Baltic Sea Region
- Reputation for ICT excellence
The Baltic Sea Region is well positioned to become the global place for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. Today the region has emerged as a buzzing centre for development of the newest technologies and business concepts like IT services and applications, media and games, microelectronics, geographical information systems, acoustics, broadband, wireless etc. The region has one of the highest penetration rates of internet hosts and mobile telephone subscriptions in the world. This forms an important basis for future progression in software development as well as in data communication services.
Comparitive advantages of the region
Besides being among the global frontrunners in mobile communication technology, the Baltic Sea Region has become the world’s most extensive online public services provider. The region is rich in human capital with a highly skilled workforce in the information technology industry. The highlights for this technology-empowered region are as follows:
- High quality telecom, broadband and wireless infrastructure and services
- Highest penetration of internet hosts and mobile telephone subscriptions in the world
- Flexible, experienced and committed test markets
- High commitment to R&D backed by state and EU support schemes
- A strong network of multi-lingual call-centres and workforce
- English is the widely spoken business language
- Birthplace of technologies such as NMT, GSM, EDGE, WCDMA and Bluetooth
Attractive foreign investment in the region
TThe Baltic Sea Region’s ICT strengths have prompted many global brands to set up operations here. The region is home to various strong and competitive brands such as Ericsson, Microlink, Nokia, Skype, TDC, Tele2, Telia Sonera, and TietoEnator that have witnessed strong growth in the last two decades. Indian technology majors such as Evaluserve, Geodesic Information Systems, Hexaware, Infotech, Infosys, Larsen & Toubro, Mindtree, NEST Group, Tata Consultancy Service and Wipro have already invested in the region. Other examples include:
- China: Huawei Technologies, Hutchison Whampoa, ZTE Corporation
- Germany: SAP, Siemens, Infineon Technologies
- Japan: Mobile Internet Capital, NEC, Sony, Yokogawa Electric
- South Korea: LG Electronics, Samsung
- Taiwan: Beng, D-Link
- United Kingdom: Vodafone, Cambridge Silicon Radio
- United States of America: HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, RSA Security, Sun Microsystems, ATI, Google
R&D and Education
KISTA Science City: Kista Science City is a sustainable engine for growth in the Stockholm region and Sweden, with a high rate of growth in existing companies and a tremendous, innovative spirit of enterprise. Companies such as Ericsson, Nokia, TietoEnator, HP, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Intel, Oracle are found here. In the core areas of Kista alone, some 27,000 people work in over 700 companies, out of which two-thirds of them are employed by companies working in the ICT area. In the greater Kista Science City area 65,000 people are employed in the sector.
Technopolis: Technopolis is based in Finland and works to discover new companies and helps them grow and succeed. It combines modern facilities in four different locations in Finland with business, individual and development services into one package to provide the optimal environment for technology companies. Measured by the number of corporate customers, Technopolis is the largest technology centre in Europe.
The expertise of Estonian software engineers and Scandinavian commercialization created Skype - the invention that has changed the world of telecommunications.
Education:
Baltic Sea Region is laced with renowned universities, which are dedicated to teaching and IT based research.
- The IT University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (www.it-c.dk)
- Tallinn Technical University, Tallinn, Estonia (www.ttu.ee)
- Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki, Finland (www.tkk.fi)
- Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia (www.rtu.lv)
- Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania (www.ktu.lt)
- The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (www.kth.se)
Global ICT rankings
1. Denmark
2, Sweden
3. US
4. Finland
5. UK
6. Singapore
7. Netherlands
8. Iceland
9. Canada
10. Korea
Source: fDi, Financial Times Business Ltd, November 2006
Statistical facts
Annual growth in investment into R&D
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