Higher education institutions (HEIs) are significant magnets for international intellectual capital in Tampere Region. The number of foreign students and researchers has increased steadily. In this context, higher education institutions refers to Tampere University, Tampere University of Technology (TUT), Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) and, with regard to current and recently graduated students, Tampere Region based functions of Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK).
Both the number of companies established at HEIs and the number of entrepreneurs among recently graduated students have decreased in recent years. The situation indicates that the higher education sector has not been sufficiently able to support the generation of startups or entrepreneurship in the long-term. However, increasing diverse readiness for innovation and entrepreneurship has been visibly present in the Tampere3 process of Tampere University, TUT and TAMK and its development visions. These need to be implemented urgently.
Tekes funding received by the region's universities increased substantially in 2014, returning to the high level reached in 2013. Most Tekes funding was granted to Tampere University of Technology. International EU and similar funding roughly maintained its previous year's level. However, private funding from inside and outside Finland decreased.
Overall, research funding from outside the budgets of universities decreased slightly last year, both at Tampere University and Tampere University of Technology. Sources of external research funding paid to universities include the Academy of Finland, Tekes, Finnish companies, private funds and foundations, municipalities and municipal federations, ministries, other public sources and ERDF funding.
Next year, funding will face significant threats as the basic public funding for universities and the R&D funding channelled to universities through industry will be cut. Funding may decrease by tens of millions of euros if new external replacement funding cannot be found and if the negotiations held with the Ministry of Education and Culture do not steer us onto a path leading towards a better funding position.
Tampere3 is a partnership project between Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Tampere University of Technology and Tampere University. Its objective is to give birth to a whole new university which extends over the dual model, serves business life and society, and increases multidisciplinary cooperation between educational and research fields. Currently, the project is taking a concrete step towards providing students with free access to minor subjects between universities from the beginning of 2016. Tampere3 covers 35,000 students and 4,600 employees.
The Boards of Directors of the universities committed to continuing the process in the late spring of 2015. Tampere3 acts as an example for other Finnish universities that are currently building partnerships and looking for different regional solutions.
Innovative campus platforms in Tampere are being modernised and will be invested in further in the future. Opened in September 2015, next to Tampere University of Technology, Campusarena is a whole new campus building which combines the best business, research and learning concepts from around the world. Its spaces, support services, laboratories and innovation platform functions are boosting new types of cooperation.
Mediapolis located in Tohloppi is a Finnish centre and network for storytelling and the digital industry. Opened in 2014, the campus is home to more than 30 companies and organisations, including production companies, Yle and media education providers, Tampere University of Applied Sciences and Tampere Vocational College.
Built next to Tampere University Hospital, the Kauppi campus is a growing world-class competence centre for the bio-industry, health technology and medical sciences.
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