‘6Time — Ecosystems for growth: Enabling companies to grow in cooperation between six cities" supports growth-oriented companies to engage in networks and services that support R & D activities that are suitable for them. The project is implemented by the six largest cities in Finland: Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, Turku and Oulu and the Regional Council of Pirkanmaa. The project is based on the idea of cities playing an active role in supporting business innovation and the networks that promote them. Services and networks for growth-oriented companies do not constitute a clear whole. In particular, after the start-up phase of enterprises, services are dispersed and do not support the transition to growth. Cities share a common need to support business creation and growth. Growth-oriented enterprises are supported, for example, by developing innovation ecosystems that consist of a group of business, universities, financiers and customers. Cities support the development of ecosystems by investing in the operating conditions of companies, networking of operators at national and international level and launching new initiatives.The cities implement the project in three work packages. The first work package organises activities that stimulate the innovation of companies. Cities structure companies’ service paths and organise networking events, as well as innovation and business development programmes. The innovation hubs set up in the project support the research and product development activities of selected industries. The second work package provides and develops information services that support companies’ knowledge-based management practices and meet the information needs of companies. The work package will provide information that will increase cities’ understanding of the factors behind the emergence and growth of businesses. Knowledge helps to develop services and practices to support teams, businesses and ecosystem actors in the right areas. In the third work package, companies are supported by organising events and services that are natural to implement in cooperation between cities. Experience in cooperation between cities develops co-operation practices that open up opportunities for companies that are independent of their geographical location, as well as new domestic and international contacts. The project helps companies and teams to engage in networks supporting research and product development, as well as services that support competence development and business growth. The project strengthens innovation hubs that in the long term serve the development of the industry’s research and innovation activities and the growth of enterprises in the sector.The Growth Ecosystems project supports the sustainable development of the local economic fabric of urban areas. The solutions developed by the companies supported in the project can have a positive impact on environmental sustainability. The project will pay attention to gender-balanced participation.
