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Kuopio Goes Slush

Kuopio region is known for a strong and growing startup scene

Come and meet the most promising startups from Kuopio region, representing the most potential industries of the future. The event is a great opportunity to listen keynote speakers, network with the startups and to get to know about their business and innovations in a pitching competition. Check the right column for more info about the startups.

Success stories are born when they have freedom to grow. In Kuopio you can build your own story in a unique atmosphere – with courage, creativity, and using your own strengths.

Kuopio Goes Slush Program

The event represents the most promising startups of the Kuopio region. Get to know the startups in advance and visit the even to discuss more about their business and innovations.

Time: Dec 3, 2018, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Place: Putte’s bar (Kalevankatu 6, 00100 Helsinki)

18:00 Doors are open
18:15 Welcoming words, Mikko Vuoristo, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
18:20 Key notes: IBM Watson ecosystem for startups: Miikka Kiiski IBM Ecosystem director AND Investmens and experienced from startup investments: Anna Koponen, Innovestor/entrepreneur

19:00 Pitching
20:00 Networking, food and drink available
20:45 Announcement of the winner – winner will receive a ticket for 2 persons to the Tahko Ski Lift Pitch event (value 500 €)
21:00 Event ends

Event discussions and presentations moderated by Ricardo Patino.

Slush

Slush is the focal point for entrepreneurs and tech talent to meet with top-tier international investors, executives and media. Close to 2,000 startups, 800 venture capitalists, and 700 journalists from over 100 countries come to Slush to drive business, and to experience the phenomenal atmosphere. Slush 2017 takes place on 30 November – 1 December in Helsinki, Finland.

BusinessKuopio

Kuopio combines a great business environment, a wide range of education and research expertise, cultural services and the opportunity to live among nature. Kuopio is one of the most dynamic cities in Finland in terms of residential construction, attractiveness, job opportunities and population growth. Kuopio has around 120,000 inhabitants, while nearly one million people live in the city’s area of influence. The city is home to over 5,400 companies, providing around 50,000 workplaces. More than 200 of the companies are export companies in North Savo. www.businesskuopio.fi

In Kuopio region, growth really is a force of nature – as indicated by the figures below:

Exports grew by 16,4 % in 2017, which is almost double in comparison to the export growth rate of Finland (7,8%).
Turnover of the companies in Northern Savonia grew by 6,7% in 2017, which is more than the turnover growth rate of all companies in Finland (6,1%).

Top know how in Kuopio area

Surrounded by unspoilt nature and water, Kuopio is the leader in health and wellness expertise, the growing city is strongly characterized by education and research, culture, tourism and a diversity of businesses. Kuopio is a dynamic and constantly growing business city. The region of Kuopio is a unique combination of science, technology, art, industry and security. It is also one of the country’s innovation hubs and an important university city. People in Kuopio are known as the forerunner of wellbeing, health and environment expertise. Kuopio is the home of several internationally recognised hi-tech and service companies.

Startups from the Most Potential Industries of the Future

Health and wellbeing

Leverage the world’s best ecosystem for health R&D. The combination of a long-standing tradition in efficient healthcare, digitalization of health data and the Nokia engineering ecosystem has made Finland the premier location for health R&D. Because of our free-of-charge and high-quality education at all levels, including university and post-graduate education, finding skilled R&D workers in Finland is easy. This is why Finland ranks as the best country in the world for the availability of scientists and engineers (World Economic Forum). Finland is also one of the leading countries in terms of scientific researchers per capita, and the Finnish government’s R&D expenditure per capita is among the highest globally. These factors combined make Finland the number one global contributor to innovation in terms of policies that support innovation (Information Technology & Innovation Foundation).

ICT and Digitalisation

Finland is the second most advanced digital economy in the EU (DESI) and this also extends to healthcare. Finland has been one of the pioneers in health-related digitalization. National health registries have been held in databases since the 1960’s. Today, 100% population penetration in electronic health records (EHR) make our health data unique in terms of breadth and depth.

Cleantech and Bioeconomy

Finland’s unique location shapes the way we think, work, and innovate. Persistent long-term efforts, public and private sector collaboration, and cutting edge cleantech expertise, have helped us to succeed in protecting our nature. According to the Environmental Performance Index 2018, Finland is among the TOP 10 greenest countries in the world, being number one in Environmental Health, having least environmental health riskis in the world. We have fresh air, pure water, green forests, clean energy, and clean technology. Our Nordic nature inspires us to find creative and sustainable solutions.

Innovations and living lab

The City of Kuopio has Living Lab services that companies developing future healthcare solutions can use to test and improve their products and services in an authentic healthcare environment. The Living Lab environment is for primary health care services and is specialised in geriatric and home care. Through Living Lab, companies receive information about the usability of their solutions, while healthcare providers get information about the benefits of the latest solutions and their cost-effectiveness. More information

Unique environment for business – Savilahti area

The Savilahti area, which also covers the Science Park, has hundreds of technology and service companies, several national research centres and numerous testing and analysis laboratories. The area is a unique combination of skills and know-how in the fields of health and well-being. Also several internationally successful companies have laid their foundations into the region. More information

High-class education

Finland ́s education system is ranked as the best one in the world. The city of Kuopio is no exception. The City of Kuopio offers high quality basic and upper secondary education for children and young people. Great performance in Pisa results, teacher competence, innovative, digital learning environment and collaborative classroom practice make Finnish education unique also in Kuopio. The University of Eastern Finland is one of the largest universities in Finland and offers teaching in more than 100 majors. Savonia University of Applied Sciences is also most versatile Universities of Applied Sciences. Savo Consortium for Education is one of the biggest training providers in Finland on the field of vocational education and training.