Sitra x InnoCities: Growth in Pori through smart business

The Smart Business for Growth project strengthens the RDI activities of the Pori Ecosystem Agreement in the focus areas of automation and robotics, technology metals, and the circular economy. The project is part of a collaboration between The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and InnoCities, which aims to increase the impact of public funding for RDI activities in Finland.

The project, which will be implemented in autumn 2025, will build an overall picture of the development needs for smart business in the ecosystems of Pori’s InnoCity. At the same time, concrete development targets will be identified that can be addressed in practice through pilot projects between companies and research organizations.

Companies, research institutes, and public actors in the region are invited to participate in the joint development. The end result will be a concrete plan for continuing RDI cooperation and strengthening smart business in the region.

Welcome to join us in developing smart business!

  • Would you like to share your views on the challenges, successes, and ideas for experimentation in companies’ RDI activities in an interview?
  • Are you interested in participating in the webinars and workshops in autumn 2025?

Please contact: anne.erkkila-valimaki@utu.fi, kirsi.kari@utu.fi or paivikki.kuoppakangas@utu.fi

Schedule

  • Survey 8-9/2025: Based on interviews and material analysis, a snapshot and summary of the challenges of RDI activities, effective best practices, and ideas for pilot projects will be prepared.
  • Root causes of challenges, prerequisites for success, and development ideas ― first round of co-development 9-10/2025: Based on the results of the survey, the root causes of the challenges will be examined in more detail, the prerequisites for the success of good practices will be reviewed, and new pilot projects will be refined or planned on this basis.
  • Towards solutions and a shared RDI vision – second round of joint development 10–11/2025: The direction of RDI cooperation and follow-up measures will be specified, and the development of pilot projects will be continued.
  • Finalization of the RDI cooperation vision and agreement on follow-up measures 11-12/2025.

Coordination

The project is coordinated by the City of Pori in collaboration with the Turku School of Economics (TSE Pori) at the University of Turku and Prizztech/Robocoast EDIH. The project receives funding and expert support from Sitra.

The Pori project is part of a collaboration between Sitra and InnoCities, which aims to identify the key challenges for RDI cooperation and innovation activities between companies and research organizations and how cooperation should be developed. For more information, visit https://www.sitra.fi/en/topics/innovations-for-sustainable-growth/

Further information