The project’s commercial partners comprise three leading Finnish cleantech suppliers: Outotec, Kemira and Metso. This consortium supports the creation of new environmental service innovations for different industries and can be a source of totally new environmental solutions. By bringing together companies from different fields of expertise, the project offers true potential for cross-industry innovation. Outotec and Kemira can collaborate in creating new solutions for the mining industry in particular, as both companies strive to diminish environmental impacts in the sector. And solutions developed for the mining industry could be ported to other industries. Kemira can collaborate with Metso in innovating new solutions to decrease waste water load in the pulp and paper industry. In short, this consortium has real potential to innovate solutions, and in the long run, the companies’ and their lead customers’ co-creation could lead to the emergence of new industrial ecosystems.
The project is funded by Tekes and it is also alongside with the Finnish Cleantech Cluster and Cleantech Finland in communicating outcomes to a wider network of firms. These associations’ company members constitute an extended partner group that can benefit from the project’s results.
Outotec is a leading developer and provider of process solutions, technologies and services for the mining and metallurgical industries. Outotec’s businesses are organized into four areas: Non-ferrous Solutions; Ferrous Solutions; Energy, Light Metals and Environmental Solutions; and Services. 63 % of Outotec technologies are classified according to the OECD definition as Environmental Goods and Services. Outotec environmental solutions help save water, energy and raw materials and reduce emissions and waste. Research collaboration with Outotec focuses on facilitating the development and commercialization of the company’s innovative automation solutions with lead customers located in Finland and China. This project aims to generate new tools for co-creation between Outotec and its lead customers, evaluate the environmental performance of co-created automation solutions and reduce their time to market.
Kemira is a global water chemistry company focused on serving customers in water-intensive industries. Kemira offers chemical products and integrated systems that improve customers’ energy, water, and raw material efficiency. The company serves Paper, Municipal & Industrial, Oil & Mining and ChemSolutions interests. Kemira solutions deliver efficient water use, water treatment, and recycling to prevent pollution and alleviate water shortages. Research collaboration with Kemira focuses on facilitating the development and commercialization of new water treatment solutions with Kemira’s lead customers in the mining industry. The research project aims to develop systematic ways for co-creation and value assessment, and to facilitate the commercialization of new innovative water treatment solutions.
Metso is a global supplier of technology and services for the mining, construction, power generation, oil & gas, recycling, and pulp & paper industries. Solutions and services aim to improve productivity and gain environmental quality. At the moment Metso is developing its own life cycle assessment (LCA) tools as assessing environmental impacts is one the company’s key development areas. Metso uses LCA both internally for decision support and externally in marketing its technologies. The present undertaking integrates with the internal LCA project and develops new processes for evaluating the environmental performance and value-in-use of Metso’s cleantech solutions. Research collaboration with Metso focuses on facilitating the development and commercialization of new cleantech solutions for Metso’s lead customers in the pulp and paper industry. The offered solutions and services aim to improve both productivity and environmental quality.
The Finnish Cleantech Cluster acts as a network of co-operation involving four centres of expertise specialised in clean technology located in Lahti, Kuopio, Oulu and Uusimaa. Through the Cleantech cluster, it is possible to reach more than 300 Finnish cleantech companies. The cluster comes under the Centre of Expertise Programme (OSKE) run by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. The primary objective of the Cleantech cluster is to increase Finnish environmental business, create new jobs and take advantage of global markets. The cluster operates in co-operation with Finpro to promote the Cleantech Finland brand.
The Cleantech Finland brand governed by Finpro supports the growth of Finland’s environmental business sector and builds the country’s reputation as a leading cleantech country and the number one supplier of clean technology. The objective of the Cleantech Finland brand is to increase awareness of Finnish enterprises amongst national and international stakeholder groups and to raise Finland’s profile as a responsible high-tech and environmental expert, worthy of investment and relocation. The long-term goal for Cleantech Finland is to profile Finland as the best-known cleantech country by 2012. Cleantech Finland has offices in 40 countries around the world through the Finpro network. The Cleantech Finland brand is owned by the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK.
Tekes is the most important publicly funded expert organization for financing research, development and innovation in Finland. Tekes boosts wide-ranging innovation activities in research communities, industry and service sectors. Besides funding technological breakthroughs, Tekes emphasises the significance of service-related, design, business, and social innovations. Research, development and innovation funding target projects that create the greatest benefits for the economy and society in the long-term. The Serve – Pioneers of Service Business programme encourages Finnish companies to become global forerunners in the customer-centric, knowledge-based service business.