Growth Community

Growth Community

Kuopio Region Chamber of Commerce has launched an ERDF-funded1 Pohjois-Savon kasvu- ja innovaatioyhteistyö project (”Ski Lift Pitch Growth Community”; project code A78661).

The Growth Community’s operations are based on reinforcing the strengths of the region. The European Commission has identified the following resources in its labor market review (11/2020): the diversity, strong and international export companies as well as high-quality university education in the region of Pohjois-Savo create a foundation for the Growth Community. Young (international) students studying at different educational levels and research teams are resources for regional growth, creativity and new innovations.

The main mission of the Pohjois-Savon kasvu- ja innovaatioyhteistyö growth community project is to build a viable growth company culture in Pohjois-Savo. The project activities are aimed at accelerating the founding of new businesses and supporting the increase of scalable innovations. Strong cooperation across municipal borders and a strategic collaborative network support the objective of allocating regional resources in a cross-municipal context as well.

The project is centered around two main goals:

1. To produce a sustainably viable and distinct growth company culture in Pohjois-Savo as well as to accelerate the founding of new startups and the creation of new research-driven business ideas in the area.
   
   
2. To support the renewal of economic life in the area and the founding of new potential export companies.

The growing number of new talents and companies correlates in part with the increase of potential international export companies in the area. The Ski Lift Pitch Growth Community operating model contributes to the Export2X – Pk-yritysten kyvykkyyksien kehittäminen kansainvälisille markkinoille (developing the capabilities of SMEs for international markets) project mission to double the number of international export companies by 2030, which was launched by the business service operators in the area.

The development of a pro-entrepreneurship culture and the increasing number of innovations and business ideas driven by young talents and research teams promote exports and sustainable growth, investments in the area and the creation of new startups and jobs in the region.

Project’s main target groups are:

1. Young students, talents and research teams
   
2. Startups in different stages
   
3. Investors

Pohjois-Savon kasvu- ja innovaatioyhteistyö project will result in the creation of a distinct growth company culture in the region, which will advertise and signal the area’s strong entrepreneurial tradition and skills in international exports.

Once the Ski Lift Pitch Growth Community operating model has been properly integrated, the region will have a cross-sectoral growth community made up of private, public and third sector actors.

In the future, Pohjois-Savo will attract even more new students, talents, startups and investors also on an international level.

1The project is supported by the European Regional Development Fund. The project is funded by Pohjois-Savon liitto (the Regional Council of Pohjois-Savo).

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