Finnish perspective on mechatronics and its industrial benefits

A mechatronics research program of about three years in length was carried out in Finland between 1987 and 1990. It was a co-project of industry and research institutes. The program has stimulated cooperation between firms and research institutes and supported the companies' own R&D projects. The program has also empowered the individuals in companies together with research institutes to think with innovative, interdisciplinary, way and in teams the future possibilities. This has resulted as new product concepts and new collaborative applied research activities and programs with new goals. The quick development of technology gives continuously new possibilities to fulfill customer needs. Soft computing with controlling of nonlinearities is the new wave to make dramatic improvements in product and process performances.