The aim of the Ekopark project is to develop cooperation between Finland and Russia in the field of waste management. The purpose of the co-operation is to support the development of modern treatment and utilization of waste in North-West Russia, as well as to offer innovation and education services. The main actor in the project is the city of Anjalankoski located in the Kymenlaakso region. Ekopark’s Development Centre for the Utilization of Waste in Anjalankoski is greatly involved in the project.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Technology in Lappeenranta University of Technology is in charge of developing research cooperation within the project in the field of waste management. The aim is to establish Finnish-Russian R&D–projects as well as cooperation between Finnish and Russian corporate parties.
In Finland waste industry has experienced considerable development during the last decades, which gives Russian authorities and companies a possibility to apply the same methods for their own situation. As a result of this kind of co-operation, new and profitable innovations might emerge.
Expected benefits: Inhabitants in the region will benefit of the project as the environmental situation will get better by improving waste treatment. Naturally better waste treatment will also positively affect the state of Gulf of Finland. The benefit for the Finnish parties is the opportunity to get information of waste industry in Russia and possibly entry the market later on.
Finnish partners: City of Anjalankoski, The Regional Council of Kymenlaakso, Kouvola Region, Kymenlaakson Jäte Oy (a waste treatment company in Kymi region), Etelä-Karjalan Jätehuolto Oy (a waste treatment company in South-Karelia region) and Lappeenranta University of Technology.
Russian partners: The committee of natural resources and environment of the Leningrad Oblast and The committee of external relations of St.Petersburg.
Funding: Interreg III A / EAKR.
Duration: 1.1.2004-31.12.2006.
Contact person at Lappeenranta University of Technology:
Mika Horttanainen
Chief research scientist, Department of Energy Technology
Tel. +358 5 621 2726
firstname.lastname@lut.fi