Lappeenranta Attractiveness Program underway Technopolis Plc is strengthening its supply of services promoting business with Russia. It has just begun to implement the Lappeenranta Attractiveness Program that highlights services for companies doing business with Russia. Pertti Huuskonen, President and CEO of Technopolis, emphasizes that the company has for some time aimed at more permanently extending its services for the Russian market. One way of doing this is to develop operations at Lappeenranta, near the Russian border. "Lappeenranta has developed into a lively hub of Russian trade, attracting both eastbound western companies and Russian companies aiming at western markets. It is these companies, among others, that we now want to serve better," says CEO Huuskonen. Three focal points for the Attractiveness Program Business with Russia is central to the Lappeenranta Attractiveness Program that Technopolis has begun to implement together with the City of Lappeenranta. Other focal points of the program are the forest industry and distributed energy generation. The Program, which will last until the end of 2010, is an attempt to boost the Lappeenranta region's success in competing for companies, investments and skilled employees. One goal of the Attractiveness Program is to establish a Center for Russian Business that would serve companies and other entities in Lappeenranta. It would offer business development, training, growth and marketing programs, and relocation services for customers interested in Lappeenranta and Russia. With respect to the forest industry, the Program aims to strengthen Lappeenranta as an international capital for the industry. Its aim in distributed energy generation is to support the region's development as a significant center of expertise in research and production related to this sector. In this connection, the Program aims to create new R&D for distributed energy generation in Lappeenranta and the related production of equipment and services. Technology center being planned in the heart of Lappeenranta A new Technopolis technology center is being planned in the heart of Lappeenranta. The first stage will have five floors and a total floor area of 3,150 square meters. Marketing of the center is well-advanced and there has been keen interest among companies. Almost half of the premises have already been rented to eleven companies. The investment decision required before construction can start is expected by the early summer at the latest. Marjut Hannelin to retire Marjut Hannelin, Director of the Lappeenranta Unit of Technopolis and CEO of Technopolis Kareltek will retire at the end of this year. Hannelin has served as CEO of Kareltek for 20 years. A search has been initiated for her successor. For further information, please contact: Technopolis Plc, Pertti Huuskonen, President and CEO, +358 400 680 816 Marjut Hannelin, Director of the Lappeenranta Unit, +358 400 556 653 In terms of the number of customer companies, Technopolis Plc is one of Europe's largest technology centers. It is also Finland's largest company that specializes in providing operating environments for high tech companies and offers a comprehensive service package combining modern premises and business and development services. Technopolis operates in Espoo, Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta, Oulu, Tampere and Vantaa in Finland, and in St. Petersburg in Russia. Some 12,000 people from 930 companies are currently working in its technology centers. The company's shares are quoted on the mid cap list of the Nordic Exchange.