Overview
Tartu Science Park (TSP) is a regional technology development agency established in 1992 by Tartu City and County government, University of Tartu, Estonian University of Life Sciences and Tartu University Institute of Physics. Therefore TSP is linked to all relevant South Estonian R&D institutions, especially to Estonia’s biggest university – University of Tartu, which carries out more than half of the country’s R&D. Its main objective is the creation of favourable environment for the emergence and development of science- and knowledge-intensive business activities.
The incubation services, mostly offered to high-potential projects in fields such as ICT and biotechnology, are accompanied by business consultations and innovation support schemes through participation in European Union technology transfer and innovation support networks and projects such as Enterprise Europe Network of which Tartu Science Park is a member. TSP is thus providing consultancy and infrastructure for creation of start-ups and development of innovative SMEs. Through its networks TSP is also able to facilitate the exploitation of patents and innovations as well as to identify innovative ideas worthy of additional financing. TSP is closely affiliated with Tartu University, acting as a liaison between business and research community.
Currently, there are around 60 companies using approx 10000 m2 of office, laboratory and production premises. There are 12 incubation companies in TSP premises, working in the national key priority areas of material technology, biotechnology and ICT.
The key tasks of TSP are following:
Consultancy
Consultancy is offered for applied research and product development projects, for start-ups and export plans all funded by Enterprise Estonia.
Co-operation with local R&D institutions.
Tartu Science Park encourages young people for entrepreneurship and facilitates company collaboration with research institutions. Courses and business plan contests intended for students have given rise to several new companies. Several TSP client companies have solved their technological challenges with the help of local universities.
Rent and infrastructure
There are 60 companies operating in the premises of Tartu Science Park. A full package of office, laboratory, production space and several additional infrastructure, office or business services is offered to TSP’s tenants. For start-up companies, incubation services are offered, which additionally include business consultations concerning the implementation of a business plan.
International technology transfer
Tartu Science Park is a member of the Enterprise Europe Network covering 33 European countries. In 2004 TSP won European Innovation Award for the best technology transfer and in 2006 hosted the 10th Annual Meeting of Innovation Relay Centres network.
Protolab services
TSP has renovated workshop area of 500 square meters for installing necessary infrastructure and relevant equipment. During 2009 a modern precision mechanics workshop (Protolab) will be established in TSP. All services of Protolab Network (training, councelling, technological, etc) will be offered in the area of TSP’s expertise (precision mechanics). TSP has recently hired 3 high qualified specialists to carry out these services.
Clients:
- companies situated in TSP (Evikon MCI Ltd; Estla Ltd; Clifton Ltd; LDI Ltd, LDIAmon Ltd; Nartest International Ltd; VTT Optik Ltd; Tragi Ltd; Tartu Tehnoloogiad Ltd; Vemo-PK Ltd; Tervix Ltd; Nõmm Insenerid Ltd; Inventas Baltic Ltd; Futuren Ltd, etc.)
- R&D institutions (Tartu University’s Institute of Physics; Estonian Nanotechnological Development Ltd; Tartu Observatory; Tartu University’s Institute of Technology, etc.)
- Companies situated in Tartu and South-Estonian region which produce machinery, vehicles, metalwork products, electronics and optical equipment (approximately 130 enterprises).
Contacts
Riia 185, 51014 Tartu
phone: +372 738 3005
Fax: +372 738 3041
E-mail: info@sciencepark.ee
www.sciencepark.ee
Manager of Protolab laboratory
Roman Mugur
phone: +372 763 5417
E-mail: roman.mugur@sciencepark.ee
Protolab project coordinator
Neeme Kärbo
phone: +372 742 8177
E-mail: neeme.karbo@sciencepark.ee
