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Finland 100 - PolyU Innovation and Technology Development Lecture Series

Date
16 Feb – 9 May 2017

Abstract

The Finland 100 – PolyU Innovation and Technology Development Lecture Series which jointly
organized by ITDO, Tekes (the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation) and the Consulate General
of Finland in honour of the centenary of Finnish independence and our common objective of
advancing global collaboration in technology developments had begun on February 16, 2017
and come to a successful close on May 9, 2017.
The lecture series provided a platform for the audience to understand how Finland fosters
innovations and how they develop expertise in thematic areas, so as to explore and strengthen
partnerships between Finland and Hong Kong. Four lectures were organized centered around
the following themes:
• “Change – Boosting Innovation in the Digital Era” by Mr. Pekka Soini, Director General, CEO
of Tekes
• “Finnish Innovations in Healthcare and Health Technologies” by Mr. Anssi Pulkkinen,
Strategic Director of Wellbeing and Health, Tekes
• “Finnish Start-up Ecosystem with Examples from Digital and Gaming Innovations” by Mr.
Peter Vesterbacka, Former Chairman of Rovio and Dr. Antti Saarnio, Chairman of Jolla
• “Safe Finnish Food for All” by Dr. Janna Husu-Killio, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and
Forestry of Finland
The centennial lectures were opened by Mr. Pekka Soini, Director General, CEO of Tekes and
closed by Dr. Janna Husu-Killio, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Forestry of Finland, who
shared her insightful views on how the Finnish government pioneers in the regulatory aspect
to ensure food safety.
Food industry is the largest industry in Europe and the fourth largest branch of industry in
Finland. Finland is also internationally recognized as a country with exceptional level of food
safety, while PolyU also joins hands with European Universities to advance global food safety.
They share the same vision and commitment with all European collaborating parties in
addressing the most imminent global food safety challenges.

38 Innovation & Technology Lecture Series