International networks and cooperation
The City of Kuopio cooperates internationally with an extensive network and participates in several major projects. In addition to the city organisation, companies, associations, and educational institutions are also involved in international activities in Kuopio.
The city organisation has access to a large number of international networks of both service areas and individual persons. New contacts emerge all the time from different projects and when individuals participate in international cooperation and exchange of experiences, such as learning at work abroad or international conferences.
The aim of the cooperation is to make the service processes of people arriving in Kuopio from abroad more functional. Another goal is to promote active international networking and contacts of the City, companies in the region, and R&D operators.
EU cooperation
The joint East and North Finland EU Office in Brussels has a particular task to share information about EU-funded project work and to connect different project actors, and to provide Europe with a view to the region, while also acting as a marketing channel for the regional talents and competences.
International Networks
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The World Health Organization (WHO) Healthy Cities Network is a cooperation network of European cities that has been operational since 1988. Kuopio has been part of the European WHO network since 2005. Turku and Helsinki also represent Finland in the network. In total, the Healthy Cities Network involves around 100 cities. The National Institute for Health and Welfare coordinates the national network in Finland. The wellbeing group acts as the local steering group in Kuopio.
Watch a video about Kuopio in the WHO Healthy Cities Network!
The activities of the Healthy Cities Network are guided by themes that vary depending on the phase of the programme. The current Phase VII will be implemented between 2019 and 2024.
The strategic goals for the Phase VII are:
- Fostering health and wellbeing and reducing health inequities
- Leading by example nationally, regionally, and globally
- Supporting implementation of WHO strategic priorities.
The core themes of the Phase VII:
- People – investing in the people
- Places – designing urban places that improve health and wellbeing;
- Participation –fostering greater participation and partnerships
- Prosperity – improving community prosperity and access to common goods and services
- Peace – promoting peace and security
- Planet – protecting the planet and promoting sustainable development
More information: WHO European Healthy Cities Network
The WHO coordinator in Kuopio is the Coordinator of Wellbeing Promotion Tanja Tilles-Tirkkonen.
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The EIP Smart Cities and Communities brings together cities, industry, and citizens to improve urban life through more sustainable integrated solutions.
This includes applied innovation, better planning, more inclusive an approach, better energy efficiency, better transport solutions, and smart use of ICT.
Further information: EIP Smart Cities and Communities
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Following up and reacting on EU policies and legislation that is relevant to eastern and northern Finland.
Further information: East and North Finland EU Office
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Practical international cooperation takes place in expert networks, one of which is the global ICLEI network for sustainable development. Communication is coordinated by the Service Area for Urban Environment.
ICLEI is a network of more than 1,500 cities and regions committed to building a sustainable future.
Using green economy and smart infrastructure to help ICLEI network to become sustainable, low-emission, flexible, more ecological, diverse, resource-efficient and productive, healthy and happy, we can affect more than 25% of the world’s urban population.
Further information: ICLEI
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YUFE is an alliance of young research-intensive universities. Since 2019, it has had European Commission funding for the development of a European-wide university model. Currently, the Alliance comprises nine universities from different parts of Europe and two non-academic partners that strengthen the alliance with their competence in working life and inclusion. The Alliance is radically developing European higher education and it offers an example of a student-centred, young, non-elitist, open, and inclusive European university.
YUFE’s four main themes are
- European identity and responsibility in a global world
- citizen wellbeing
- digital societies
- sustainable development.
YUFE is a unique ecosystem connecting universities with communities. It is based on pan-European cooperation between higher education institutions, the public and private sectors, and citizens.
Further information:
Pirjo Kolari
Internationality and PR assistant
Raija Kovanen
Development manager