Food for Thought about Business Development

by Tiina Mäki-Petäjä

A perfect picnic includes sandwiches, refreshments, good company and interesting discussions. This was the inspiration for the last local stakeholder event organized by the University of Lapland as part of the Skills2Scale project. The event “Business Picnic” served a tasting menu of business development, business growth and creating innovations. Companies, funders, business developers and Higher Education Institutions gathered to discuss and network at the event held at the Service Innovation Corner (SINCO) at the Faculty of Art and Design in University of Lapland, Finland. 

Businesses need support such as financial incentives, advice in internationalizing, networks and fruitful cooperation in order to grow their company and generate new ideas. All of these topics and many more were covered by speeches and lively discussions held at the event. Regional perspective to business development was brought by a representative from Lapland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) showcasing Team Finland research, development and innovation services and financing for companies. Followed by local business developer Business Rovaniemi presentation covering InnoCity Rovaniemi, which is a cooperation project with the state of Finland and university city Rovaniemi to boost development of a competitive local innovation ecosystem and impactful RDI activities. Last but not least University of Lapland and Lapland University of Applied Sciences presented different types of cooperation with companies including research, development, projects, labs, theses and internships.

There were so many fresh ideas for business development that participants might have a hard time picking just one! The picnic event sparked connections between entrepreneurs and professionals, paving the way for future collaborations

More information about Service Innovation Corner (SINCO) can be found in the article in the Library

Sources: Networking event organized by Skills2Scale project: Business Picnic, 7th of June, 2024, University of Lapland, Finland. Service Innovation Corner (SINCO).