Finland-based Technopolis Plc will expand its operations in here and offer companies high-class operating environments in the city’s downtown area. Technopolis has signed an agreement with Stockmann Plc to lease about 5,160 square yards of office space in the Nevsky Shopping Centre, expected to be completed in 2009, for the purpose of subletting them to its customer companies.

The Stockmann-developed Nevsky Centre, which will have about 60,000 square yards of commercial premises, is under construction in Nevski Prospekt, St. Petersburg's main street, right in the downtown area.

Pertti Huuskonen, president and CEO of Technopolis, said that the Nevsky Centre project will offer Technopolis customers a great opportunity to gain a foothold in a top-quality operating environment.

"This also serves to combine two well-known Finnish brands in a way that is extremely beneficial for both,' he said.

St. Petersburg's fast growing economy and high level of technological expertise are attracting plenty of Finnish and international companies to the area. This is creating a demand for the operating environments provided by Technopolis, supported by the business and development services that are part of the company’s advanced technology park concept.

Jussi Kuutsa, director of International Operations for Stockmann, considers the collaboration now agreed between the two Finnish companies to be groundbreaking. The Nevsky Centre will offer Technopolis customers a unique operating environment, and Kuutsa also believes that the collaboration with Technopolis will create added value for the property.

Technopolis has already commenced operations in leased premises in St. Petersburg, close to the Pulkovo Airport. In the same area the company is planning the development of the Pulkovo technology park. For this purpose, it has acquired a 12-plus-acre plot, for which it has created a land use plan.

The company expects that, by the end of this year, it will have received a building permit allowing it to initiate the first stage. When completed, the technology park is estimated to be 60,000 square yards. The size of the first construction stage will be 18,000 square yards.

In terms of the number of clients, Technopolis Plc is one of Europe's largest technology centers. It is also Finland's largest company that specializes in providing operating environments for high-tech companies and offers a comprehensive service package combining modern premises and business and development services.

Technopolis operates in Espoo, Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta, Oulu, Tampere and Vantaa in Finland, as well as in St. Petersburg. About 12,000 employees from about 930 companies are currently working in its technology centers.

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