Nina Harjula, National Development Manager, Finnish Cleantech Cluster, Lahti Science and Business Park Ltd, discusses, at the GCCA California Cleantech Collaboration, how the Cluster got started and the role it plays in promoting clean energy.

Full Transcript:

 

Ben Lack:  What is the mission for the Finnish Cleantech Cluster?
Nina Harjula:  As a background, the cluster is part of a center of expertise program in Finland, which is mandated and run by the Ministry of Employment and The Economy, and the Cleantech Cluster is one of the clusters.  The main objective is to increase the Finnish environmental business.  We especially are, at the moment, focusing on the Internationalization programs because the Finnish market is small, so Cleantech companies need to find new markets.  We are looking very actively in the developing countries like India, China, and also, of course, North American markets and in Russia.  There are several places where we are looking at the moment.
Ben Lack:  What is the existing market in Finland?  How big is it?  And what are some of the strengths that come out of the country from a technology perspective?
Nina Harjula:  Well, there are many things.  Surprisingly, we have over 1000 Cleantech companies in Finland and because of the history,  maybe that the economy has been based on forest industry and this very energy-intense industry, and then with the reality that we have in Finland; a very long harsh winter and long distances.  Many companies have learned the energy efficiency and these sort of things already years ago.  It wasn’t discussed then.  Actually, Cleantech innovations today have already been invented in those times.  Now they are just utilized differently and, of course, they have been developed, and there are new innovations coming altogether.  I think those are the main reasons, especially in the energy efficiency in water, water purification, water treatment; we are very strong in Finland.
Ben Lack:  Back to some of the focuses that the cluster has, what would you say would be the top main area of focus?
Nina Harjula:  All the regions have kind of their own specialities and focuses, but maybe one thing that is kind of getting us all together is combining the Cleantech and the ICT know-how in Finland.  You know that we have Nokia from Finland, so we have a lot of knowhow on IT and these technologies.  Now, that we are talking about the importance of measuring and monitoring things because if you cannot measure what is going on and if you cannot monitor it, then you cannot really control it.  That is maybe something that is important to all of us or is kind of the key thing; combining the knowhow on ICT and cleantech (Clean ICT).
Ben Lack:  What role does the Cluster play, as far as helping these companies find funding either for projects, or either for raising capital for their business.
Nina Harjula:  Well, that is big part of what we do. Getting right partners together if we have companies who need funding or partners for R&D projects or any project.  We are the cluster in between the research institute, the universities, and companies. So, we can connect the right partners.  We can also help with funding.  In Europe, we have lots of EU funding available, but it is sometimes complicated and difficult to apply for it and manage the bureaucracy for small companies.  We help also in that sort of funding.  The other part is networking with the venture capital money.  That’s also part of what we do in the cluster.  We organize annually Cleantech Venture Day, which is very good event.  It has been going on for five years.  We have startup companies pitching for international Cleantech venture panels. So, we train them, we coach them with the business plan and presentation and then they pitch in the event, and they get very useful feedback on presenting and good connections with the investors.As it relates to helping these companies generate business internationally, usually, what we do is we collect value chain of companies, so there are big companies acting as flagship helping the smaller ones to get to the market, but then there are small companies who really benefit from the cluster work.  We do our research.  We find the ready projects. For example, in China, the projects and the market, we take the companies to the market and help them to negotiate with the partners or help them to make the offer for the project.  It’s very concrete work sometimes.  Also, in Russia, it’s very concrete finding really the right partners, which is the biggest work.  It usually takes a lot of time for the small companies who don’t have time to do that sort of thing in new markets.
Ben Lack:  Why have you chosen to spend your time working in the industry?
Nina Harjula:  I got interested in three to four years ago.  I had a career behind me with digital media marketing concepts and strategies, and I wanted to do something good, so it sounds very maybe simple, stupid, but I really kind of thought that in this industry you can actually make difference and do something good.  If you help the Cleantech innovations to get to the markets, maybe in that way we can all enjoy the nature a little bit longer and our children can do that.  I really thought this is a nice industry to work in.


Related Posts: