In addition to carrying out development programmes and projects, Oulu Innovation supports the enterprises´ success by providing a variety of services.

Needs assessments
Oulu Innovation continuously collects enterprises´ views on different development needs. The needs assessments also help in the fine-tuning of the innovation strategy.

Communications
Oulu Innovation brings up views from private and public sector concerning the regions´ development for wider awareness and debate. The company also actively disseminates information on the status of the region as well as its own operations and their results. In addition, Oulu Innovation provides opportunities for newly established enterprises to be engaged in communications operations.

Networks
One of Oulu Innovation´s most essential tasks is to build and maintain both national and international networks between enterprises and other stakeholders. The networks facilitate the enterprises entering into new markets as well as bringing them more customers and co-operation partners.

The regional Centres of Expertise that belong to the Centre of Expertise programme form an important national network. In addition, Oulu Innovation co-operates with the business development companies of major Finnish cities as well as the Swedish Internet Bay. The Multipolis network, consisting of cutting-edge technology expertise centres in the north, is also important.

The contracts closed between Oulu Innovation and the City of Sendai, SIPO (Sendai Industrial Promotion Organization), Kotef (Korea Industrial Technology Foundation ), Daedeok Innopolis (Korea) and EU joint research centre JRC set the framework to Oulu Innovation´s international operations.

Consultation
Oulu Innovation provides enterprises and other network members with a diverse range of support tools. If necessary, it will also assist enterprises to find the kind of specialist counselling required.

Financing
Finding new financing instruments for enterprises and development measures is one of the services offered by Oulu Innovation.

Project preparation
Oulu Innovation provides enterprises and research institutes with funding, which can be applied separately, for the feasibility studies, investigation of new areas of business, development of product concepts and commercialisation of expertise.