Microsoft Mobile Oy and Verkotan Oy have agreed to continue the operations of the mobile equipment testing laboratories in Oulu, Finland as an independent company that offers outsourced testing services to mobile equipment manufacturers and network operators. Verkotan Oy starts the business with funding from Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation, in the framework of the Innovation Mill program.

Verkotan Oy was incorporated in November 2014. We acquired the necessary testing chambers, equipment, and certain software applications from Microsoft.

The clientele consists of mobile equipment manufacturers (smartphones, wireless transmitters), mobile network operators, wireless equipment developers, and test equipment companies. There are no similar accredited Over-the-air (OTA) testing service providers in Northern Europe. “The increasing complexity of wireless devices and the Internet of Things boost the demand for testing of wireless capabilities. Our primary offering consists of OTA certification testing, operator OTA approval testing, and tailored wireless performance testing”, states the CEO of Verkotan Oy Kari Komonen.

“Microsoft desires to support new innovations and start-up companies and build a vivid, growing ecosystem in Finland”, says director Max Mickelsson of Microsoft Oy.

“The Innovation Mill program launched initially with Nokia is a significant success story built with Finnish corporations, measured by the number of new companies and their success”, states Director Kari Tilli of Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation.

Director Juha Ala-Mursula of Business Oulu Municipal development Agency points out the rapid and decisive reaction to the structural change: “Our experience from numerous Innovation Mill projects shows that ideas and resources that turn obsolete for one company can, when properly supported, generate profitable business, employment and prosperity”.

Since 2009 Innovation Mill program has facilitated entrepreneurial commercialization of more than one hundred technologies and creation of more than 1000 jobs. “Now, we are renewing the program to cover and expanding network of SME’s and large industrial partners so that ideas and products will move in both directions”, clarifies the CEO of Spinverse Ltd., Mr. Pekka Koponen.

For more information, please contact:

Kari Komonen, CEO, Verkotan Oy, tel. +358 40 500 1241

Kari Tilli, Director, Tekes, tel. +358 50 55 77 850

Juha Ala-Mursula, Director, BusinessOulu, tel. +358 40 559 7020

Pekka Koponen, CEO, Spinverse Oy, tel. +358 40 545 0008

Max Mickelsson, Director, Microsoft, tel. +358 504 999 776

Verkotan Oy in brief

Verkotan Oy is an Over-the-Air (OTA) testing and certification service provider that offers high-quality expert services to mobile equipment manufacturers and network operators in a sophisticated test environment.

Microsoft in brief

Established in 1975, Microsoft is the world-leading supplier software product, solutions, and services that help enterprises, organizations, and people to benefit from information technologies in new, innovative ways.

Business Finland in brief

The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (now Business Finland) finances challenging research and development projects at companies, universities, polytechnics, and research institutes. Tekes provides innovation funding for corporate development projects that aim for faster growth, renewal of business, and co-operation with research organizations. Every year, we work with approximately 3000 Finnish companies and 50 universities and research institutions. Tekes is part of the Team Finland network that offers versatile services to internationalizing companies. 

BusinessOulu in brief

BusinessOulu is in charge of implementing the City of Oulu’s industry policies and providing growth companies with the services they require, in addition to promoting export, import, investments, and employment. With the help of its international partner network, BusinessOulu acts as a partner to companies and helps them grow, particularly in the North. 

Spinverse in brief

Spinverse is a leader in technology consulting, specialized in innovation and commercialization of emerging technologies. Spinverse helps clients to renew their business through Open Innovation Ecosystems, Business acceleration, and Management consulting. Spinverse Innovation Mill is an open innovation and entrepreneurship development program that facilitates innovation and partnership between start-up companies and corporations. Spinverse has coordinated over EUR 1 billion worth of R&D funding and executed over 120 technology commercialization projects. Spinverse also acts as a Microsoft BizSpark Network partner.