2011 Innofinland Prizes of the President of the Republic

The national Innofinland Prizes of the President of the Republic were awarded at the eighteenth annual ceremony at the National Board of Patents and Registration (NBPR) in Helsinki on National Innovation Day – 29 November 2011.

The theme for Innofinland 2011 was “Intelligent systems and services – a better functioning world”. Technology is all around us, and intelligent solutions have been integrated into systems, software, processes and devices in order to control society and its infrastructure. This theme leads us to encourage businesses and organisations to use intelligent and user friendly solutions in products and services by using new technology and new working methods.

A total of 200 entries took part in the contest. Most entries came from the provinces Uusimaa (in southern Finland), the Tampere Region, Northern Ostrobothnia, and Southern Ostrobothnia.

Five national Innofinland Prizes of equal merit and two honourable mentions were presented. The prize winners received an Innofinland statuette and an honorary diploma.

President Tarja Halonen together with the Chair of the Innofinland Jury, Director General of the NBPR Rauni Hagman, and the Chair of the Innofinland Working Committee, Managing Director Pekka Tsupari presented the national Innofinland Prizes 2011 to the following businesses:

Cieltum Oy, Ulvila: Software service for managing life cycle information of a device from its production to its disposal.

Creanex Oy, Tampere: A testing solution for control systems to increase the efficiency of product development by machine manufacturers in the forestry and mining industries.

Eazybreak Oy, Helsinki: Intelligent system for the management of fringe benefits. Paper vouchers will be replaced by an electronic service with mobile phone vouchers.

MeVEA Oy, Lappeenranta: New generation’s product development simulator. The solution reduces the need for prototypes as the products are developed to a greater degree of completion in a virtual environment.

Wegera Oy, Oulunsalo: Kolibri – compact 5-axis CNC module for machining complex components. Kolibri can be used to train cnc programmers, machinists and other high-level experts in production technology.

The honourable mentions went to:

Liqum Oy, Jyväskylä: Measuring and monitoring service for clean water and liquid quality assurance. Owing to the electrochemical measuring method and wireless data transmission technology, the service can be used in an almost unlimited number of fields.

Rockway Oy, Kauniainen: Music school on the web. The service helps you learn different instruments, and write and record your own music.

Regional Innofinland Prizes were presented earlier this autumn in different parts of Finland.

Innoint and Innoschool

In addition to the Innofinland Prizes, the annual prizes in the Innoint Invention Contest for Conscripts and in the Innoschool Innovation Event for school pupils were awarded for the twelfth time at the National Innovation Day ceremony.

A total of 79 entries were submitted to the Innoint Contest; four of them were awarded a prize, and three received an honourable mention.

This year, the Mikkeli Region took part in Innoschool. In the vocational college category, final projects of students in South Savo Vocational College were judged. Two projects won an award.

Seven classes took part in the comprehensive school category for first- and second-grade pupils. A total of 59 entries were submitted, five of which won an award.

Purpose and background organisations of Innofinland

The purpose of the Innofinland Project is to promote creativity, skill and entrepreneurial spirit in Finland in a new and practical way in order to develop opportunities to increase welfare and wellbeing nationally. The Innofinland Contest awards both technology and service innovations, either alone or in combination, made by skilled and creative Finnish businesses.

Innofinland was established in 1994, and the President of Finland acts as its patron. The Innofinland Prizes – both national and regional – are awarded each year to acknowledge and encourage innovative entrepreneurship. The prize can be awarded to a business, organisation or private person whose ideas, inventions or innovations have significantly promoted creativity, entrepreneurship, co-operation and employment in Finland.

The organisers of Innofinland 2011 are: the Association for Finnish Work; the Central Chamber of Commerce of Finland; the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres); the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK); the Federation of Finnish Enterprises; the Finnish Enterprise Agencies; the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes); Finnish Regional Councils; the Foundation for Finnish Inventions; the Ministry of Employment and the Economy; the Ministry of the Environment; the National Board of Patents and Registration; Åland Technology Center; and educational establishments and other organisations that support innovative activities.

Further information from:

Mr Timo Suokas, Project Manager, Innofinland, tel. +358 9 6939 5308, mob. +358 40 772 1733, email timo.suokas(at)prh.fi

Ms Leena Puolimatka, Communications Coordinator, Innofinland, tel. +358 9 6939 5239, mob. +358 40 546 0125, email leena.puolimatka(at)prh.fi

Ms Anna Lauttamus-Kauppila, Director of Communications, NBPR, tel. +358 9 6939 5800, email anna.lauttamus-kauppila(at)prh.fi