Jyväskylä and the surrounding region in Central Finland is home to a broad spectrum of forward-looking companies in areas such as engineering, ICT, wellness, bioenergy, and environmental technologies. As well as providing a positive environment for businesses to develop and grow, the region offers an excellent quality of life for residents.
Businesses need to be able to combine technological, sustainable, and conceptual innovations creatively if they are to be truly successful. To do this, companies need successful environments, while the people behind them need a good quality of life.
Jyväskylä in Central Finland has set itself the goal of becoming one such world-class sustainable innovation environment for people and business, with close ties to an extensive infrastructure of national and global networks.
The region is already home to recognised expertise in areas such as nanotechnology, ICT, energy, paper technology, and wood processing, and has been selected as the base for a number of growth businesses in environmental and wellness technologies. A dynamic regional innovation policy has prioritised the creation of a ‘living lab’, drawing on and extending these strengths to foster further sustainable innovation.
Excellence in one field encourages excellence in others
Engineering is particularly well-represented locally, with hundreds of companies in the region, including such well-known names such as Metso Paper, the world’s leading manufacturer of paper machines, and tractor manufacturer Valtra. Leaders in bioenergy and small-scale energy generation, as well as forest products, also have a local presence.
ICT companies in the region concentrate primarily on software, network applications, and digital media.
Wellness technology, one of the latest areas of activity for local businesses, draws on the region’s ICT skills and combines them with expertise in fields such as health and sports sciences.
Excellent infrastructure and quality of life
Jyväskylä is known for its openness, spirit of cooperation, positive approach to partnership, and environmental values – and for its educational infrastructure, including the University of Jyväskylä and the Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, both of which work closely with the business community.
One of the key reasons that Jyväskylä has succeeded in attracting new businesses and people – and believes that it will do so into the future – is also that the region offers a high quality of life, a wide range of cultural activities, a safe environment, and well-functioning services for everyone.
 |
| The Jyväskylä region combines a dynamic infrastructure, an innovative atmosphere, and an excellent quality of life. |
|
Innovation in Finland
More than just high-tech