Region of Oulu
FINLAND
Regional
context
Oulu Region is performing high in innovation scoreboard and indicators showing RDI-activity. RDI investment per capita is among the highest in Europe. Region is ready for better adaption of innovation and demand-driven solutions with the actions and objectives of PREPARE-project.
Implementation of PREPARE started by close co-operation with regional stakeholders and innovation players. Interviews, surveys and workshops clarified and raised awareness of PREPARE. Objective is to create environment for balanced innovation chain.
The wellbeing services county of North Ostrobothnia, Pohde, is one of the 21 wellbeing services counties in Finland. Pohde is responsible for organising public health, social and rescue services in North Ostrobothnia. Pohde over 18 000 professionals from different fields, who work together to offer high quality well-being services for all residents in the area.
Alignment with RIS3 strategy
The Oulu Region’s smart specialisation strategy (RIS) aims to promote, at the regional level, measures leading to and utilizing innovations that meet the challenges posed by digitalization, climate change and the energy transition. The strategy aims to actively disseminate innovations and innovation activities throughout the region and increase the regional economy and well-being. The strategy leads to cooperation by crossing industries and borders.
The scope of RIS3 strategy in the Oulu Region is relatively wide and contains many themes and focus areas. The first pilar of strategy aims to promote Digital services and products, Field of health and well-being and Renewable and low-emission industry. Especially the first 2 themes implement the PREPARE objectives and are well well aligned with the project.In addition, PREPARE can contribute to the updating of regional RIS3-strategy.
Importance of PREPARE for the region
The implementation of PREPARE started by close co-operation with regional stakeholders and innovation players. Interviews, surveys and workshops clarified and raised awareness of PREPARE. The objective is to create environment for balanced innovation chain.
The Oulu region is performing well in many RDI-indicators and organisations and companies are established in many important networks and consortiums. Still many parts of the innovation cycle need to be highlighted much stronger than before. PREPARE is an enabler for the region to focus on adoption of innovative and innovative procurement. PREPARE is also stressing the importance of the demand-driven approach in innovation.
Regional Partners
BusinessOulu is an enterprise owned by the City of Oulu. It aims to support growing companies and to coordinate the Oulu Health ecosystem, driving innovation in the Healthtech business. It was established in 2011 and has almost 12 years of experience managing public funds for innovation from administrations at all levels (local to European). It is regularly involved in inP innovation projects and is currently developing a more efficient and sustainable procurement strategy for the City of Oulu, to boost local inP.
The Council of Oulu Region is a regional development and planning organization acting on behalf of its member municipalities. It coordinates EU funding programs in the region and represents Oulu region in both national and international projects, programs and working groups. It is responsible for creating the region’s RIS3, involving all its relevant ecosystem members in the process.
Council of Oulu Region – Council of Oulu Region (pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi)
Relevant Regional Stakeholders
The wellbeing services county of North Ostrobothnia, Pohde, is one of the 21 wellbeing services counties in Finland. Pohde is responsible for organising public health, social and rescue services in North Ostrobothnia. Pohde over 18 000 professionals from different fields, who work together to offer high quality well-being services for all residents in the area. Visit their website
Oulu counts with SMEs and R&D centres in the ICT and green industries.
Oulu Innovation Alliance, is a strategic coalition of organizations and innovation leaders that promote innovation and sustainable growth, and Oulu Health, a healthcare cluster that gathers universities, research centres, companies, world leader in using ICT innovations for health and life science solutions: Home – OuluHealth, Oulu Innovation Alliance
