Invest in Finland

Finland conducting major research programme into safety and security

03/09/2009

The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes) is conducting a major research programme into safety and security. The Tekes Safety and Security Programme is bringing together enterprises, researchers and authorities to develop world class safety and security systems and services in the context of a rapidly growing international safety and security market.

The programme is financing R&D projects worth EUR 80 million in the period 2007-2013 and it offers R&D funding for foreign companies registered in Finland with R&D activities in Finland. The programme also provides valuable networking opportunities between companies, universities and research bodies, public sector end users, authorities, and industrial associations, as well as providing links with the European Union’s security research programme. International cooperation and co-projects are highly valued.

The programme covers a wide range of topics encompassing information safety, industrial production processes, transport and logistics, food safety, environmental monitoring and crisis management. The programme is based on three focus areas. Firstly, the field of National safety and security covers research involving defense, the border guard, police, rescue, fire fighting and customs operations. Secondly, the field of Industrial safety and security deals with the full range of corporate needs and respective solutions. Thirdly, Citizens’ safety focuses on safety and security aspects in housing and leisure time.

Finnish industry possesses a wealth of expertise that can be effectively utilized in the safety business. The programme aims to connect different fields of expertise, enabling the introduction of new products, systems and services, as well as supporting the emergence of a new cross-technological and internationally competitive safety cluster.

Source: Tekes