Leveraging Kuopio Water Expertise to Promote International Visibility and Catalyse Business

Introduction

Located in Savilahti, Kuopio, the Kuopio Water Cluster (KWC) is Finland’s most diverse water sector innovation ecosystem. KWC brings together five research institutions (Savonia, UEF, GTK, THL, and Luke) and over 70 companies that develop water sector products and services or face water-related challenges.

The Savilahti area is a significant innovation and testing environment for developing smart water systems and zero-emission industrial water treatment processes. The area collaborates closely with companies. Additionally, significant RDI activities have been activated in the area to develop water treatment methods for water-intensive industries, particularly the mining industry.

Investments by the City of Kuopio have strengthened Savilahti’s role as a major innovation and testing environment for new technologies.

This project aims to elevate Savilahti’s water expertise innovation ecosystem to a new level by striving for internationally recognized leadership, particularly as a developer ecosystem for digital solutions, enhancing the visibility and role of Kuopio’s water expertise and business activities in the value chains of pulp and paper industry water treatment and process water cycles, and increasing company-driven international activities to address global water challenges based on Finnish water expertise.

The project focuses on the following areas:

1. Smart water solutions: The goal is to achieve international leadership as a developer of digital applications for the water sector. Development focuses on digital twins and metaverse applications. Collaboration between UEF and Savonia’s AI and Smart Water experts will be significantly intensified, and new initiatives will be sought at the intersection of these technologies.
2. Smart recovery processes and zero-emission industry: The goal is to create shared value chains between key players in the pulp and paper industry and water sector companies. RDI cooperation will be activated between partners and key players in the industry, particularly for the development needs of the zero-emission industry.
3. International growth of SMEs: The goal is to promote company-driven international initiatives in the water sector and involve Kuopio’s water sector companies and research partners in their implementation. The aim is to form consortia that target investment and business projects directly in international markets.

These measures will strengthen Savilahti’s position as a globally competitive water sector innovation ecosystem, increase the area’s attractiveness, and catalyze new business.

Partners: University of Eastern Finland

The coordinator of the project: Savonia University of Applied Sciences

Funding authority: City of Kuopio and North Savo Regional Council

Contact persons: Jussi Ahonen, Anu Eskelinen

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