Today

The mission of the Foundation for Finnish Inventions is to promote Finnish invention activities and the utilization of inventions. Over the decades, the quality of inventions has changed, and increasingly, inventions are also being produced in services, experience industries, and business models. The Foundation emphasizes the central importance of inventions as the core foundation of successful innovations. In addition to individual inventors, the Foundation’s interest group includes SMEs, startups, students, and university and employee inventors.

Initiated by the Foundation, the “From Idea to Innovation” project of the Southeast Finland ELY Centre, launched in 2020, laid the foundation for producing modern innovation services. The development of the Idearefinery concept has progressed after the project, carried out by the Foundation itself, and in 2022, the Foundation will seek funding for the implementation and piloting of the concept. The Foundation has also carried out several targeted projects to develop expertise. These include an online course to increase inventors’ IPR knowledge, the creation of a product development professional qualification for inventor-focused developers, and the development of Invention Week, all of which have received funding from the Foundation.

The Foundation maintains the KeksintöKeidas™ group on Facebook. This peer support group for inventors has over 1500 members. The Foundation also provides updates on current matters through its Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts.

Tomorrow

The Foundation for Finnish Inventions will continue to be a key player in the national invention and innovation infrastructure, representing the interests of inventors and innovators. The Foundation is creating the Idearefinery™ model, a knowledge resource, and service platform to serve innovators.

The Idearefinery™ service, developed on the initiative and action of the Foundation, will be implemented through pilot projects in different regions. Based on the experience gained, the concept will be further developed, and the service will be expanded to cover the entire country. Regional innovation advisors, business experts, and other subject matter specialists are key partners in the implementation of the Idearefinery™ service. The Foundation is developing and expanding this network and is actively seeking new partners to join.

The implementation of InnoSuomi competitions will continue regionally, thematically, or with focus groups, and the funding base for the activity will be expanded. Communication, knowledge production, and advocacy will continue.

The Foundation is seeking funding for the implementation and operation of the Idearefinery™ service. The decrease in repayments of grants awarded by the Foundation and their eventual end require the search for and implementation of a new funding model in the coming years.

Yesterday

The predecessor of the Foundation for Finnish Inventions, established in 1971, was the Invention Office of the Finnish Cultural Foundation, whose work began in 1957 thanks to a donation by Maili Autio to the Cultural Foundation. The Foundation was established to stabilize and expand the growing activity, and over the decades, it has supported the development of inventions by thousands of Finnish individuals and start-up companies into businesses through expert services and by providing funding ranging from €5,000 to €50,000 for invention projects, with the condition of repayment if the project succeeds.

As of 2014, the Foundation for Finnish Inventions’ national and comprehensive Tuoteväylä service was transferred to the responsibility of the Uusimaa ELY Center, which later merged it into Tekes’ prestart operations. Once the state funding was transferred to Tekes, the Foundation no longer funds the development of inventions. The Foundation’s advisory board was dissolved, and the appointment of the Foundation’s board members is now handled by four background organizations: the Finnish Entrepreneurs, the Finnish Inventors’ Association, the Finnish Patent Attorneys’ Association, and the IPR University Center.

Between 2014 and 2020, the Foundation for Finnish Inventions has been concerned about the state of the Finnish innovation system. The continuation of the Tuoteväylä service as part of the ELY Center and Business Finland’s operations failed, and the service has since ceased. As a result, the sparring and advisory services and funding opportunities for small businesses and innovators without a business ID have been significantly reduced.