Helsinki-Tallinn cross-border innovation policy mix

The most significant joint initiatives under the cross-border partnership between Helsinki-Tallinn concern transport and infrastructure development, with a few in the field of innovation. Such innovation activities include a number of temporary initiatives aimed at mutual exchanges in entrepreneurial activities. There are currently no joint policies. Most projects are temporary and funded by the European Territorial Co-operation programme (Interreg) to develop mutual knowledge and joint actions in the area of entrepreneurship, particularly related to the ICT sector. Some projects (twin-city of science launched in 2004 and the Knowledge Arena programme since 2006) have also promoted contacts between academics for common scientific projects.

Life sciences, ICT and new materials are areas which have been identified as having potential for joint knowledge-based activities. Helsinki and Tallinn are test bed medium-sized cities for advanced smart city applications. Bilateral co-operation agreements exist between universities in the Helsinki-Tallinn area. Joint university participation in multilateral R&D projects is probably more intense than bilateral co-operation. Several types of joint academic activities in education and research could be further explored, with innovation goals in mind.

Table 6.7. Cross-border policy instruments: Helsinki-Tallinn

Instruments	Programmes/initiatives
Strategy and policy development
Benchmarking and policy learning
Analytical exercise (mapping of clusters or value chains, technology foresight exercises)	Several reports and research, although not always with the cross-border innovation aspect as the central theme of research
Joint branding of cross-border area
R&D support
Joint public research programmes	Cross-use of experts for projects evaluation
Joint research infrastructure, shared access to research facilities	Mainly in the framework of ESFRI or larger consortia (e.g. Sweden Max IV) Joint discussion in the two research councils
Cross-border private R&D funding programmes (generic and thematic)
Technology transfer and innovation support
Cross-border innovation advisory services (vouchers, intermediaries)	Finnish-Estonian Chamber of Commerce Finnish-Estonian Trade Association
Advisory to spin-off and knowledge-intensive start-ups	StartSmart
Other technology transfer centres and extension programmes
S&T parks and innovation networks
Cross-border science, technology parks and incubators	Mutual contact points in science parks and incubators; Office of Helsinki School of Economics in Tallinn Technology Park Tehnopol; joint mentoring programme under development, networks between southern Finnish and Estonian business incubators
Cluster or networks initiatives
Human capital
Scholarships/student exchanges
Joint university or other higher education programmes	Joint doctoral schools
Talent attraction, retention or mobility scheme; cross-border labour market assistance	EURES (EU cross-border mobility services)
Other instruments
Financing (venture capital funds or angel networks)	Business angels working cross-border (not a specific policy per se)
Public procurement
Other	Finnish implementation of data exchange layer infrastructure akin to the Estonian X-Road (facilitating cross-border secure data exchange to support public services and firms)