Welcome to the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region innovation ecosystem map
The map provides an overview of key actors, hubs, and networks driving research, development and innovation (RDI) in the region. Its purpose is to introduce key actors within the ecosystem, support collaboration, and help identify relevant partners and opportunities.
You can explore the map either by thematic priorities or by organisation type. The content is organised into two main groups:
Smart Specialisation Priorities
Creative Industries
Disruptive Technologies
Health and Wellbeing Solutions
Regenerative Food System
Sustainability Solutions
Actor Categories
Higher Education
Innovation Centers and Networks
Municipal Services and Development
National Organisations
Research Institutions
Suggest new content
The map is continuously updated to reflect the evolving innovation landscape of the Helsinki-Uusimaa region. You can suggest updates and organisations to existing entries.
Creative Industries, Innovation Centers and Networks
Creative Dimension (Luova Dimensio)
Led by Metropolia UAS, Creative Dimension is an open collaboration platform for companies and organisations that want to develop new ideas, concepts, and services together with students and experts. The collaboration platform brings together expertise in the creative industries, design, media, culture, and technology, helping to turn ideas into practical solutions. Through projects and initiatives, companies can pilot new solutions, discover creative perspectives on business, and contribute to the training of future professionals. Image: Metropolia
Creve – Expertise and Networks for Creative Industry Entrepreneurship
Creve is a nationally operating creative industry business service and entrepreneurship learning environment of Humak UAS. You can participate in it as an entrepreneur, artist, student, job seeker, or employed individual. The services highlight the current themes of both the creative economy and entrepreneurship: digitalisation, adaptability, responsibility, international readiness, as well as project and financial expertise. Image: Humak
Creative Industries, Innovation Centers and Networks
Helsinki XR Center (HXRC)
Helsinki XR Center is a leading European RDI and innovation hub for emerging technologies — especially XR and AI — supporting startups, entrepreneurs, companies, and innovators through co-creation, real-world experimentation, collaborative RDI projects, and community building. Image: Helsinki XR Center
Humak is a national university of applied sciences specialising in community development, cultural production, and linguistic accessibility. The Helsinki campus is home to the cultural management, community education and interpreter degree programmes, a large part of Humak's administration and services, and the student union office. Image: Humak
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland’s largest university of applied sciences, educates future professionals in the fields of Business, Culture, Health Care and Social Services, and Technology. Metropolia's all operations of Culture and Arts are centralized in Arabia, Helsinki. Image: HeliFoto Oy
Creative Industries, Innovation Centers and Networks
Uniarts Hub
The Uniarts Hub pre-incubator program offers a comprehensive overview of entrepreneurship in the arts and creative industries and provides support for developing your own business idea. The pre-incubator is a free 12-week program featuring lectures, workshops, mentoring, and peer support. Uniarts Hub is best suited for arts professionals who are already working in the field or nearing the end of their studies. Image: Uniarts Hub
University of the Arts Helsinki provides the highest level of education in music, fine arts, theatre and dance. The university was established in 2013, when the Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy and Theatre Academy were merged. Image: Tuomas Uusheimo