Activities
The Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation (SHOKs) are a unique cooperation platform for innovative companies and spearheading research.
The SHOKs are networks of a new type that engage in intensive and long-term work to achieve shared goals.
The results are breakthrough innovations of global importance, which can be agilely transformed into growth in business life and wellbeing in society.
The SHOKs will be influential in key areas of business life and society in Finland:
- Energy and the environment CLEEN Ltd
- Metal products and mechanical engineering FIMECC Ltd
- Forestcluster Ltd
- Built environment innovations RYM Ltd
- Health and wellbeing SalWe Ltd
- Information and communication industry and services TIVIT
A not-for-profit limited company, the partners in which include key companies, universities and research institutes in a topic area, is responsible for running each SHOK.
The SHOK’s research strategy is drawn up and decisions on its implementation are made by the partners. Non-partner actors may also take part in research programmes and projects.
The SHOKs carry out research in a virtual research organisation, which may consist of geographically dispersed units.
Research carried out by the SHOKs is strategic, pre-commercial, and as a rule not associated with short-term market goals. As the time span of research usually is 5 - 10 years at minimum, competitors may take part in the same programmes.