New digital operating model will help North Savo make more effective use of EU funding
PRESS RELEASE
As national funding for research, development and innovation (RDI) becomes increasingly constrained, the importance of European research and innovation programmes continues to grow. The North Savo Digital EU Funding Capacity Development Model (North Savo InnoCo) project is developing an entirely new digital operating model for North Savo, enabling EU funding opportunities to be identified systematically and connected with the region’s expertise, development needs and key stakeholders.
EU funding offers significant opportunities to accelerate research, innovation and business growth. However, making the most of these opportunities requires international cooperation, proactive preparation and up-to-date information. In North Savo, EU funding opportunities are currently monitored largely on an organisation- and project-specific basis. As a result, information on potential funding pathways, stakeholders’ expertise and collaboration potential can easily remain fragmented.
InnoCo introduces a new way of working. The project systematically analyses funding opportunities within European research and innovation programmes and combines the resulting data into a comprehensive regional picture. This makes it possible to identify not only funding opportunities, but also new areas for joint development, interfaces between different sectors, and stakeholders whose expertise could be brought together in international RDI initiatives.
From fragmented information to a shared EU RDI intelligence picture
A key aspect of the project’s novelty is that EU funding is not viewed solely from the perspective of individual organisations’ needs. The aim is to create a digital, structured, and data-driven EU RDI intelligence picture for North Savo. This will make it possible to examine funding opportunities, regional expertise, development needs and the roles of different stakeholders as a whole.
A key tool is the digital EU Radar developed by Kuopio Health. It enables extensive analysis of open and upcoming EU funding calls and helps match them with the expertise profiles and needs of regional stakeholders.
The aim is to move from fragmented monitoring of funding opportunities to a proactive, systematic operating model. By examining information on funding programmes and regional expertise as one interconnected whole, potential collaboration opportunities can be identified even before funding calls are officially launched.
“North Savo has a great deal of expertise that is also in demand internationally. The challenge is not so much a lack of expertise, but how we can find the right funding opportunities and partners at the right time. Through the InnoCo project, we are building a new operating model to address this challenge. It will support the development of the entire regional innovation ecosystem and promote sustainable growth and competitiveness,” says Kimmo Solehmainen, Development Manager at Kuopio Health.
New collaboration opportunities across sectoral boundaries
The analytical data generated by the project will be used to identify new research and development initiatives, anticipate emerging themes and make the region’s strengths more visible.
The operating model focuses directly on the key sectors identified in North Savo’s smart specialisation strategy, particularly health and wellbeing technology and drug development, the food system, the bioeconomy and circular economy, and smart water systems. The aim is to strengthen RDI activities in these sectors and identify new opportunities for collaboration between them through EU funding.
One of the key innovations is the ability to examine the region’s expertise and funding opportunities across sectoral boundaries. For example, development needs in different sectors may align with the same European funding programme in ways that may not be apparent from the perspective of an individual organisation or sector.
The operating model is also scalable: during and after the project, it can be applied to other key sectors identified in North Savo’s smart specialisation strategy.
Stronger capacity for international collaboration
In the long term, the aim is to strengthen the ability of North Savo’s entire RDI environment to make effective use of EU funding, increase the amount of international RDI funding directed to the region, and strengthen North Savo’s position in European innovation networks.
InnoCo is therefore not focused solely on finding individual funding calls. Instead, it is building a new way for the region to anticipate future funding opportunities, connect expertise and initiate new international collaborations.
The project is implemented by Kuopio Health Co-op. The project runs from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2028 and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The funding is granted by the Regional Council of North Savo.
Further information:
Kimmo Solehmainen, Development Manager
+358 40 848 5034
kimmo.solehmainen(at)kuopiohealth.fi
www.kuopiohealth.fi
Kuopio Health is an open innovation ecosystem and international community that brings together companies, researchers, clinicians, experts and public-sector organisations. We foster collaboration that helps turn ideas arising from real needs into new solutions in health, wellbeing and nutrition.