EUREKA and Tekes

The EUREKA Initiative is a decentralised network that brings together 38 European member states and the European Union with the aim of fostering cooperation in research and innovation.

The EUREKA network operates through national EUREKA offices, which also serve as initial contact points for further information about EUREKA's activities and procedures. Each country controls its own funding.

Tekes is responsible for the coordination of EUREKA activities and as a result, the national EUREKA Office is an integral part of Tekes. Tekes is also the main funding body of Finnish EUREKA participants.

Tekes supports the marketing of EUREKA activities and encourages Finnish companies and research institutes to get involved in EUREKA project cooperation. Proposals for such cooperation are then assessed by Tekes technology experts and evaluated according to technology, market potential, management and financing.

Through EUREKA cooperation Tekes aims to network national technology programmes with partners and national programmes in Europe. Finland was one of the member states responsible for establishing the EUREKA Initiative in 1985.