Savonia University of Applied Sciences

Savonia University of Applied Sciences is a multidisciplinary higher education institution in Finland, combining high-quality education with applied research, development and innovation (RDI). Savonia works closely with businesses, public-sector organisations, communities and other partners to respond to societal and industry needs and to promote sustainable development.

Savonia’s RDI activities focus on transforming knowledge and expertise into practical solutions, services and operating models. Its strengths span health and wellbeing, social services, energy, machinery, AI, agriculture and bioeconomy, business, and water safety. This broad expertise supports cross-disciplinary approaches to challenges such as digitalisation, the green transition, demographic change, resilience, competence development and the evolving needs of working life.

A key feature of Savonia’s approach is close interaction with end users and working life. Companies, professionals, public-sector actors, communities, students and other relevant groups can be involved in identifying needs, co-creating solutions, piloting new approaches and evaluating their applicability. This helps ensure that development activities are grounded in real-world needs and that results can be transferred into practice.

International cooperation is an integral part of Savonia’s RDI activities. Savonia participates in European and international projects and networks together with higher education institutions, research organisations, companies, public authorities, NGOs and other stakeholders. These partnerships enable the exchange of knowledge and good practices, joint experimentation and capacity building across different regional and organisational contexts.

Savonia also connects RDI with education, creating opportunities for students and professionals to participate in development activities and strengthen future-oriented skills. Knowledge and results are shared through training, workshops, demonstrations, pilots, networks and other forms of stakeholder engagement.

Through its education, RDI activities and partnerships, Savonia aims to create lasting impact by strengthening innovation capacity, competence, sustainability and wellbeing. Its strong connection with working life and regional development, combined with an international outlook, provides a solid foundation for developing solutions that can be applied and scaled beyond individual projects.