For Companies

Neurological and mental health conditions create a significant global burden. Addressing this demand these challenges requires a coordinated research-driven response that bridges research, clinical practice, industry, and society.

Our mission is to promote brain health and advance personalized medicine by

Strengthening research collaboration between research organizations, companies, patients, and public health actors
Fostering innovation across sectors via networking and facilitate connection between stakeholders
Improving research conditions-for example, by promoting supportive legislation

Key Partnerships

To strengthen an innovative and encouraging operational culture, we collaborate with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Academy of Finland, Sitra, Business Finland, Fingenious and the Finland Chamber of Commerce.

Connecting Research, Clinical Practices, Industry and Society

Our one-stop service model is built to unlock the full potential of Finnish neuroscience to meet global challenges:

Bringing the gap between basic research and clinical practise to help translation of discoveries into biomarkers, diagnostics, treatments, and technologies.
Matching pharma companies with right experts, e.g. for disease biology studies and clinical trials to accelerate innovation and impact.
Assisting health tech and start up companies find expertise they need (e.g. data use, contract negotiations, scientific advice).
Supporting securing better research conditions and policies, organizing events to connect research, business and students, and enhancing patient and public involvement.

Our services for the companies

Neurocenter Finland is a trusted partnerin neuroscience research and product development. Our network of experts supports your companythrough different phases of a collaboration project.

If your company needs collaboration with neuroscience experts, contact us.

We tailor a collaboration plan with our experts to meet your needs and ensure high scientific quality.

Our expert network supports your company in R&D, research interpretation, utilization, and training.

Product development

Finnish regulatory structures provide a reliable environment for research and product development, supported by clear permit procedures. Neurocenter Finland offers guidance on matters related to statements, permits, and agreements concerning research and product development.

Scientific research aimed at developing a commercial product must be carefully planned. The Medical Research Act (488/1999) governs most medical research, including drug and device studies. The law requires that research must have a favorable opinion from an ethics committee before it can begin. In addition, the research must be designed and conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) principles.

The Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea) supervises clinical drug trials in Finland. Fimea must be notified before starting an interventional study. Typically, the sponsor submits the notification, but if there is no external sponsor, the researcher is responsible for doing so.

A notification must also be submitted to the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) for clinical research involving human subjects that aims to define, assess, or verify the intended purpose and characteristics of a healthcare device or accessory. This applies to clinical studies conducted with non-CE-marked devices, or if the study deviates from the manufacturer’s defined intended use or instructions. A notification is always required for studies involving active implantable devices.

Testing Environments

Finnish Testbed and living lab services offer authentic testing and research environments for companies developing health technology solutions. These environments are available in university hospital wards and outpatient clinics, as well as in municipal primary healthcare settings. The services may include co-development of innovations, product and solution testing, research collaboration, and clinical device studies.

https://www.businesskuopio.fi/en/why-kuopio/kuopiohealth/
http://www.hustestbed.fi/fi/etusivu
http://ouluhealth.fi/
Testbeds – Health technology – Business Tampere
Julkaisut: Nordic infrastructure of test facilities

Neuroscience Research Infrastructure in Finland

Finland has internationally recognized expertise in the development of neuroimaging technologies. At Aalto University, software development for EEG (electroencephalography) devices is advancing new functionalities. High-quality devices manufactured in Finland are in demand globally, and the Oulu-based company Bittium exports its innovations worldwide.

MEG (magnetoencephalography), a technology related to EEG, was originally developed at the Helsinki University of Technology. The commercialization of this technology led to the establishment of MEGIN, a global market leader in MEG systems, headquartered in Helsinki. MEG devices are currently in use at Aalto University, Meilahti Hospital, and the University of Jyväskylä.

Navigated TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) devices assist neurosurgeons in avoiding critical brain areas during surgery—areas whose damage could result in paralysis or speech impairment. These regions can be identified by stimulating brain areas that control muscle movement or speech. Devices manufactured by the Finnish company Nexstim are used in all university hospitals in Finland, as well as in some private hospitals and clinics. TMS is also used to treat severe depression and is among the most strongly recommended treatments after medication, according to national clinical guidelines. Aalto University is currently developing the next generation of these devices.

PET Centre at Turku University Hospital.

In Finland, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) devices are being further developed for the study of the brain and other tissues, as well as for clinical neuroscience research. Another significant imaging technology is PET (positron emission tomography), which is used in the university hospitals of Turku and Kuopio. The PET Centres in Turku and Kuopio host several research systems that enable the study of human brain metabolism using radioactive tracers.