Oulu – creative experience

Oulu would not have developed into a world-leading hub of technology without creative thinking and brave entrepreneurship. The combination of high technology expertise and creativity has produced international success stories. In Oulu, creativity goes beyond words: in 2011, approximately 140 new creative-industry companies will be established in the city. There is solid expertise in the fields of gaming and music, architecture, marketing and communications, digital contents and online services.

Creative industries in Oulu:

• Nearly 1,000 companies (excluding the gaming industry)
• Turnover exceeding EUR 250 million (2009)
• More than 2,200 employees
• Special areas of expertise: gaming, SaaS, online services

Playing games is okay in Oulu

There are some serious game experts in Oulu. The gaming industry has become the leading field of cultural export and a significant business sector in Oulu. Relying on its strong ICT traditions, inputs in education, brave people and inspiring atmosphere, Oulu has quickly evolved into a game design hub.

Moreover, combining the gaming expertise with other branches of science has resulted in new innovations in the fields of well-being, environmental protection and education. The movement control technology has taken game-based exercise onto whole new levels. Oulu is also the original home of the new virtual world realXtrend that is based on an open source code and one of the first 3D Internet phenomena.

Digital shopping venues designed in Oulu serve users all over the world. The opportunity to distribute hand-made local design products over the Internet has inspired a wide variety of Nordic design.

Online services and contents are developed in Oulu with a creative, enthusiastic approach. Oulu fosters fun creativity!

HEIKKI TUNKKARI
Key Account Director, Creative Industries
tel. 044 703 1399
firstname.lastname@businessoulu.com