Towards Kainuu’s Innovation Ecosystem for Good Health and Wellbeing
The development of an innovation ecosystem for good health and wellbeing has begun in Kainuu. The foundation of the innovation ecosystem lies in multidisciplinary collaboration between different actors, and extensive background research.
The initiation of Kainuu’s innovation ecosystem for good health and wellbeing, carried out within the INSPIS – Innovative Social and Healthcare Services through an Innovation Ecosystem project, involves the first two development phases. In the exploration phase, the focus is on identifying collaboration opportunities and forming partnerships. In the experimentation phase, collaboration matures, and jointly developed solutions are piloted.
Work to create the Kainuu’s innovation ecosystem for good health and wellbeing has started through research, actor meetings and collaboration. Complementary expertise and learning from similar national and international operators are key to ensuring that the future ecosystem meets the region’s needs as effectively as possible.
What Makes Up the Innovation Ecosystem of Good Health and Wellbeing, in Terms of Actors and Roles, in Its Birth Developmental Stage?
In the innovation ecosystem for good health and wellbeing, innovations emerge through joint ideation and co-development. The ecosystem opens new opportunities for cooperation and creates value for all participants.
The research Actor categorisation and roles of innovation ecosystem in birth stage, presented at the XXXVI ISPIM Innovation Conference in Norway, examines the categorisation and roles of actors during the ecosystem’s birth developmental stage. Based on the study, nine actor categories were identified in Kainuu’s innovation ecosystem for good health and wellbeing:
- municipalities;
- companies;
- educational and research institutions;
- safety authorities;
- the social security institution;
- national, regional and local third sector actors;
- the Regional Council of Kainuu;
- statutory councils and
- the wellbeing services county.
From these results, four covering themes were defined:
- service provision and multisectoral collaboration;
- vitality and working life needs;
- the promotion of customers’ functioning capacity and
- the RDIE (research, development, innovation, learning) activities.
Understanding these actors and their roles is essential not only for strengthening collaboration but also for accelerating health and wellbeing innovations.
The study is available via ProQuest and can also be requested by email from the authors Kirsi Meriläinen or Kirsi Moisanen (firstname.lastname@kamk.fi).
Which Factors Drive Innovations Forward in Organisations – And Which Hold Them Back?
Organisational culture can be both an fostering and a hindering factor for innovation. Perspectives on factors that promote or hinder innovation development and implementation in organisations were gathered in a workshop held for Master’s students in social and health care at Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK) and Master’s students in the Digital Health Care Management – Smart Solutions for Wellbeing Service Development and Management course at Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences.
The workshop results were summarised and presented at the event Pohjois-Suomen hoitotiedepäivät in September 2025.
Factors that foster further development and adoption of innovations in organisations:
- Attitude and motivation of actors
- Organisational culture
- Efficiency and service accessibility
- Digital and technological solutions
- Resources and role clarity
- Information
Factors that hinder further development and adoption of innovations in organisations:
- Financial resources
- System interoperability
- Acceptance of change
- Data protection legislation and regulations
- Bureaucracy
- Organisational culture
The results are also available on Lapland University of Applied Sciences’ website (in Finnish).
Together, We Can Bring More Vitality to Kainuu – Innovative Business Matchmaking Events as a Tool for Co-development
The pilot phase of INSPIS Business Matchmaking events began in spring 2025. These meetings brought together companies, representatives from the wellbeing services county, and the INSPIS project team. During the meetings, participants brainstormed, discussed and explored new solutions for delivering social and health care services. The discussions increased mutual understanding and refined ideas on how the INSPIS project could support co-development.
The formation of Kainuu’s innovation ecosystem for good health and wellbeing is well underway. In the coming year, activities will include a kick-off event, piloting co-creation with one municipality and company, initiation of competence co creation and development of the applied model, vision and roadmap.
Kajaani University of Applied Sciences implements the INSPIS – Innovative Social and Healthcare Services through an Innovation Ecosystem project in cooperation with the Kainuu wellbeing services county. The project is co-funded by the European Union.
Further information:
Project Manager Kirsi Meriläinen, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, kirsi.merilainen@kamk.fi, tel. +358 40 509 6570