Robocoast Cluster

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General Information

Organisation Logo:

The date when the cluster organisation was established:

Monday, 30 October, 2017

Number of staff in the management team of the cluster organisation :

6-10

Legal form of the cluster organisation:

Non-Profit

Regions:

Länsi-Suomi

Membership to other networks/partnerships:

Name	Website
agROBOfood	https://agrobofood.eu/hubs&centers/robocoast-dih/
BDVA	https://www.bdva.eu/associate-members
HiPEAC	https://www.hipeac.net/network/#/members/list/
Allied ICT Finland	https://alliedict.fi/contact/

Cluster Management Team:

Name	Surname	Position	Telephone	Email	Gender
Mikko	Puputti	Cluster Manager	+358447105343	mikko.puputti@prizz.fi	Male
Pirita	Ihamäki	Internationalisation Responsible	+358401646339	pirita.ihamaki@prizz.fi	Female
Pauliina	Harrivaara	Project Manager	+358408297175	pauliina.harrivaara@prizz.fi	Female
Kai	Salmela	Other	+358505641128	kai.salmela@prizz.fi	Male
Juha-Pekka	Alanen	Other	+358447105366	juha-pekka.alanen@robocoast.eu	Male
Essi	Vanha-Viitakoski	Other	+358447105367	ess.vanha-viitakoski@robocoast.eu	Female

Link to team description on the cluster's website:

https://robocoast.eu/

Languages spoken:

English

Finnish

Sectoral and Industrial Focus

Sectoral Industries:

Information Technology and Analytical Instruments

Production Technology and Heavy Machinery

Technology fields:

Automation, Robotics Control Systems

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

S3 EU priority areas:

Cleaner environment & efficient energy networks (e.g. smart grids)

Advanced manufacturing systems

Emerging industries:

Digital Industries

Mobility Technologies

Areas of specialisation of the cluster not covered above:

Automation and Robotics

Composition of the cluster

Total number of members:

138

Number of SME members:

106

Number of start-ups among SME members:

Number of larger company members:

Number of research organisations/universities/technology centres:

Number of other ecosystem actors :

Link to the cluster members’ list:

https://robocoast.eu/who-we-are/

Entrepreneurship and scale-up support facilities in the cluster's ecosystem (see "Organisation type"):

Organisation/Facility Name	Organisation/Facility Type	Website
Crazy town	Co-working Space	https://www.crazytown.fi/english/
DIMECC	Accelerator	https://www.dimecc.com/
EIT Digital	Investor	https://www.eitdigital.eu/

Name and link of major players:

Name	Website	Type
RoboAI Satakunta Univeristy of Applied Sciences	https://www.roboai.fi/en/	Research Organisation
Univeristy Consortium of Pori	https://www.roboai.fi/en/research-and-development/research-teams/	Research Organisation
University of Vaasa	https://www.univaasa.fi/en/sites/digitaleconomy/	Research Organisation
Vaasa Univerity of Applied Sciences	https://www.vamk.fi/en/	Research Organisation
Centria University of Applied Sciences	https://web.centria.fi/en	Research Organisation
Univeristy of Jyväskylä	https://www.jyu.fi/en/frontpage	Research Organisation
Novia University of Applied Sciences	https://www.novia.fi/novia-uas/	Research Organisation
Kokkola Univeristy Consortium Chydenius	https://www.chydenius.fi/en/	Research Organisation

Cluster Strategy

Mission/Objectives:

Robocoast Cluster is accelerating digital transformation especially in exporting manufacturing and technology industries. The mission of Robocoast is to increase industrial competitiveness by providing modernization and simulation services, RDI support for SMEs, business development, education and training. Robocoast Cluster operating zone has a value of export as 18.2% of the total national export value. Robocoast Clusters key competences are cybersecurity, robotics AI and gamification. Robocoast’s core competencies are in robotics, cyber security, data analytics, artificial intelligence and IoT. Robocoast Cluster offer a opportunity to co-creation and experience sharing with real-world production environments. We offer a research partners and development platform for proof-of-concept experiments, which combine technology needs, research opportunities and develop innovations. The Robocoast cluster is coordinated by Prizztech Ltd's Robocoast coordination unit. The consortium includes the following organizations / research units:

Satakunta University of Applied Sciences / RoboAI,
University Consortium of Pori / Data analytics Research Group / RoboAI,
University of Vaasa,
Vaasa University of Applied Sciences,
Centria University of Applied Sciences,
Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius,
University of Jyväskylä
JAMK University of Applied Sciences and
Novia University of Applied Sciences.

Our partner competences are: CiTIUS (Spain), Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH) (Greece), Fraunhofer (Germany), Häme University of Applied Science, KAMK Univeristy of Applied Science (Finland), South-Eastern Finland Univeristy of Applied Sciences (Finland), Technical Univeristy of Kosice (Slovakia), Univeristy of Vaasa, Seinäjoki Campus (Finland), XAMK South-Eastern Finland Univeristy of Applied Sciences (Finland)

Our DIH (Digital Innovation Hub) partners: VHTPS (Latvia), DIH Athena (Greece), KTH DIH (Sweden), DIH Transilvania IT Cluster (Romania), DIH Tartu (Estonia), Liethuanian Robotics Association (Liethuanian)

Contact information: https://robocoast.eu/contact-us/

Do you have a formalised strategy?:

Do you have a specific strategy focus that addresses internationalisation ?:

Services

Support services provided:

Access to the European Internal market

Access to private funding (connecting to investors, seed-capital, venture-capital, crowd-funding, etc.)

Details of support services:

Test before invest

We start our journey to digital transformation with Modernisation review done by the Robocoast advisors. We analyse your business and processes in order to find the best expert for innovation, digitalisation and growth.

After modernization review Robocoast can help you forge ahead by working with you to find practical solutions to any specific technological problems in the digital transformation that form a bottleneck for your business or processes. Robocoast advisors can also support and take forward the digital transformation needs of the company into new attractive digital products and services. Together with you and your partners, we outline a tailor-made path from actually company needs to innovations and use-ready products including all phases from drawing board, via the prototype and testing stages to attainable solutions ready to be taken to market.

Your company has access to our high-tech infrastructure and our Competence Centers Labs specialising in today’s hot topics in technology for example Cybersecurity testing, exploiting the latest developments and Living Lab technology testing in real industrial environment. Our Technology and innovation services, including Hackathons and R&D demo workshop are offering the latest developments in exporting industrial environment for You.

Service examples:

Modernization review – Consulting and evaluating digital maturity of enterprises and finding the right experts and solutions
Cyber security Quick scan – Increase the cyber resilience of your company
Modernization plan and simulation services – Futureproof plan how to take new digital technology use and how much it will increase the efficiency of processes of your company
Industrial Living Labs – testing new technologies in real industrial environment
Challenge competition – finding new technological and business solutions according to company needs with an open innovation competition
R&D workshop – for finding the methods generating the best business value by designing demo solutions and doing feasibility studies of new digital technologies

Skills and training

Your route to digital transformation requires the top-of-the-notch digital skills and talents. Our training services ensure reskilling and upskilling of digital skills for your personnel and boost your innovation potential and growth. Our talent attraction services include attracting talents – future talents or experienced director-level specialists as well as research professionals – nationally and internationally. Our wide network of universities and clusters ensure visibility for your open position globally.

We also combine our training and recruitment services with other services like hackathons so your company gets new talents or new skills for personnel and new innovative technological solutions at the same time. Our marketing actions high-light the technical experimentations and new innovations your company is linked to in order to offer employer branding with global visibility as well.

The recruitment and training services are organized by a large network of strategic partners in our ecosystem like EIT Digital and The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres). The training and education services vary from doctoral schools to short-term training for specific company needs.

Service examples:

Talent attraction campaigns and events including hackathons – attracting new talents globally and raising interest for company /cluster companies. These talent attraction campaigns include also hackathons and other interesting events for employer branding purposes
Matchmaking – matching of talents and companies with a need for digital skills and experts
Doctoral school of Eit Digital academy – upskilling of current personnel or recruitment for EIT Digital Doctoral School
I4MS courses and other specific courses designed according to company needs for reskilling and upskilling of personnel – Combining tech transfers services from test before invest service package with needed training and education like MooCs.
Robotics academy and other university led student project courses – specific courses for Bachelors and Masters degree students that are designed to teach students real life cases from the industry and increase awareness of the company for recruitment purposes.
Entrepreneurship advisory services – coaching and mentoring students with startup-mindset and supporting especially technology and business students to start their career as entrepreneurs. For further growth finding new customers from industry so startups can find reference customer cases.

Innovation ecosystem and networking

Innovation ecosystem and networks – services match the potential solution providers and universities with exporting industrial companies with their needs of technological and business solutions. Robocoast Cluster strengthens is co-creation and accelerates the deployment of new innovations across sectors by creating new value chains and networks. Robocoast Cluster hosts different types of Matchmaking Events, International Webinars, Innovation Boot Camps, Startup Weekends, and Technology Exhibitions. Robocoast Cluster has extensive networks of companies and universities at the national and international levels. In addition, EIT Digital is the partner of Robocoast Cluster and it has a network of over 250 partners (industry, universities, and research institutions) in Europe. This network provides wide opportunities to collaborate, pilot new products, and find customers and suppliers. Co-Creation together, we turn innovation into success!

Service examples:

Matchmaking events – Empowerment of networking value
International webinars – Shared Knowledge
Innovation bootcamps – Support Co-Creation
Startup weekends – Scale-up business opportunities through the ecosystem
Technology Exhibitions – create a profitable exhibition with targeted audience at trade shows.

Support to find investements

Support to find investment services, we will help you optimize your project financing, drawing on private and public funds. Our funding services support startups from early stage to growth. Matchmaking private and public funding and same time coaching for companies to develop concept of new innovations and business models, is our focus. In addition, we can help startups to find pilot and reference customers for new technology solutions. Our purpose is to provide updated information on funding opportunities available to all organizations wishing to develop activities exporting and technology industry and implementing technological solutions or business opportunities in European and global markets.

EIT Digital Accelerator provides Access to Markets and Access to Finance services to boost scaling up and internationalization of scale up companies. Accelerator has a European network of business developers offering support and direct access to target markets in selected countries. EIT Digital Innovation Factory provides funding and European wide collaboration opportunities to commercialize innovations. EIT Digital is the partner of Robocoast Cluster.

Service examples:

Matchmaking to private and public funding – Matching with Business Finland, EU funding authorities and Business Angels etc. private investors
Coaching with innovations and business models – Investment Coach, financial coaching to looking for funds to grow your business
Accelerator / Incubator services – EIT Digital partnership including EIT Digital Accelerator that provides Access to Markets and Access to Finance services to boost scaling up and internationalization of scale up companies.
Investment Coach – financial coaching for funding life cycle management like creating a financial plan

Cooperation Activities

International Cooperation

The main countries targeted by the cluster organisation:

China

India

Namibia

South Africa

Zambia

Our cluster organisation undertook the following international activities to support our members:

Support to collaborative activities/etc.

Trans-national Cooperation

The main countries targeted by the cluster organisation:

Estonia

Greece

Latvia

Romania

Sweden

Our cluster organisation undertook the following trans-national activities to support our members:

Support to collaborative activities/etc.

Which clusters do you collaborate with?:

Ventspils High Technology Park (VHTP)

Athena Research Center in Information Technologies

KTH DIH

University of Tartu Institute of Computer Science

Lithuanian robotics DIH (LTrobotics DIH)

Transilvania IT Cluster

Support Programmes

Participation in Funded Support Programmes:

European Programmes	Project Name	Name & Description (Regional/National)	Link (Regional/National)
H2020 INTERREG Other	The EmpInno Monitor S3 -project improves the monitoring system of smart specialisation strategies (RIS3) of seven regions around the Baltic Sea. The predecessor project EmpInno (S3 Empowering for Innovation and Growth in Medium Sizes Cities and Regions) concluded/recommended that authorities responsible for smart specialisation strategies should test different approaches to monitor their RIS3. Adjusting the monitoring systems will lead to a higher efficiency and effectiveness in the region innovation policies and finally a more innovative Baltic Sea region. 1.8.2019-31.7.2021 https://empinno.eu/ The purpose of the SME Aisle -project is to support the small and moderate-sized companies in the central Baltic Sea region in their export efforts through Namibia to South-Africa. SME Aisle project objective is to support SMEs from Central Baltic (Finland (Åland), Estonia, Latvia and Sweden) with an ambition and potential to enter into new markets in Southern Africa using Namibia as stable entry point. Themes are shipbuilding, maritime and logistics, renewable energy, automation and ICT. The themes of the project are maritime transport and logistics, shipbuilding, renewable energy, automation and ICT. The project will be carried out between March 1st 2018 and August 31st 2021, and it is funded by the INTERREG Central Baltic program. The project is run by Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Prizztech Ltd, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Latvia, Masoc, and Tallinn University of Technology. 1.3.2018-31.8.2021. https://sub.samk.fi/projects/smeaisle/ OBO Route is a joint project of three Leader action groups: Leader Karhuseutu (Satakunta, Finland), Leader Action Group (LAG) Hiiumaa (Estonia) and LAG Puszcza Knyszyńska (Poland). Prizztech Oy is the project operator in the Karhuseudu area. The co-operation project aims to develop a new, common approach to meet the growing demand for tourism services from Chinese tourists and at the same time increase the understanding of the commercialization of actors. A key goal is also to channel the expertise of micro-enterprises into the development of rural entrepreneurship in China, through which co-operation between different actors will also deepen. 1.8.2017-30.6.2021 https://www.prizz.fi/en/development-themes/business-growth-and-development/obo-route.html ACROBA -project aims to develop and demonstrate a novel concept of cognitive robotic platforms based on a modular approach able to be smoothly adapted to virtually any industrial scenario applying agile manufacturing principles. The novel industrial platform will be based on the concept of plug-and-produce, featuring a modular and scalable architecture which will allow the connection of robotic systems with enhanced cognitive capabilities to deal with cyber physical systems (CPS) in fast-changing production environments. ACROBA Platform will take advantage of artificial intelligence and cognitive modules to meet personalisation requirements and enhance mass product customisation through advanced robotic systems capable of self-adapting to the different production needs. A novel ecosystem will be built as a result of this project, enabling the fast and economic deployment of advanced robotic solutions in agile manufacturing industrial lines, especially industrial SMEs. The characteristics of the ACROBA platform will allow its cost-effective integration and smooth adoption by diverse industrial scenarios to realise their true industrialisation within agile production environments. The platform will depart from the COPRA-AP reference architecture for the design of a novel generic module-based platform easily configurable and adaptable to virtually any manufacturing line. This platform will be provided with a decentralized ROS node-based structure to enhance its modularity. ACROBA Platform will definitely serve as a cost-effective solution for a wide range of Industrial sectors, both inside the consortium as well as additional industrial sectors that will be addressed in the future. The Project approach will be demonstrated by means of five industrial large-scale real pilots, Additionally, the Platform will be tested through twelve dedicated Hackatons and two Open calls for technology transfer experiments. 1.1.2021-31.5.2024	HiPEAC is an expert network consisting of various scientific communities across Europe. In HiPEAC, any member can propose a technical challenge and take part in solving other proposed challenges. https://www.hipeac.net/ RobotUnion is an ecosystem that encompasses SMEs and startups together with corporates, researchers, acceleration programmes and investors. The aim is “to create the best conditions for long-term business success for all involved”. The RobotUnion consortium is comprised of 14 partners from 7 European countries and Canada. RobotUnion congregates a constellation of top players representing all the links of the innovation value chain from research to market. https://robotunion.eu/ Robocoast is part of the national AIF network, which brings together different research communities and ecosystems. The aim of the network is to bring together experts from all around Finland, develop synergies between clusters and assemble the best talent to solve business challenges. https://alliedict.fi/ I4MS, ICT Innovation for Manufacturing SMEs, is a European initiative supporting manufacturing SMEs and mid-caps in the widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in their business operations. Under I4MS, SMEs can apply for technological and financial support to conduct small experiments allowing them to test digital innovations in their business via open calls. https://i4ms.eu/ The Big Data Value Association (BDVA) is an industry-driven international not–for-profit organisation with 200 members all over Europe and a well-balanced composition of large, small, and medium-sized industries as well as research and user organizations. BDVA is the private counterpart to the EU Commission to implement the Big Data Value PPP program. BDVA and the Big Data Value PPP pursue a common shared vision of positioning Europe as the world leader in the creation of Big Data Value. The mission of the BDVA is to develop the Innovation Ecosystem that will enable the data and AI-driven digital transformation in Europe delivering maximum economic and societal benefit, and, achieving and sustaining Europe’s leadership on Big Data Value creation and Artificial Intelligence. https://www.bdva.eu/ Reboot IoT Factory offers a unique opportunity to be a part of the next generation of Industry 4.0 and beyond. It brings together forerunner factories, IoT solution providers and top-class research organizations to revolutionize the competitiveness of Finnish manufacturing industry. The model is based on agile co-creation and experience sharing within real-world production environments. https://rebootiotfactory.fi/ AgROBOfood is an EU funded project aiming to build a European ecosystem for the effective adoption of robotic technologies in the agri food sector, which in turn will become more efficient and competitive. https://agrobofood.eu/project/ Gamecoast Network is a Satakunta-based cluster of companies operating in the gamification field. Gamecoast aims to use gamification to create added value for industrial companies. Robocoast collaborates with Gamecoast by promoting synergies between companies in the industry. gamecoast.fi HNC-USF Platform Via USF Platform Robocoast has become the strategic development partner of City of Ningbo in China. The role of Robocoast is to identify suitable European robotics experts and companies for the projects. Contact with, Heikki Perko, Director of USF Platform	https://alliedict.fi/

Relevant Project References:

Robocoast Cluster has born with the robotic companies needs, which started in 2014. The goal of Robocoast cluster is to support the growth of companies with manufacturing industry as the development of the international competitiveness of those companies.

Promotion

Success Story / Achievements:

Robocoast Living Lab in Honkajoki case

Honkajoki Ltd processe animal by-products from Finland farms, slaughterhouse and meat cutting plants and refines them into organic raw materials for various industries. Honkajoki Ltd ensures that the valuable nutrients in animal by-products get back to natural circle responsibly. By promoting the hygenic handling of by-product globally, Honkajoki also prevents the spread of pathogens and diseases. The aim of the Living Lab testing was to achieve more effective production and even better quality of products by testing innovative technologies in real-life contexts. Robocoast tested, whether photonics could help to control the quality of the raw material before it goes into production. Finnish company Specim Oy -offered a hyperspectral camera for testing.

Process - 4 steps

1) Honkajoki Ltd explain the problem to Robocoast DIH

Honkajoki wanted to know more precisely the composition of the raw material coming to to line. Machine vision could help determine the composition. Robocoast cluster began looking for a hyperspectral camera manufacturer.

2) Selecting an expert. Cooperation with Tamepre Univerity and Specim Ltd.

Cooperation with Specim started. Specim Ltd was willing to test the camera the made. Tampere University analyzes the data provided by the camera. Tampere Univeristy jointed the project.

3) Living Lab testing

Living Lab -testin process started by taking pictures of raw material in laboratory. Picture were analyzed by Tampere University. If the hyperspecral camera is able to detect the amount of water, fat and protein, the came will be installed on the production line for a trail period.

4) Presenting final report for each partner

After the test period. Honkajoki Ltd will know if the new technology is working in quality control of raw material. Living Lab testing facilitates investment decision. Specim Ltd gets a user experience and good marketing reference from Honkajoki Ltd. https://new.robocoast.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Robocoast_case_Honkajoki-Oy.pdf

Valtori develops their know-how in National Cyber Security Exercises

Government ICT Centre valtori, the provider of ICT service for customer in the central government, develops and maintains the widest ICT environment in Finland. Valtori's key task is to ensure the functionality of service in all circumstances. With the increase in the number of cyber threats, the preparedness to meet these threats is very to secure the continuity of operations.

Valtori has participated in several National Cyber Security Exercises (KYHA) organized by JYVSECTEC (Jyväsklä Security Technology). JYVSECTEC is Cyber Security Research, Development and Training Center with the aim to test the functionality of their existing process and develop Valtori's own operation modes. The rRealistic Global Cyber Environment (RGCE) at JYVSECTEC has functioned extremely well for modelling of Valtori's operational environments. The planning of the exercises, the exercises themselves as well as the acquisition and analysis of feedback have been run by JYVSECTEC in an exemplary manner. https://jyvsectec.fi/2020/11/valtori-develops-their-know-how-in-national-cyber-security-exercises/

A Company need: How to educate staff to work with the new robots in order to fully utilitize their new features?

VAMK (Vaasa Univeristy of Applied Sciences) has well equipped Robotics laboratory where RoboAcademia small group courses can be arranged in safe and effective way in collaboration with your company and the manufacturer of robots. For example: We're the only ABB partner in Finaldn for their education courses. Education to ABB robots can be done with flexbel timetable. Cost of the education is usually shared between the company and ABB. https://new.robocoast.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/VAMK-robotics-education-reference-1.pdf

MatchINDUSTRY Event

MatchINDUSTRY is an effective annual business event for industry professionals. It brings together partner companies operating in global industries and hundreds of suppliers, subcontractors and technology companies to networks and find new business opportunities with its distinctive format. https://new.robocoast.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MI20.pdf

Why should partners choose you for cooperation?:

Robocoast is a consortium of coordination unit and 9 universities, over 45 000 students and almost 7 000 specialists in research and development and over 100 partner companies in the field of Robotics, AI, Cybertechnology IoT and gamification etc. Robocoast cluster and its Competence Centers also run several RDI laboratories and test bed environments for implementation and research of new digital technologies. Robocoast cluster is an international centre of excellence for robotics and artificial intelligence that focuses on nee-based product development projects and the modernisation of industry and service Industry 4.0 context.

MDI Reports of Robocoast consortium area: Satakunta, Central Finalnd, Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sp4GRbW5UUld_1Sw8U-W60MM5rxYhLSQ/view?usp=sharing

If you are interested to co-operated with Robocoast cluster take contact Pirita Ihamäki (she is responsibility for International co-operation relationships, activities and projects.)