Organizers

Lappeenranta, the vibrant International University City welcomes you to future of innovative cooperation between the EU and Russia. The City has closely cooperated with the City of St. Petersburg on innovation issues since 2005 and this cooperation has earned the name of EU–Russia Innovation Corridor. Its purpose is to promote cooperation in innovation at political, education, research and business levels. The long-term objective is to have the Innovation Collaboration play a significant role in the new EU-Russia Partnership and Co-operation Agreement.
The second most visited city by the foreign tourists, located by the Lake Saimaa 220 km from both St. Petersburg and Helsinki, Lappeenranta is the most important meeting point between the EU and Russia. The capital of European Forest Industry and the visionary in distributed & renewable energy solutions, Lappeenranta is the center of expertise, established networks and innovative business support services. A rich variety of cultural events and memorable eco-tourism experiences at the Lake Saimaa, seasoned with Karelian hospitality, make Lappeenranta an all-year-round tourist destination.

Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) is an international community which conducts scientific research and academic education with more than 6 500 students and experts. Ever since the year 1969, the university has been ahead of its time in combining two fields of science that complement each other – technology and business. These two unique viewpoints, these two different approaches lay a fertile ground for creating new and developing the old.
LUT comprehends the Faculty of Technology, the Faculty of Technology Management, and the School of Business. Their activity is supported by research units and other support services.
The university's areas of strength include energy efficiency and the energy market, strategic management of business and technology, scientific computing and modelling of industrial processes and expertise in Russian business and industry related to the areas above.

European-Russian InnoPartnership (ERIP) started its activity in spring 2008 with the support of European and Russian authorities. ERIP provides services for development and protection of innovation business; it organizes research, appraisal and implementation of the best Russian and European innovation experience.
Main ERIP activities are: creation and development of international multidiscipline expert network; preparation of strategic projects for the region development; enforcement of business and personal contacts of the state officials, representatives of political and business elite in Russia and EU.
One of the main strengths of ERIP is Triple Helix Business – University – Government approach. The members of ERIP are highly respected European and Russian Universities, commercial companies and governmental organizations. ERIP is a team of highly qualified experts. High standards of the services are ensured through professional competence and extensive experience of the personnel. The success of the organization is based on open mind principle, high reputation of the members and the support of local authorities. InnoPartnership is open for different forms of mutually beneficial cooperation.