The ELVI project, and what is it all about
ELVI is an abbreviation of "Environment for Lucrative Virtual Interaction". The somewhat lengthy name contains the idea of a product development service for creative and original ideas for commercial interactive entertainment products and games. The aim of the project is to create companies that design, develop and publish interactive entertainment and games in the region of Oulu.

ELVI's primary mode is to guide and offer general and more specific expert services to accepted concepts. The project also offers networking and lobbying for the concepts, and aims to improve the situation in the region in general by co-operating with national and international industry members.

ELVI operates from and is administrated by the department of information processing sciences in the University of Oulu - a proper place when you try to make content and technology shake hands in a very tech- and software-focused area like Oulu. We strongly believe, that through quality knowledge and development of content products there is a benefit for technology and software partners, which is why we aim to create and utilize possibilities to use regionally developed technology and software components in a game or interactive entertainment context.

ELVI has a total budget of almost 670,000 Euro. It is funded by Council of Oulu Region (EU Objective 2, ERDF) and City of Oulu. ELVI lasts until end of 2007. Direct target is the founding of several games- and interactive entertainment focused companies, and through these, jobs in the area. ELVI also develops a model for independently functioning product development model, which could continue to boost the content cluster of Oulu after the project has ended.