In terms of innovation outputs, Finnish firms mostly generate product improvements rather than “new-to-the-world” innovation. They seem to have encountered some difficulties in generating intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, etc.) Earmarked Tekes funding for strategic centres for science, technology and innovation (SHOKs) - PPPs for collaborative research led by industry clusters - was discontinued in 2016, although the SHOKs, as private limited liability companies, are still operating independently under business law.