Commissioner Olli Rehn: “Knowledge is our only enduring asset”

Knowledge-based companies will enjoy the greatest success in the future, say EU–Russia Innovation Forum speakers Anssi Vanjoki, Professor of Practice at Lappeenranta University of Technology, and Commissioner Olli Rehn. Such companies base their operations on research and knowledge – the expertise of entrepreneurs or employees. With cost-based competition becoming increasingly difficult in international business, knowledge-based companies keep increasing in importance.

“Knowledge-based entrepreneurship, for example by academic start-ups, is a trend in the 2000s that continues to grow,” says Anssi Vanjoki, Professor of Practice at the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT).

Olli Rehn, EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro, views investing in research, innovation and education as the only way of ensuring European competitiveness.

“While the EU cannot tempt companies primarily based on its cost levels, expertise and support for companies in the innovation and commercialisation of innovations form an attractive factor,” Rehn says.

Programme for Innovation Forum published

The programme for the EU–Russia Innovation Forum, to be held in Lappeenranta next June, has now been published and can be found in its entirety at http://www.eurussiainnoforum.com.

The main themes of the forum are the green economy, cleantech and energy efficiency. With the entire world searching for solutions to stave off climate change and save energy, knowledge-based companies operating in these areas could achieve rapid international success.

However, they will need commercialisation, marketing and financing know-how in addition to their core expertise. The EU–Russia Innovation Forum provides an opportunity to network with experts in one's own industry and other lines of business.

“A successful company basing its operations on knowledge and expertise needs an international team of people with the individual strengths they bring. Inspiring events such as the Innovation Forum provide an excellent opportunity for experts and entrepreneurs to network internationally across Russia, Europe and Finland,” says Vanjoki.

For more information, please contact:
Veli Matti Virolainen, Vice Rector, Lappeenranta University of Technology, tel. +358 40 541 1862

Enquiries regarding accreditation and practical arrangements:

Eeva Pihlajaniemi, tel. +358 44 052 3056, eeva.pihlajaniemi@wirma.fi

EU–Russia Innovation Forum will be held in Lappeenranta on 4–6 June 2014. The event's theme is Green Growth Economy. The forum will be organised by the Lappeenranta University of Technology LUT and the City of Lappeenranta. In 2012, the event was attended by 800 participants from 34 countries.