TEKES

The National Technology Agency of Finland, Tekes, operates independently under the Ministry of Trade and Industry and co-operates with the Ministry in planning and implementing technology policy in Finland.

Tekes acts as a main contact point in Finland for the RTD Framework Programmes of the EC,  the RTD activities of the European Space Agency and COST and Eureka activities.

Tekes initiates and finances national technology programmes, which are the main tool for implementing Finnish technology policy. Tekes finances research and development projects of universities, research centres and industrial enterprises. Tekes also offers services to SMEs in technology transfer and exploitation-related issues.

The annual budget of Tekes is about € 400 m. Tekes has about 250 employees and it operates in close contact with the Finnish regional Employment and Economic Development Centres (T&E Centres).

Tekes has managed more than 160 national technology programmes since its foundation in 1983. In addition to its technology programme activities, Tekes has been running technology transfer actions in the form of ”Technology Clinics”, which include a large number of projects for SMEs, for about ten years now.