Increasing the international RDI competence of municipalities in Southwest Finland
Duration of the project
Source of funding
The Regional Council of Southwest Finland, Supporting sustainable growth and vitality of regions (AKKE)
Total funding
81 909 €
The project strengthens the international RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) competence of municipalities in Southwest Finland by jointly developing clear RDI profiles with the municipalities. Through these profiles, municipalities identify the current state of their RDI activities, key networks, objectives, and development needs. The profiles support municipalities in leveraging external funding, increasing project-based cooperation, and expanding international RDI projects. The RDI profile and RDI business card make the municipality’s development expertise and needs visible and facilitate communication and networking.
The project clarifies RDI cooperation between municipalities and higher education institutions and indirectly also supports the development of companies’ RDI activities, thereby strengthening the vitality of the entire region. Turku University of Applied Sciences’ partnership agreements with several municipalities provide a strong foundation for joint RDI development.
The target group consists of municipalities in Southwest Finland and their development companies, for whom the use of external funding is becoming increasingly important due to cuts in central government transfers. The measures include developing the RDI profile model, defining municipalities’ profiles and competence needs, piloting cooperation models, and strengthening national and international networking. The project intensifies collaboration and increases municipalities’ RDI readiness.
Southwest Finland is a strong RDI region – join us
In Southwest Finland, the goal is to expand research, development and innovation (RDI) activities and strengthen the region’s vitality. Municipalities play a key role in achieving this goal: making their expertise, development priorities and strategic strengths visible helps build new partnerships and projects.
Explore municipalities’ RDI expertise
An interactive map showcases the RDI strengths, development themes and contact persons of municipalities in Southwest Finland.
On the map you can:
- view municipalities’ RDI profiles and strengths
- find potential collaboration partners
- see municipalities’ current RDI development priorities
The map is continuously updated with new municipalities. Find out below how your municipality can join the map!
How your municipality can be added to the map
Joining involves creating an RDI “business card”, which serves as a concise introduction to the municipality’s RDI activities.
1. Fill in the RDI business card
Use the ready-made template (download template (word))
(Note: The business card must be prepared in both Finnish and English.)
2. Submit the materials
Send the completed business card content along with 1–3 images of the municipality (if available) to the contact persons by email.
3. Publication on the map
The contact persons will adapt the content into a suitable format for the map and publish it. You will be notified once it is published, and the content can still be updated if needed.
Benefits for the municipality
By participating, you will:
- increase your visibility as an RDI actor
- find new partners
- strengthen your municipality’s strategic profile
- contribute to the region’s shared RDI goal
If creating the business card feels challenging
If compiling the RDI business card is difficult or the necessary information is not readily available, we recommend reviewing the RDI profile materials below.
These help municipalities to:
- define their RDI profile
- structure the current state of RDI activities
- identify development needs
- clarify strengths
- identify key RDI development prioritie
An RDI profile also serves as a solid foundation for creating the business card.
RDI profile materials
Externally funded RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) activities give municipalities the opportunity to renew their operations, test new approaches, and build partnerships in a controlled and impactful way. To support this work, we have developed an RDI Profile Model that enables municipalities to:
- assess the current state of their RDI activities
- identify objectives and build a shared RDI process
- articulate the municipality’s strengths as an RDI actor
- clarify strategic development priorities and thematic focus areas
Getting started
1. Start with the background material
Familiarise yourself with the background material for the Municipal RDI Profile. It helps you quickly understand the benefits of the model and supports presenting it internally within the municipality.
2. Interested? Get in touch
We can arrange a short introductory meeting to provide guidance on building the profile and using the materials.
Note: The introductory meeting is not mandatory – you may also proceed independently.
3. Use the RDI profile materials
The RDI profile consists of two parts:
- Completion guidelines that provide step-by-step guidance on what to include in the profile
- A fillable template, the content of which will be finalised according to the municipality’s own visual identity
4. Highlight your expertise – the RDI business card
The RDI profile is primarily an internal development tool, but it also provides an easy basis for compiling a concise RDI business card for external stakeholders. The key contents of the business card can also be featured on the RDI Municipalities of Southwest Finland map.
Turku UAS and the project team are happy to assist in entering the information on the map.
Contact us
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We carry out nearly 200 RDI projects annually together with working life and our international partner networks.