Ten Development Projects to Build an RDI Ecosystem Generating Vitality

The aim of strengthening the RDI ecosystem (Figure 1) is to bring together the research, education, RDI activities and services of Jamk University of Applied Sciences and the University of Jyväskylä into stronger entities in selected joint focus areas. At this stage, the aim is to strengthen the national position of these identified joint focus areas of Jyväskylä Universities and create opportunities for international cooperation and research funding.

One of the objectives of the RDI, business services and continuing education development programme is to strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation activities and to build a higher education-driven innovation ecosystem that supports the Jyväskylä model being prepared under the leadership of the City of Jyväskylä. Another objective is to improve access to the infrastructures of Jyväskylä Universities, both between the two institutions and for partners.

Each focus area will form an integrated entity in which research, RDI activities and business services support one another. Research knowledge is translated into solutions, services and education, while the needs of working life generate new research questions. The focus areas also aim to strengthen synergies in degree education.

Figure 1. Strengthening RDI ecosystems in joint focus areas.

The owners of the RDI development programme, Vice Rector responsible for research Mika Karjalainen from Jamk and Pasi Raiskinmäki from JYU, see many opportunities in the development projects.

“Joint development projects will take RDI cooperation between the higher education institutions to a new level. By combining the complementary expertise of Jamk and the University of Jyväskylä, we can build stronger competence clusters, pursue more significant international RDI funding and create new solutions for the needs of businesses and society,” Mika Karjalainen says.

“We can bring our complementary expertise together into strong entities that benefit society extensively while also attracting new students and experts from around the world. Our aim is that research, development and innovation activities carried out with our partners will transform this expertise into new solutions, well-being and sustainable growth,” Pasi Raiskinmäki continues.

Strengthening the RDI ecosystem in common focus areas

Development of FICEC

The aim is to develop and establish Finnish Center of Expertise for Cybersecurity FICEC as a key player in cybersecurity in Finland. FICEC is a nationally visible joint project of JYU and Jamk that brings together the cybersecurity expertise of both institutions. The Center of Expertise for Cybersecurity aims to support the growth of the cybersecurity ecosystem in Central Finland and strengthen its position in cybersecurity nationally and internationally.

Cybersecurity will be among the first pilot areas for working life-oriented doctoral education.

Contact persons: Markus Miettinen (JYU) and Tero Kokkonen (Jamk)

Security

Security, understood broadly, is a field of growing importance both nationally and internationally. Significant RDI funding is directed towards the field, educational content attracts interest, and there are substantial opportunities for international cooperation and business.

Broad-based strengthening of security research, education and RDI activities requires a shared operating model, joint leadership and a common brand. The strong and complementary expertise of JYU and Jamk provides a foundation for developing Jyväskylä Universities into an internationally recognised multidisciplinary competence cluster in security.

In degree education, the theme is closely linked to cooperation and the strengthening of RDI activities, as well as the strong joint productisation of business services.

Contact persons: Nicholas Marsh (JYU) and Harri Tuukkanen (Jamk)

Family wellbeing, family studies and the social services sector

The aim of the development project is to strengthen and systematise RDI activities and cooperation related to family wellbeing at Jyväskylä Universities. The project will also produce scientifically high-quality and societally impactful knowledge, solutions and expertise to support family wellbeing and professionals’ capabilities. In addition, the aim is to establish Jyväskylä Universities as a recognised RDI expert in family wellbeing at regional, national and international levels.

Contact persons: Anna Rönkä (JYU) and Kaisa Malinen (Jamk)

Game industry and technology (Game Campus)

There is already strong cooperation in the game industry in research, RDI activities and degree education. This cooperation has intensified further through two innovation city projects funded by Sitra.

The stakeholders in the game industry see the next step as establishing a shared, concrete competence cluster around which close cooperation in education, business services and RDI activities can be built. Existing business activities will be linked to this through cooperation with EXPA. The creation of new start-ups will also be supported.

An ambitious long-term goal is to establish a Game Campus following the concept of the Music Campus, including shared facilities and infrastructures. The game industry will also participate in the first wave of pilots for working life-oriented doctoral education.

Contact persons: Raine Koskimaa (JYU), Tuomas Roininen (JYU) and Hanna Hauvala (Jamk)

Competence centre for educational leadership

The aim is to create a joint, network-based competence centre for educational leadership for JYU and Jamk. The centre will combine research, education and the needs of working life and provide research-based competence development for leaders at different levels of education and across different sectors, as well as for those interested in educational leadership.

The activities are structured around five work packages: building a national and international competence centre for educational leadership; working life-oriented RDI activities, new solutions and doctoral education; providing research-based education and services; bringing networks together, strengthening cooperation and generating societal impact through an ecosystem approach; and supporting structures for continuous learning, including continuing education and business services.

Contact persons: Elina Fonsén (JYU) and Ari Hyyryläinen (Jamk)

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation and therapy sciences

The competence cluster for rehabilitation, therapy and wellbeing (REWELL) is a unique hub of expertise built around three levels: education, RDI and education activities, and a think tank functioning as a scalable expert organisation.

The unique expertise of Jyväskylä Universities in therapies, rehabilitation and wellbeing forms a distinctive educational entity, research collaboration and expert network at both national and international levels. The competence cluster brings together flexible educational pathways, research activities and infrastructures, and business services. The competence cluster works in close cooperation with stakeholders in the field.

Contact persons: Esa Ala-Ruona (JYU) and Katariina Korniloff (Jamk)

Bioeconomy and circular economy: exploring and developing potential cooperation between Konnevesi Research Station and the Institute of Bioeconomy

The aim is to explore the potential for cooperation between Konnevesi Research Station and the Institute of Bioeconomy and to strengthen collaboration between them. Both Konnevesi Research Station and the Institute of Bioeconomy in Tarvaala are important centres of research and education related to natural resources.

Looking ahead, it is important to identify the types of research and development activities carried out at the two locations and determine how their research infrastructures can support collaboration.

Contact persons: Lotta-Riina Sundberg (JYU) and Minna Lappalainen (Jamk)

HumTech (Human and Technology)

Human Technology (HumTech) is a multidisciplinary entity combining research, education and development that examines the relationship between humans and technology.

The expertise of the University of Jyväskylä and Jamk University of Applied Sciences provides a strong foundation for a joint HumTech initiative that combines research into the relationship between humans and technology, the development of technological solutions, and their testing and impact assessment in real-world environments.

Cooperation will focus, for example, on human-AI interaction, learning and working life, as well as technologies that support wellbeing, functional capacity and inclusion. A joint operating model will bring this expertise together into a visible entity and strengthen the links between research, education, RDI activities and business cooperation.

Contact persons: Jarkko Pirkkalainen (JYU), Tuomo Kujala (JYU), Mika Karjalainen (Jamk) and Petri Moilanen (Jamk)

Strengthening entrepreneurship and innovation activities and building a higher education-driven innovation ecosystem

Development of entrepreneurship and innovation activities in the higher education community

Jyväskylä Higher Education Group will develop a comprehensive model for entrepreneurship and innovation services that expands access to entrepreneurship, strengthens the impact of RDI activities, and supports the commercialisation of innovations as well as the growth and internationalisation of businesses in the region.

Key areas for development include the implementation of entrepreneurship and innovation activities at the higher education institutions, including courses and coaching; resourcing; links to curricula; communications; and cooperation with working life and businesses, taking into account EduJyväskylä cooperation and the Jyväskylä model. The details of this entity will be further developed in early 2027 in cooperation with the City of Jyväskylä and Gradia.

Contact persons: Reija Häkkinen (JYU) and Mari Hakkarainen (Jamk)

Accessible infrastructures

The project will identify the key infrastructures of Jyväskylä Universities and enhance their technical descriptions by adding information on use cases and contact details, as well as determine where the descriptions will be stored.

The project will produce a proposal for general principles governing open access to infrastructures and principles for shared use within JYU and Jamk. It will also assess the development needs of the institutions’ infrastructures.

In addition, the project will pilot the use of artificial intelligence in managing the infrastructures of the University of Jyväskylä and Jamk University of Applied Sciences.

Contact persons: Timo Taskinen (JYU), Sami Kantanen (Jamk), Saila Puukko (Jamk), and Tero Tuovinen (Jamk) regarding the pilot