The University of Vaasa buys all the shares of the real estate company KOy EnergyLab Vaasa from VP Facilities Oy Ab. The real estate company owns the building next to the Palosaari bridge, and the university has rented the premises until now. The building houses the combustion engine and fuel laboratories, which are a key part of the university’s research platform VEBIC. The deal was concluded on Friday 17 March.

– We wanted to buy the building which houses one of our strategic areas of operation. From now on, we can develop laboratory operations even better to meet the needs of the future. We use the property as a workspace for staff and a laboratory facility for research activities that combine research on renewable gaseous fuels with innovative sustainable energy production. With this purchase, we will also get additional facilities for the university, says university Rector Minna Martikainen.

– The transfer of the EnergyLab building to the University of Vaasa is a natural continuation of the project that started in 2013. This special site was implemented in close cooperation, primarily for the needs of research and education. The University of Vaasa has been the largest user and tenant of the building since its completion. The university has also made significant investments in research equipment for the site. We are happy to sign EnergyLab over the University of Vaasa, says CEO Ulla Mäki-Lohiluoma.

Trevian Asset Management Oy acted as the buyer’s advisor in the preparation of the deal, and EY acted as the seller’s advisor. The purchase price will not be disclosed.

In the photo: (top left) The board of the University of Vaasa, chair Mari Kiviniemi, Mayor of Vaasa and KOy EnergyLab board member Tomas Häyry, (bottom left) Rector Minna Martikainen and CEO Ulla Mäki-Lohiluoma.