OULU, Finland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--University of Oulu announced today that Intel and Nokia will establish their first collaborative research laboratory in Oulu, Finland. The Intel and Nokia Joint Innovation Center, Oulu will be located in the Center for Internet Excellence (CIE) at the University of Oulu. The initial framework brings about two dozen researchers sourced from the local research community to work at the co-laboratory for three years. The lab’s research activities have started gradually during August.

Initially, the lab will focus on creating new and compelling Internet user experiences that leverage the rapidly increasing processing and graphics power of mobile devices. The first such research project looks to use graphical 3D technology to create immersive mobile interfaces.

“The University of Oulu’s focus on future telecommunications solutions as well as electronics and photonics made it the perfect location for the Intel and Nokia Joint Innovation Center,” says Justin Rattner, Intel chief technology officer and director of Intel Labs. The co-lab parties believe in the potential for 3D internet to become the next major break-through in mobile user experience. The Oulu region hosts a strong 3D internet development community, and technologies such as the open-source virtual reality platform realXtend have been created as a result of 3D internet research in Oulu.

Center for Internet Excellence provides hosting and operational management for the Intel and Nokia Joint Innovation Center, Oulu with Intel and Nokia providing research and technology expertise and support. In addition to co-lab parties’ financing, additional funding has been applied from Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation. Tekes has a long history in collaborating both with Nokia and University of Oulu and considers Intel’s and Nokia’s co-research as an excellent example of exploitation and further development of the existing high-level knowledge pool.

“3D technology could change the way we use our mobile devices and make our experiences with them much more immersive,” said Rich Green, Senior vice president and chief technical officer, Nokia. “Our new joint laboratory with Intel draws on the Oulu research community’s 3D interface expertise and over time, will lay down some important foundations for future mobile experiences.”

“The Intel and Nokia Joint Innovation Center is an important milestone in strengthening our position as a world-class research university,” highlights Lauri Lajunen, Rector of the University of Oulu. “The collaboration will spur start-up growth and continue the collaborative tradition in the Oulu region. The Oulu area living lab environment provides a unique environment for sensing, testing and piloting technological and social innovations,” he continues.

CIE was founded in 2009 by City of Oulu, Nokia, University of Oulu, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland, Oulu University of Applied Sciences and Technopolis. City of Oulu and Oulu Innovation through their business development organizations have played an important role in the co-lab creation.

About CIE:

Center for Internet Excellence, CIE, is an independent research center at the University of Oulu. CIE drives co-creation of next generation internet technologies, appliances and services. It aims to capture and create internet-driven growth opportunities by combining cutting-edge research innovations with agile new business creation processes. 3D Internet is one of CIE’s main research areas. www.cie.fi

About University of Oulu:

University of Oulu has six faculties and three large research institutes forming a multi-disciplinary academic community that enables diversified studies based on multifaceted research. The focus areas include information technology, biosciences and health, northern and environmental issues and cultural identity and interaction. www.oulu.fi/english

About Oulu:

Oulu has been at the forefront of system integration telecommunications development from the very beginning and has progressively become the R&D hub of the wireless world. Oulu offers a vibrant mix of business, research and education that continually inspires new companies and products towards success in the world market, as demonstrated with more than 800 high tech businesses operating in the region. www.businessoulu.com

Further information: www.cie.fi/press