Innofinland Prizes of the President of the Republic 2007
INNOFINLAND 2007: Innovations and age
The national Innofinland Prizes of the President of the Republic 2007 were awarded for the 14th time at the National Board of Patents and Registration in Helsinki on the National Innovation Day on 20 November 2007.
Five equal national Innofinland Prizes and two honourable mentions were presented. The prizewinners received an Innofinland statuette and an honorary diploma.
The prizewinners are innovative Finnish businesses which through their know-how have answered the needs of private persons and improved the competitiveness of businesses in an inventive way.
The theme for Innofinland 2007 was ‘Innovations and age’. The theme made known good practices and companies which have recognised the importance of developing products and services for the elderly. A total of 181 entries took part in Innofinland 2007: Uusimaa, Kymenlaakso, Satakunta, and South and North Karelia were the most active provinces.
President of the Republic Tarja Halonen together with the Chairman of the Innofinland Jury, President of the NBPR Martti Enäjärvi, and the Chairman of the Working Committee, Executive Director Juha Jutila presented the national Innofinland Prize 2007 to the following businesses:
• Codenomicon Oy, Oulu: Data security testing tool – Defensics products
• Erikoistyö Mäki Oy, Isokoski: Easy access threshold for fire doors
• Innohome Oy, Espoo: Device for preventing electrical fires and water damage at home
• Pensi Rescue Oy, Vammala: Ergonomic system for patient transports
• Seniortek Oy, Rovaniemi: Security and monitoring system for service homes
The honourable mentions went to
• Symbicon Oy, Kajaani: Long-lasting digital information and signboard for global conditions
• Viconsys Oy, Jyväskylä: Combined process and quality monitoring system applying digital machine vision technology
In addition to the national prizes, regional Innofinland Prizes were presented earlier this autumn.
Purpose and background organisations of Innofinland
The purpose of the Innofinland Project is to promote creativity, skill and entrepreneurial spirit in Finland in a practical and creative way in order to improve opportunities to increase well-being nationally. The Innofinland Contest awards both technological and service innovations, and combined technological and service innovations, made by creative and skilled Finnish businesses.
Innofinland was established in 1994, and the President of the Republic acts as patron of the project. The national Innofinland Prizes are awarded, both regionally and nationally, each year as an acknowledgement of and encouragement for innovative entrepreneurship. The prize can be awarded to businesses, organisations or persons whose ideas, inventions or innovations significantly have promoted creativity, entrepreneurship, co-operation and employment in Finland.
The organisers of Innofinland consist of a wide range of influential bodies in Finnish business life: Central Chamber of Commerce of Finland, Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), Employment and Economic Development Centres (T&E Centres), Federation of Finnish Enterprises, Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes), Finnish National Fund for Research and Development (Sitra), Finnish Regional Councils, Foundation for Finnish Inventions, Jobs & Society in Finland, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Trade and Industry, National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland, National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (Stakes), educational establishments and other organisations supporting innovative activities.
Innoschool
In addition to the Innofinland Prizes, the National Innovation Day ceremony on 20 November 2007 also included the presentation of the annual prizes in the Innoschool Innovation Event for school pupils.
Further details of the prizewinners are available from:
• Chairman of the Innofinland Working Committee, Mr Juha Jutila, tel. +358 (0)9 020 737 3007, e-mail: juha.jutila@keksintosaatio.fi
• Project Manager, Innofinland, Mr Timo Suokas, tel. +358 (0)9 6939 5308, mob +358 (0)40 772 1733, e-mail: timo.suokas@prh.fi
• Project Secretary, Innofinland, Ms Leena Puolimatka, tel. +358 (0)9 6939 5239, mob +358 (0)40 546 0125, e-mail: leena.puolimatka@prh.fi
• Director of Communications, Mr Juha Klemola, National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland, tel. +358 (0)9 6939 5800, e-mail: juha.klemola@prh.fi
