitalisation, Oulu boasts 50 years of expertise in wireless technology. Every day, close to 3 billion people globally use mobile technologies developed in Oulu. A lot of the much talked about 5G technology has been created in Oulu, and the visionaries at the University of Oulu already have their eyes on the next wireless generation – 6G.
In recent years, the ecosystem of the technology industry of Oulu has changed into a hub of tens of global product development units. By combining expertise and wireless know-how to different sectors, like health and life science technologies and the industry, smart ICT solutions are introduced to deliver advanced, personalised, and connected services for all business sectors.
Pioneering health technology
The Oulu region is the second largest hub of health technology in Finland. Health and life science companies, research institutions and the public sector operate as a network called OuluHealth. The aim is to create new business opportunities, boost the development of companies, and, of course, to offer better solutions for developing healthcare services and well-being around the world.
Oulu’s competitive advantage lies especially in seamless combination of health technology, life science, medicine, and different aspects of engineering. The OuluHealth ecosystem is at the forefront of digital health by converging health and life science solutions with ICT. As one result, the world’s smartest hospital is being built in Oulu and completed by the year 2030.
The future of automotive industry
The Oulu Automotive Cluster is one of the most rapidly growing national business clusters. It is an open ecosystem where companies and research institutes co-develop solutions for automotive electrification, autonomous traffic, and new business models for mobility. The cluster helps small and medium-sized companies to find customers and partners in the automotive industry.
Expertise in ICT, world-class education, and unique co-creation serve as fuel for innovation and business Oulu has been leading the global development of 5G technology and is already spearheading the future of 6G (opens in a new tab). Oulu is also home of printed electronics (opens in a new tab) which is dramatically changing the way in which automotive industry is designing, developing, and manufacturing cars.
MetaCity
MetaCity is a leap to a novel generation of smart city concept to accelerate the evolvement of digital and virtual city services and governance to the next level of the post-pandemic era, after the transition to virtual cooperation. The cornerstones of MetaCity are in the high-technology but strong focus of co-innovation is in the services.
