OYSTER health and life science incubator

In recent years, only a few new, growth-oriented companies have been created in the health and life science sector in Northern Ostrobothnia. However, there are opportunities for significant business growth, as our region has high-quality research activities, a health ecosystem, and a diverse range of technology companies whose capabilities could be utilized to develop future healthcare solutions. The project will pilot a health and life science business incubator to accelerate the creation of new companies. The health and life science sector needs incubator activities that are specialized in the sector, as new companies need support that takes into account the specific characteristics of the sector from the start.

The project aims to:

• Pilot a health and life science business incubator in the Oulu region.
• Create new health and life science companies and business operations in the Oulu region.
• Develop the business incubator model further, ensuring the functionality of the concept.
• Create an action plan and business model to establish the incubator operations after the project ends.
  

Project activities

1.Activating measures for incubator operations

• A new operating model will be created for the region, which will facilitate the identification of business opportunities and encourage and activate entrepreneurship.

2.Incubator implementation plan and facilities

• A health and life science incubator and a permanent operating model for incubator operations will be built in Kontinkangas.

3.Piloting incubator operations

• A health and life science business incubator will be built in the region, with a clear and strong content package that takes into account the specific needs of the industry to support the development of business ideas for teams and companies participating in the incubator.

4.National and international networking, communications and marketing

• A new operating model will be built in the region for faster internationalization of health and life science startup companies and earlier start of internationalization.

5.Incubator performance metrics and continuous development

• Dashboards and tools that enable systematic development of operations.

The OYSTER Health and Life Science Incubator project is a group project coordinated by Business Oulu. The co-implementers are the Oulu University of Applied Sciences and the University of Oulu. The total project budget is €1,880,456. The University of Oulu's share of the budget is €629,744 (funding source: JTF 80%, City of Oulu/OIA 10% and self-financing 10%). The University of Oulu's Microentrepreneurship Centre MicroENTRE and the Martti Ahtisaari Institute are involved in the implementation of the project.

Contact persons

Heikki Ailinpieti, Project Researcher,
heikki.ailinpieti@oulu.fi,
+358 50 564 0849

Peetu Virkkala, Project Researcher,
peetu.virkkala@oulu.fi,
+358 50 516 9608

Martti Saarela, Research Director,
martti.saarela@oulu.fi
+358 50 473 5470