Vitality clusters
Vitality clusters
Strengthening the competitiveness of Vakka-Suomi
The Vakka-Suomi vitality cluster brings together the region’s key industries and strengths: the energy cluster, the technology cluster, and the food cluster. The goal of these clusters is to strengthen the competitiveness of the Vakka-Suomi region.
In an ever-changing operating environment, structural changes in Vakka-Suomi, such as the downsizing of the automotive industry, highlight the need to identify critical industries and ensure new growth opportunities in the region. The clusters developed in the project are tasked with ensuring that resources are allocated correctly and support the renewal of companies. In addition, it is crucial in the project to identify, acknowledge, and map the specific needs and priorities of each industry so that collaboration and development efforts are properly targeted.
Population aging and the selectivity of migration challenge retention
Population aging and the selectivity of migration challenge retention. For the functioning of clusters, it is also essential to map the focus areas of labor availability and skills needs so that companies can access talent and the region can maintain its vitality. This is also important from the perspective of education and skills development.
Key to maintaining future competitiveness is foresight capability and regional cooperation. In clusters, it is therefore necessary to map sector-specific development needs and priorities in order to build joint solutions and strengthen the region’s competitiveness in the long term.
Workshops
Get Vakka-Suomi clusters moving
In this spring’s cluster workshops, we will develop solutions that strengthen the region’s competitiveness and collaboration. Identify, recognize, develop – get Vakka-Suomi clusters moving! Join us!
Technology cluster
Digital solutions and industrial renewal
The technology cluster focuses on digitalization, automation, and intelligent solutions that renew industry and services. Clusters are a key tool for technological development and the diffusion of digitalization: they accelerate the adoption of AI, IoT, and automation across industry boundaries.
A faster innovation cycle and scalability increase as companies can test and commercialize solutions within a shared ecosystem. The cluster acts as an engine that drives the region’s digitalization and competitiveness in a global operating environment.
More information about the cluster
The Technology Cluster’s set of three workshops has been developed to ensure that the unique needs, goals, and development challenges of the sector are sufficiently mapped out and considered. A single joint session is not enough to thoroughly delve into these differences.
The three workshops of the Technology Cluster take place on site. The workshop hours are from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
The address of the workshops is: Novida, Viikaistenkatu 1, Uusikaupunki
The on-site workshop days are: February 10, 2026, March 24, 2026, and May 4, 2026
Cluster leaders
Would you like more information – get in touch
- Antti Meriö: antti.merio(at)turkuamk.fi
- Timo Kankala: timo.kankala(at)turkuamk.fi
- ari Heino: jari.heino(at)novida.fi
Food cluster
Responsible and innovative food chain
The focus of the food cluster is on sustainable, transparent, and safe food production, highlighting responsibility, circular economy, and new food innovations. It is typical for the food industry to have many small, specialized companies, and bringing them together can yield significant benefits. Companies could develop products and processes that meet consumers’ increasing quality and responsibility demands. Educational institutions continue to provide research on, for example, nutrition, food technology, and logistics, as well as the benefits of increasing the level of processing. The cluster strengthens the region’s position as an innovative and responsible center for food production.
In the development of Finland’s cluster policy, specialized sub-clusters in thematic areas such as the food chain help target resources precisely at the pain points of the value chain (e.g., circular economy, safety, logistics), resulting in faster development of product and process quality and sustainability criteria as actors focused on the same theme systematically share information.
More information about the cluster
The three workshops of the Food Cluster enable thorough background work and industry needs analysis as well as extensive stakeholder consultation so that the measures selected for the cluster are based on real business needs rather than assumptions.
The three workshops of the Food Cluster take place on site. The workshops are scheduled from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
The address of the workshops is: Novida, Viikaistenkatu 1, Uusikaupunki
The on-site workshop days are: February 12, 2026, March 25, 2026, and May 6, 2026
Cluster leaders
Would you like more information – get in touch
- Jaakko Korpela: jaakko.korpela(at)turkuamk.fi
- Eija Kulju: eija.kulju(at)turkuamk.fi
- Sanna Järvinen: sanna.jarvinen(at)novida.fi
Energy cluster
Solutions for the green transition and renewable energy sources
The energy cluster focuses on the green transition, renewable energy solutions, and energy efficiency. The region has potential in the development of solar, wind, and bioenergy, as well as energy storage technologies.
The transformation of the energy sector is a key part of climate goals and industrial competitiveness. Ensuring the operation of the cluster requires mapping investment needs, skills requirements, and infrastructure development. Companies that develop solar, wind, and bioenergy as well as energy storage solutions are sought to participate.
Special aspects of the cluster include collaboration between industry and energy companies, which supports sustainable growth and investments.
More information about the cluster
The three workshops of the energy cluster create a shared understanding and commitment to the common goals and opportunities of the cluster. Forming a shared situational picture is critically important so that the cluster’s goals do not remain only on paper but are turned into concrete actions. Thus, the outcome is better, and the cluster gains a process that genuinely strengthens its competitiveness.
The three workshops of the energy cluster take place on site. The workshop hours are from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
The address of the workshops is: Novida, Viikaistenkatu 1, Uusikaupunki
The on-site workshop dates are: February 9, 2026, March 30, 2026, and May 5, 2026.
Cluster leaders
Would you like more information – get in touch
- Aleksi Lehikoinen: aleksi.lehikoinen(at)novida.fi
- Aleksi Heinonen: aleksi.heinonen(at)turkuamk.fi
- Samuli Ranta: samuli.ranta(at)turkuamk.fi
- Jari Mäkelä: jari.makela(at)novida.fi
Startup phase
In the startup phase, a series of 3 workshops will be conducted
In the vitality clusters, a total of nine workshops will be held in spring 2026, focusing on the key phenomena and collaboration opportunities of each sub-cluster, as well as strengthening a shared situational awareness.
The workshops will also bring significant benefits to the region through the planned Triple Helix model. In this model, companies, educational institutions, and public actors operate with clearly defined roles.
Roles of actors in the Triple Helix model
1. Companies
- Provide a market-driven perspective to clusters and identify business opportunities.
- Create jobs and investments in the region.
2. Educational institutions
- Responsible for skills development and research collaboration.
- Produce skilled workforce and innovations.
3. Public actors
- Enable the operational environment (infrastructure, funding, networks).
- Support strategic development and the competitiveness of the region.
The role of the cluster in the overall context is to act as:
- As a sparring partner and motivator: The cluster activates stakeholders, brings together different perspectives, and accelerates collaboration.
- As a creator of activities: The cluster creates platforms, networks, and joint projects that would not exist without a coordinating force.
- As a builder of the ecosystem: The cluster strengthens the region’s attractiveness and supports the emergence of innovations.