Advocacy and public affairs
Kuopio builds sustainable growth, security and vitality for Finland as a whole.
Kuopio is a growing university city and a driving force for growth and attractiveness in Eastern Finland, making a significant contribution to the development of Finland as a whole.
Kuopio provides solutions to shared challenges
Kuopio offers Finland internationally significant expertise in health and wellbeing, research, development and innovation, solutions for the green transition, and comprehensive security. The city is a driving force for growth, renewal and internationalisation in Eastern Finland.
- 127,000 residents, 174,000 in the Kuopio MAL region
- 15 minutes from the city centre to the airport
- Kuopio is Finland’s second most attractive city, after Tampere (T-Media survey 2025)
- Resident satisfaction is high, and Kuopio is an attractive place to move to.
- Kuopio offers the key elements of a good life: quality of life, work-life balance, culture, the environment and a strong sense of community.
- Kuopio emphasises partnerships in strengthening the city’s vitality.
To strengthen growth and competitiveness, Kuopio needs effective transport connections, a skilled workforce, a long-term approach to research and innovation policy, and strong partnerships between central government and cities.
127 000
Residents
15 min
From the city centre to the airport
No. 2
Kuopio's attractiveness
174 000
Residents in MAL region
News
-
Kuopio participates in the European Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership program to promote urban development for the benefit of its residents
Kuopio’s participation in the Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership program will provide the city’s leadership with expertise in solving complex challenges, exploring new innovations and delivering tangible results. The program […]
-
Kuopio Upper Secondary School of Arts Lumit has been awarded the European Commission's EITA Prize
The European Innovative Teaching Award (EITA) is being presented for the sixth time in 2026. Four Erasmus+ projects from Finland have been selected for the award. One of the winners […]
-
Shelter 2026 civil defence exercise achieved its objectives
The Shelter 2026 civil defence exercise held in Kuopio, Finland on 2–3 September achieved the objectives set for it. The exercise, involving more than 2,000 participants, tested the sheltering of […]
-
Youth Adventure Racing World Championships to be held in Kuopio in 2028
Kuopio has been awarded the honor of hosting the Youth Adventure Racing World Championships in 2028. This is a historic event, as it will be the first time the championships […]
-
Closing the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) office in Kuopio would weaken the region’s overall growth, vitality, and accessibility
The proposal to close the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) offices in Kuhmo, Kuopio and Lahti as part of government cost-saving measures has raised widespread concern in Eastern Finland. The planned […]
-
The planning of collaboration between higher education institutions in eastern Finland progresses – joint working will begin with the owner cities
Preparations related to the deepening of collaboration between higher education institutions in eastern Finland move on to the next stage as the members of the working groups established for the […]