Public financiers

ELY CENTRES
The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) provide companies with funding, advisory and development services which enhance their operating environment over their entire life-cycle. They support the setting up, expansion and development of SMEs. Preliminary funding, for example, can be used to promote the research and development operations of SMEs.

Some of the productised services offered by the ELY Centres can be used prior to funding from the Foundation for Finnish Inventions and some following it.

TEKES
The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation Tekes provides funding for research, development and innovation activities. Its funding is aimed at companies and public operators. Enterprises of all sizes can obtain funding for demanding research and development projects. Small and medium-sized enterprises can be granted funding for the acquisition of innovation services and young innovative companies are eligible for overall financing of their business operations.

Tekes's funding services can be used following funding from the Foundation for Finnish Inventions.

VIGO
The Vigo start-up accelerator programme transforms start-ups into new growth enterprises. Start-up accelerators invest capital and expertise to boost the development of selected business proposals into attractive targets for major venture capitalists. Start-up accelerators commit to acquire capital contributions and expand the selected enterprises through state funding. Public funds for the accelerated enterprises are channelled through Tekes and Finnvera's subsidiary, Seed Fund Vera Ltd.

The Vigo Programme is managed by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy and co-ordinated by Tekes. You can participate in the Vigo Programme after having used the services provided by the Foundation for Finnish Inventions.

FINNVERA
Finnvera provides loans, guarantees, venture capital investments and export credit guarantees to cater for the various needs of enterprises over their different development stages, including start-ups. Finnvera can finance business operations that are based on a sound business idea and meet the criteria of profitable business when the enterprise's own resources or securities are not sufficient to obtain funding from the commercial market.

Finnvera's funding services can be used following funding from the Foundation for Finnish Inventions.

SEED FUND VERA LTD
Seed Fund Vera Ltd focuses on capital investments in innovative early-stage companies. The fund provides companies with financing at a stage where they do not yet have private or public capital investors. The fund is Finnvera Plc's subsidiary and its administration and day-to-day operations are the responsibility of Veraventure Ltd.

Funding from the Seed Fund Vera Ltd can be used following the funding from the Foundation for Finnish Inventions.

SITRA
Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, provides funding for business development through its programmes: Health Care, Food and Nutrition, Energy and Growth Programme for the Mechanical Industry. Sitra focuses on capital investments in companies which operate in the various programme sectors and have the opportunity, capacity and will to expand their operations to international markets.

Sitra's funding can be used following the services provided by the Foundation for Finnish Inventions.

FINNISH INDUSTRY INVESTMENT LTD
Finnish Industry Investment Ltd is a government-owned company which invests in venture capital funds and directly in growth companies together with private investors. The investments are focused on financing the growth of investee companies, spin-offs, major industrial investments, and sector and corporate restructurings.

Funding from Finnish Industry Investment Ltd is an option after having used the services of the Foundation for Finnish Inventions.