Duration: 1.10.2026 to 31.12.2028
Project partners: Business Turku implements the project in cooperation with the City of Turku, which is responsible for implementing the innovation ecosystem agreement between Turku and the Finnish state. The project is also linked to the InnoTurku coordination project and the Innovative Cities network.
Funding: The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Renewing and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme. The funding authority is the Regional Council of Uusimaa, and the grant covers up to 60% of eligible costs (maximum €154,821). The remaining share is covered by Business Turku’s municipally funded core budget. The funding supports Specific Objective 1.1, which aims to enhance research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies.
Summary
The Turku region has strong expertise in maritime industry, maritime security and dual-use technologies, but this is not yet sufficiently visible in international research and innovation networks. The project builds permanent international partnerships with peer clusters in Northern Europe and strengthens the ecosystem’s position in EU and NATO-level networks. It also creates links to the industrial ecosystems of leading Northern European maritime industry players.
The project does not develop new technology. It creates the structures through which regional companies, universities and research organisations connect to European RDI networks. In doing so, it supports the implementation of the Southwest Finland smart specialisation strategy and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.
Responsibilities of Business Turku
Business Turku leads the implementation and coordination of the project as part of developing the maritime security ecosystem. It builds the international partnerships and EU-level positioning and brings companies and universities together for co-development in workshops and ecosystem meetings. The operating models and cooperation structures created in the project become part of Business Turku’s permanent ecosystem work.
