Emphases on research and development

The Tampere Region is the principal centre for research and development in the country after the Helsinki conurbation, accounting for 13-15% of national spending on both private and public-sector R&D. The diversified scientific and technological community and its associated network of educational establishments assure the region's industries and other employers of a continuous supply of highly trained personnel, and new levels of expertise are constantly being created through cooperation and networking between companies, universities, researchers, investors and development companies in the region.

The universities and colleges are international in character, which is a more important dimension than ever with regard to future success, and this orientation is to be seen both in the projects that they undertake and the student and researcher exchanges in which they participate. At the end of their higher education courses, students usually complete their final dissertations in industry.

There are nowadays a large number of units and companies functioning in conjunction with the universities that are engaged in technology transfer, company development, incubator and centre of expertise activities. The Tampere region centre of expertise programme is designed to bring to the fore the expertise that the people of the region possess, strengthen it and market it in an international context. This means encouraging cooperation not only among companies but also between companies and educational institutions, and acting as a focal point for international contacts.

Research is carried out at the various departments of Tampere University of Technology, the University of Tampere, the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) and the research departments of an increasing number of private companies in the region, the largest of which is that attached to Nokia.