What

Improving research and innovation capabilities and the uptake of advanced technologies. The main implementer of the project is the City of Riihimäki. The co-implementer is HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences. The project develops a regional competence and innovation ecosystem and co-creation network, in line with the smart specialisation objectives of Häme, for the field of security, national defence, crisis resilience and security of supply solutions. The aim is to form a network of high technology and expertise, which companies, educational institutions and other communities and actors in the field from the Kanta-Häme region can join. The project seeks to attract to the Kanta-Häme region new companies that are aware of the business opportunities of the national defence sector and capable of producing new innovations.

When

The project will be implemented between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2026

Funding

70% of the project’s funding comes from the EU-ERDF development fund granted by the Regional Councils. Processing authority: the Regional Council of Häme. Funding authority: the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council. Approximately 19% of the funding comes from the project’s partners Sako Oy, Millog Oy, the City of Hämeenlinna and Forssan yrityskehitys Oy. Approximately 11% of the funding is covered by the City of Riihimäki.

About the Project

The project strengthens competence, foresight and innovation activities as well as the development of new technologies in the security, national defence, crisis resilience and security of supply sector. As a result of the project, the international dimension of education and research organisations will increase and RDI cooperation will develop within the EU and globally. The ecosystem developed in the project provides a model for cooperation and functioning structures. By broadly identifying and engaging different stakeholders, new connections are created and an innovation ecosystem network is assembled. The ecosystem’s activities are actively developed in the project by engaging in dialogue with the network’s actors, by conducting qualitative and quantitative research, through various surveys and by increasing education in the field.