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Mr. Jorma Ollila at the inauguration of Nokia Research Center: Continuous investments in research and education are needed to ensure success
June 01, 1999
Nokia Research Center's new main building in Helsinki was opened on June 1, 1999.
The new building was officially inaugurated by Mr. Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Finland's Minister of Transport and Communication. Opening ceremony addresses were given by Mr. Craig Barrett, President and CEO of Intel and by Mr. Jorma Ollila, Chairman and CEO of Nokia.
"Finland has managed to make consistent and sustained investments into research and education. At the same time, the prerequisites for cooperation have been strengthened. This has created a good climate in which to cultivate the knowledge-intensive industry and services. Through goal-oriented measures in Finland, the structure of industry has been changed and new competence resources have been created through education," Mr. Ollila stated during the opening ceremonies.
"Nokia's research and development activities are setting the stage for the company's future and they are being conducted in all Nokia business units. The Research Center creates innovations, experiments with various possibilities and acts as the Group's feelers into the world of research and technology. It holds a very central position in our research sphere."
Mr. Craig Barrett, who had been invited to speak at the inauguration, comments: "In order to create a sustainable information economy, a commitment to invest in ideas and people is key. Nokia's opening of their new Research Center certainly supports this."
About 30% of Nokia's personnel work in R&D, and its number of R&D personnel has grown by some 5,000 during the last two years. Nokia has 44 R&D centers in 12 countries.
The 24,400-square-meter building was designed by the Finnish architect Tuomo Siitonen. Nearly 900 employees will be working in the new facilities.
"The new main building offers excellent premises for the versatile high-level research and development of the rapidly expanding telecommunications business. The architecture enables rich internal interactions and contacts - both planned and chance. On the other hand, we have been able to ensure the necessary privacy for demanding work", Professor Juhani Kuusi, Senior Vice President, Head of Nokia Research Center pointed out. "In addition, our central location with close connections to major universities in the greater Helsinki area, provides a stimulating environment for successful activities and good results".
Nokia Research Center interacts closely with all Nokia business units to enhance the company's technological competitiveness. The center covers the full range of activities from exploration of new technologies and product/system concepts to their exploitation in actual product development undertaken in the business units.
Nokia is the world's leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile and fixed telecom networks including related customer services. Nokia also supplies solutions and products for fixed and wireless datacom, as well as multimedia terminals and computer displays. In 1998, net sales totalled EUR 13.3 billion (USD 15.7 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges, has sales in over 130 countries and employs more than 47 000 people world-wide.
Contact information:
Hannu Markus, Nokia Research Center
Tel. +358 9 4376 6376, mobile +358 40 5060 094
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