Hub signs cooperation agreement with Science Park in Finland

The Innovation Hub has signed a sister-park cooperation agreement with Technopolis Plc, a leading Science Park in Finland, during May this year. The agreement follows the bilateral development cooperation between South Africa and Finland, which will last until 2010 and focuses on education, the environment, job creation and SMME, human rights and democracy development.

Representatives from Technopolis Plc visited the Hub in May this year. Seen during the visit (ltr) were Hub representatives Tsietsi Maleho and Dr Neville Comins with Technopolis representatives Paulina Pikkujamsa and Dr Martti Launonen, as well as Rowan Govender, of the Eastern Cape Information Technology Initiative, who accompanied the visitors to the Hub.

In the development of new bilateral programmes, particular attention will be given to the role of ICT in development, as envisaged by the Finnish and South African Prime Ministers during their meetings in Skagen (2000) and in Molde (2002).

The Hub's relationship with its sister-park in Finland sprang from an introduction to Technopolis Plc by the Counsellor of the Information Society for Development at the Finnish Embassy in Pretoria in November 2004.

Technopolis Plc is one of Europe's largest technology centers and Finland's leading enterprise specialising in creating operating environments for technology companies. It offers a comprehensive service package that combines modern facilities, business and employee services, corporate development services, and regional development services.

The aim of the co-operation agreement between Technopolis Plc and the Hub is to benchmark administrative practices and share learning about technology commercialisation best practice. The two Parks have been involved in joint projects, such as Tshwane SmartCity Project in partnership with the City of Tshwane, and have recently won a tender for the development of the Botswana Innovation Hub business plan.

During their visit to South Africa early in May this year, the Technopolis Plc Vice President and Programme Director for International Relations, Dr Martti Launonen and Ms Paulina Pikkujamsa, spent time at the Hub and met with Dr Neville Comins, Tsietsi Maleho and Jeanette Morwane to discuss current joint projects between to the two Science Parks.

[Back to top]

Next