LocalTapiola supports the growth and innovation culture of Finland’s West Coast with a significant donation to the University of Vaasa

The Growth Spark initiative makes use of the region’s joint innovation ecosystem, the Vaasa Startup Factory, as a platform for student-driven projects and RDI activities. The donation enhances students’ entrepreneurial skills and international integration, supports innovation activities within SMEs and creates new growth companies.

– We at LocalTapiola Ostrobothnia believe that now is the time to invest in the future – not to cut back. With this donation, Ostrobothnia has a unique opportunity to be a forerunner in education and collaborative initiatives, exactly as this region should be. This donation will strengthen the vitality of the entire region in both the short and long term and will further develop Ostrobothnia into an even more forward-looking region in Finland, says Joel Sunabacka, CEO of LocalTapiola Ostrobothnia.

– We want to play an active role in building the Finland of the future — a country where expertise, courage and collaboration drive growth. The University of Vaasa’s Growth Spark initiative offers an excellent platform for student‑driven innovation and strengthens the vitality of the region. Our donation is a long‑term investment in young talent, research and the success of companies, says Sari Heinonen, CEO of LocalTapiola group.

According to Minna Martikainen, Rector of the University of Vaasa, the Growth Spark programme is a great example of how collaboration with companies can accelerate students’ learning and generate new innovations

–  We extend our sincere thanks to LocalTapiola for this excellent initiative, which promotes Finland’s growth and international competitiveness. This donation enables us to carry out even more impactful RDI projects and offers students concrete pathways into entrepreneurship and working life. It is an investment that strengthens both regional and national competitiveness, says Martikainen.

– This investment provides significant support for the region’s strong innovation ecosystem. It increases interaction between students and companies and creates opportunities for new business to emerge. Developing research-driven ideas together with students and the wider community opens new pathways especially at transition points – precisely those phases that are typically the most difficult to finance, adds Mika Grundström, Vice-Rector of the University of Vaasa.

The Growth Spark initiative supports teams in developing and refining ideas, enabling the use of diverse expertise and perspectives. The programme involves leading researchers, teachers, professors of practice, business developers, visiting researchers and professors, as well as students at all degree levels.

The initiative is built around three complementary components: the Summer Bloom programme, which offers students a springboard into entrepreneurship; the PreDoc model, which combines master’s theses with company collaboration; and the Idea Verification Fund, a micro‑funding model for early‑stage innovation.

Summer Bloom is a six‑month intensive programme in which students receive guidance, financial support and community mentoring to develop their business ideas. The programme will expand to include 50 students annually and also provide places for recent graduates. The PreDoc model brings master’s students into SMEs’ RDI projects through their thesis work, strengthening the connection between academia and industry and opening a pathway into the doctoral‑level CoDoc programme. The Idea Verification Fund pilot provides micro‑funding for the assessment of feasibility and market potential of early‑stage innovations. Funding is available for student groups participating in the Summer Bloom or PreDoc programmes.