Promoting Green Electrification and the Bioproduct Sector through the Ecosystem Agreement
The Greenreality Network at the Core of Lappeenranta’s Ecosystem Agreement
Lappeenranta is one of Finland’s “InnoCities”, which implement ecosystem agreements. InnoCities support and drive new ways of thinking – they are pioneers of change. They create opportunities for urban developers, companies, and researchers to grow, experiment, come together, and generate new ideas. The goal of InnoCities is to strengthen regional expertise and collaboration, develop internationally competitive innovation and testing environments, and build new business ecosystems. Together, we are making Finland the most innovative country in the world. Imatra is part of Lappeenranta’s ecosystem agreement.
At the heart of the regional ecosystem agreement is our Greenreality Network, which promotes energy and environmental themes.
Lappeenranta’s Development Priorities: Green Electrification and Bioproducts
Green electrification is promoted by strengthening research, development, and innovation activities and by launching joint development platforms for major investments related to this theme in the Lappeenranta–Imatra region. Acting as strong drivers of business growth alongside the cities are LUT University—with its world-leading energy expertise—and the Greenreality business network.
The agreement aims to significantly increase green electrification business in Finland and simultaneously enable the emergence of entirely new business activities. The vision is to make Finland—and specifically the Lappeenranta–Imatra region—a leading innovation hub for green electrification by 2027.
Lappeenranta’s InnoCity development efforts also cover bioproducts, RDI activities of SMEs, and startup entrepreneurship.
National Green Electrification Innovation Efforts Led by LUT University
LUT University is responsible for coordinating Finland’s national innovation work on green electrification. The aim is to strengthen interregional co-development and increase the international visibility of expertise in the field. Partners in this national innovation collaboration include green electrification research and product development hubs in Oulu, Vaasa, Jyväskylä, Joensuu, and the urban regions of Raahe and Kokkola.
Projects implementing the ecosystem agreement:
Ongoing projects:
City of Lappeenranta:
The cities of Lappeenranta and Imatra:
Investments and Vitality in South Karelia Group Project
LAB University of Applied Sciences:
DATAMI – Research team for green data solutions in the built environment
LABeko2 – network, elaborate, internationalize, success
LUT University:
Alliance – Sustainable regional EU funding
Green hydrogen production – from research to stack manufacturing know-how
Completed projects:
City of Lappeenranta:
SMR – Advanced Energy (1.5.2023-30.4.2024)
City of Imatra:
Mioni Industrial Park – Attracting Ecosystem Actors (1.6.-31.12.2021)
Mioni Industrial Park – Ecosystem Actors (1.6.2022-31.5.2024)
Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT:
Increasing Horizon Europe Funding to Accelerate Ecosystem Growth (1.5.2021-31.12.2022)
LAB University of Applied Sciences:
Know, Solve, Commercialize, and Succeed (1.6.2021-31.12.2022)