BIND - Bioinnovaatioiden edistäminen

Bioeconomy is a rapidly evolving sector, that needs a great number of inventors and small companies to create and realize new biobased products. Importance of individuals and small enterprises as creators of new ideas can be notable. Running innovation systems just don't serve them satisfactory way, so new operation models based on cooperation must be developed. Idea itself, even a patented one, is not enough to start new business, but it must be developed first so far that it's usefulness can be evaluated credibly. In order to reach that level much financial resources, good partners, know-how and development work lasting even many years might be needed. Individual inventors and small enterprises are very often lacking these assets, or they must take too high risks in order to get them.
An ERDF financed project Bioeconomy campus innovation system - phase I (A71898) created a model that is based on an idea to join together training organizations at the Bioeconomy campus with the local business development organizations with their innovation processes. Thus promotion of early phase business ideas would be supported by a training society, that offers new know-how and skills for inventors, but also a co-operation project between the JAMK and local business development companies implementing general innovation promotion, pre-evaluation and sorting of ideas borne among inventors, importing top information about the development of bioeconomy, prototyping and testing the ideas, and supporting introduction of ideas to potential utilizers. The project is a piloting project of the operation model implemented in the area of Karstula and Saarijärvi municipalities. As a result of the project an operation model for promotion of early stage business ideas tested in practical conditions will be launched. In parallel, a group of inventors will create a network of active innovators and a number of concrete ideas will be developed until the introduction phase. The results of the project will be used for starting the activity, but also in applying the model in other environments.