As the name suggests, Tiedepuisto is a hub of knowledge and expertise, at the heart of which operate the University of Turku, Turku University of Applied Sciences, and the region's research and teaching activities.
– The future of Turku is built on three strong cornerstones: the shipyard, drug development, and Tiedepuisto. The shipyard and the pharmaceutical industry have a huge economic significance for our region, and the strength of Tiedepuisto is the intellectual capital it produces, summarizes Mikko Lehtinen, CEO of Turun Teknologiakiinteistöt.
According to Lehtinen, the greatest strength of Tiedepuisto is that you can develop throughout your entire career there: first study, then complete an internship, eventually move into paid employment, and later perhaps start your own business.
– Our goal is to keep skilled people in Turku and create paths for them to succeed here. When that succeeds, we get more students, companies, and innovations. This also has huge significance for Turku in terms of regional economy.
Every step is towards a better Tiedepuisto
The development and expansion of Tiedepuisto are currently advancing on many fronts. New zoning solutions enable the area to expand and increase its vitality in new ways, but plans are implemented with patience, not haste. Lehtinen emphasizes that building the area is not just about adding square meters, but above all, about developing the content.
“The development of Tiedepuisto is not just about individual buildings or infrastructure projects, but above all about building a community.”
– This is not a three- or five-year project, but we are thinking about the future for decades to come. We do not want to fill the area with short-sighted solutions. Every space built must serve the area's core mission: education, research, and business. Housing is also needed, of course, but it will be concentrated in specific areas.
The development of Tiedepuisto is not just about individual buildings or infrastructure projects, but above all about building a community.
– Tiedepuisto is never finished, but every decision is a step towards something better, Lehtinen notes.
A dynamic and developing hub that has nothing to be ashamed of
Lehtinen compares Tiedepuisto to other significant technology centers in Finland and says that Turku has no reason to downplay its own position.
– When you look at the operators in Tiedepuisto and the impact of Tiedepuisto, we have nothing to be ashamed of compared to others. We are a dynamic and developing hub with a clear vision for the future.
Tiedepuisto is not just a physical place, it is a platform that enables growth and success.
– We have all the conditions to make Tiedepuisto one of Europe's most significant hubs of expertise. Now it's about building it in the right way and on the right schedule, Lehtinen summarizes.
