Unit of Measurement Technology (MITY) - University of Oulu, as regional specilisation infrastructure
Published on 01 February 2018
Finland
Etelä-Suomi
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
PROBLEM SOLVED: The problem solved is industrial valorisation of the berry ingredients in traditional and emerging applications.
ACHIEVING RESULTS: MITY (part of the metrology consortium, former CEMIS-Oulu) is a long term established operator in Kainuu, participating in various development actions. Business-to-research needs are addressed proactively from the business side & mutually when new types of measurements and certification needs come up; research-to-business opportunities are valorised proactively by both researchers and (usually) larger industries with R&D competences and established markets beyond Kainuu. Once a new berry-ingredients-quality is identified, researchers contact businesses proactively and discuss the possibility of a joint project towards a prototype, and actions proceed thereof. The MITY unit "secret" is that it includes scientists with inter-disciplinary competences (e.g. chemistry x industry) and, correspondingly, allowing to appreciate research potential applications in the respective industries.
STAKEHOLDERS: Operator: MITY (measurement unit) of the University of Oulu; Oulu University has concentrated its Kainuu-based technology research and development operations in CEMIS since 2010. REGIONAL ORCHESTRATION: One of the main founders of CEMIS is the Regional Council of Kainuu. This was done as a way to encounter the radical change the resulted the delocalisation of the paper industry in 2008.
ACHIEVING RESULTS: MITY (part of the metrology consortium, former CEMIS-Oulu) is a long term established operator in Kainuu, participating in various development actions. Business-to-research needs are addressed proactively from the business side & mutually when new types of measurements and certification needs come up; research-to-business opportunities are valorised proactively by both researchers and (usually) larger industries with R&D competences and established markets beyond Kainuu. Once a new berry-ingredients-quality is identified, researchers contact businesses proactively and discuss the possibility of a joint project towards a prototype, and actions proceed thereof. The MITY unit "secret" is that it includes scientists with inter-disciplinary competences (e.g. chemistry x industry) and, correspondingly, allowing to appreciate research potential applications in the respective industries.
STAKEHOLDERS: Operator: MITY (measurement unit) of the University of Oulu; Oulu University has concentrated its Kainuu-based technology research and development operations in CEMIS since 2010. REGIONAL ORCHESTRATION: One of the main founders of CEMIS is the Regional Council of Kainuu. This was done as a way to encounter the radical change the resulted the delocalisation of the paper industry in 2008.
Expert opinion
This is an interesting example of successful exploitation of core competence in metrology in combination with proactivity and an interdisciplinary approach. The practice illustrates how industry understanding on the science-side facilitates the search for new business opportunities. Adaptability of the methodology to regional industry sectors benefits the potential of transfer of the practice.
Works at
WSP
Resources needed
1) OPERATIONAL FUNDING (internal costs): East and North Finland ERDF program (funding authority Regional Council of Kainuu).
2) RESEARCH APPLICATION FUNDING: MITY covers ~85 % of its funding externally, through project funding soruces (ESIF, TEKES, H2020, FP7,...).
2) RESEARCH APPLICATION FUNDING: MITY covers ~85 % of its funding externally, through project funding soruces (ESIF, TEKES, H2020, FP7,...).
Evidence of success
1) Berry products: method to prepare lingonberry concentrate for use in cosmetics. Work was performed together with Finnish cosmetics company Lumene. The method was later patented (the patent includes some researchers as a co-authors)
2) 2016n on-line metal analyzer via a startup -company MeoLine (MITY spin off)
3) Number of innovation disclosures made by MITY (a personnel of ~40) was the third highest in the University of Oulu
2) 2016n on-line metal analyzer via a startup -company MeoLine (MITY spin off)
3) Number of innovation disclosures made by MITY (a personnel of ~40) was the third highest in the University of Oulu
Potential for learning or transfer
OVERALL: MITY research activities and development projects are of international relevance. The good practice contributes to access research services especially for compliance measurements, and strengthens the regional innovation chain -especially from the point of view of prototype development.
TRANSFER READINESS: The good practice is readily transferable to other contexts. The focus has been on methodological aspects that turn MITY into a regional (and beyond) crucial specialisation actor. FINDINGS: 1) Proactiveness and interdisciplinarity: from the relevant regional innovation system actors (the research institution, businesses, and business intermediaries); 2) Absorptiveness capacity: businesses must be on levels ensuring research absoprtiveness capacity (BERD indicator).
CONTACT PERSONS: 1) Pekka Kilpeläinen, [email protected]; 2)Jouni Ponnikas, [email protected]
TRANSFER READINESS: The good practice is readily transferable to other contexts. The focus has been on methodological aspects that turn MITY into a regional (and beyond) crucial specialisation actor. FINDINGS: 1) Proactiveness and interdisciplinarity: from the relevant regional innovation system actors (the research institution, businesses, and business intermediaries); 2) Absorptiveness capacity: businesses must be on levels ensuring research absoprtiveness capacity (BERD indicator).
CONTACT PERSONS: 1) Pekka Kilpeläinen, [email protected]; 2)Jouni Ponnikas, [email protected]
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
University of Oulu
Finland
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi
Contact
Senior project manager