InnoAreena brought together maritime industry leaders and South Karelia’s experts

In September, InnoAreena brought together SMEs and researchers from South Karelia at the Skinnarila campus in Lappeenranta. The free networking event gave local participants a direct opportunity to engage with two globally operating Finnish maritime industry leaders, Meyer Turku and Wärtsilä. During the day, discussions focused on future project and business opportunities and on how companies in the region can become part of international value chains.

Lead company programmes create concrete growth opportunities for SMEs

At the heart of the event were Business Finland-funded lead company programmes, which aim to accelerate the green transition and create new innovations for the maritime and energy sectors.

General Manager Kenneth Widell presented Wärtsilä’s Veturi programme and practical models for collaboration, while Ecosystem Lead Ilkka Rytkölä introduced the key focus areas and future outlook of Meyer Turku’s lead company ecosystem. Anne Suominen from the University of Turku shared industry expert perspectives from the Merimerkit project. The presentations provided SMEs in South Karelia with a clear overview of the types of expertise, technologies and partnerships that major industrial companies are currently seeking from their partner networks.

Funding and support for development

In addition to direct contacts with companies, InnoAreena provided participants with comprehensive information on innovation funding and regional business support services. Satu Penttinen from Business Finland presented funding opportunities available to SMEs to support industrial renewal and internationalisation.

Emma Latvala, Team Leader at Business Mill, highlighted the importance of easily accessible business services when companies are developing new business or commercialising RDI-based innovations. In South Karelia, business services form an ecosystem where companies can conveniently find support and guidance through a single website.

Pitching and networking opened new doors

The afternoon programme showcased a wide range of local expertise, as companies from South Karelia had the opportunity to present their ideas, products and solutions directly to representatives of the lead companies in concise five-minute pitches. Company presentations and informal networking breaks enabled participants to establish new contacts that can serve as first steps towards becoming part of broader national innovation ecosystems.

InnoAreena demonstrated that the Skinnarila campus and the wider South Karelia region have a strong base of knowledge-driven entrepreneurship and research with the potential to respond to the development needs of major global industrial companies.