The University of Oulu and Technopolis Plc have entered into a strategic cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing their competitiveness, the attractiveness of the Oulu region and the conditions for corporate success in the region. The parties to the agreement have also proposed that the City of Oulu establish a committee of national stature to consider the further development of the University's operations, administration and resources. According to the University's Rector, Lauri Lajunen, the agreement is a practical demonstration of the University of Oulu's willingness to establish close cooperation between research institutes and business activity. At the same time, it affords the University an opportunity to increase its visibility and national influence and improve the quality of research. Lajunen points out that Technopolis is a natural strategic partner for the University. "We operate adjacent to each other, and we share the very same Linnanmaa district with the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Moreover, we have previous experience of very successful cooperation in the field of business development and incubator activity, for example," says Lajunen. For his part, Pertti Huuskonen, President and CEO of Technopolis, emphasizes that both Technopolis and the University of Oulu need strong partners around them. "The University is exceptionally important to us, because the experts it educates and the research work it carries out form the basis for the success of our customer companies. On the other hand, it is very important to the University, for many reasons, that there is strong corporate activity in its immediate surroundings," says Huuskonen. The parties to the cooperation agreement are also proposing that the City of Oulu convene a committee of national stature to consider the development of the University. According to Rector Lajunen, it is important to ensure that the University of Oulu does not miss out, now that national attention is strongly focused on the new innovation university in the Helsinki metropolitan area, the University of Turku, and the alliance of the East Finland universities. "The University of Oulu is ready to develop its operations, administration and resources. I believe it is important that we investigate various means for enhancing these areas, without excluding any possibility or committing to any preconceived solution," says Rector Lajunen. For additional information, please contact: University of Oulu Lauri Lajunen, Rector, +358 8 553 4071 or +358 400 581 472 Technopolis Plc Pertti Huuskonen, President and CEO, +358 8 551 3213 or +358 400 680 816