Ecosystem agreements

City in the evening lights

The central government has concluded long-term agreements with university cities regarding the strategic allocation of public and private RDI funding to strengthen globally competitive ecosystems.

The agreements will strengthen cooperation between public and private operators in research and innovation activities in accordance with the objectives of the parliamentary RDI working group and the national funding plan for R&D. Implementation of the agreements focusing on the devel-opment of innovation ecosystems will primarily take place with the EU’s resources for sustainable urban development in the programming period 2021–2027.

Read more: Supporting sustainable urban development | tem.fi

The objective of the agreements is to build innovation ecosystems, in other words, to intensify cooperation within networks, strengthen key competences and increase effectiveness.

The collective objective of the agreements is to develop city-led solutions that are based on a low-carbon and resource-wise use of digitalisation and technological change. Based on their content, the measures are divided into green transition, digitalisation, and wellbeing and health. The development is part of the Innovative Cities and Communities programme, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Council of Tampere Region.

The agreements also aim to bring research projects and networks using them together into larger, mutually reinforcing competence clusters. A common factor for the cities involved is that their progress is based on high university-driven competence and its utilisation.

The state has signed ecosystem agreements with the Greater Helsinki area and other university cities and towns. Participating cities and towns are Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Vaasa, Joensuu, Kuopio, Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta incl. Imatra, Lahti, Pori, Seinäjoki, Mikkeli, Kajaani incl. Sotkamo and Kokkola.

Further information: mika.pikkarainen(at)gov.fi, katja.palonen(at)gov.fi and olli.voutilainen(at)gov.fi