Activators of South Savo
New jobs today and in the future are increasingly created in roles requiring higher expertise. The success of companies in an ever-intensifying competitive environment is based on innovation and speed. Businesses must stay one step ahead of their competitors and continuously renew themselves. Competence and flexibility are therefore key. Several studies conducted in recent years show that technical and technological expertise alone is not sufficient; broad-based commercial and business expertise is also needed. Business expertise is the knowledge and skills required to turn technology and expertise into successful business ventures. In particular, business expertise highlights industry-specific knowledge, market understanding, revenue logic, and marketing proficiency. Additionally, business expertise encompasses corporate finance, funding, sales, marketing, law, management, and organisation. Companies are increasingly emphasising knowledge-based and competence-driven management, network collaboration, and process leadership. Customer orientation must also reach a new level: customers must be surprised, and promises must be exceeded. Furthermore, the principles of sustainable development must be mastered, and business operations must be developed responsibly.
The regional strategy has set measurable targets, including the share of corporate R&D expenditures in the region’s GDP. In the initial situation, the ratio of R&D expenditures to GDP in South Savo is 0.9% (compared to 2.8% for the entire country), with a target of 4%. In particular, the share of corporate R&D expenditures and the use of Business Finland’s innovation funding in the region have remained at a low level in recent years.
The South Savo Activators project provides SMEs with a bold and innovative growth platform that combines technology, investor-driven thinking, and experimentation with new markets. The project ensures that companies do not merely adapt to change but actively shape their own future, proactively developing and expanding their businesses.
The project offers SMEs concrete, measurable, and scalable means to succeed in global competition. Its innovative and bold approach distinguishes it from traditional development projects and enables significant impact in the business sector.
The project is divided into five functional work packages, each containing concrete actions to support the growth and development of businesses. The work packages and their objectives are as follows:
WORK PACKAGE 1: Strategies for Data-Driven Management and Growth
Objective: To support SMEs in utilizing business data and analytics for strategic decision-making and gaining a competitive advantage.
WORK PACKAGE 2: Sustainability and Green Growth
Objective: To encourage SMEs to develop responsible business models and leverage opportunities brought by the green transition.
WORK PACKAGE 3: Internationalization Accelerator
Objective: To encourage SMEs to pursue internationalization by providing information and expert content on different stages of the export process.
WORK PACKAGE 4: Innovation and RDI Activation
Objective: To increase SMEs’ RDI investments and provide information and capabilities for initiating research and development activities.
WORK PACKAGE 5: Mentoring and Peer Support
Objective: To offer SMEs continuous support and peer-to-peer assistance to aid in their development efforts.
