# When games and regional development met – InnoGS project partners’ visit to Finland

> InnoGS consortium visited Finland to explore learning environments and the communities of the game industry and culture.

## About the InnoGS Project
InnoGS (Innovation Through Gamification Solutions) is an Interreg NPA project exploring new ways to strengthen regional vitality and resilience through digital and gamified solutions. The project develops place-based digital innovation communities (Digital Innovation Districts, DIDs) and promotes international collaboration to ensure that good practices and working models are shared across regions.

## The Finland Visit
The consortium visited Finland for three intensive days to explore local learning environments, game industry actors, and communities that support gaming. The visit included representatives from Finland, Ireland, and Greenland, with remote participation from partners in Sweden and Iceland.

### Kuopio: Campus and Community
The visit began at Savonia’s campus in Kuopio. Key takeaways included:
*   **IGDA Kuopio Hub:** The role of game jam events in fostering the local developer community.
*   **DID Thinking:** The importance of low-threshold making and regular routines in creating space for learning, networking, and trust.
*   **Media Coverage:** The project’s goals regarding digital skills for rural youth were featured in Yle’s regional news, highlighting the use of Discord for community building and preventing loneliness.

### Jyväskylä: Ecosystems and Education
The second day focused on the Jyväskylä game ecosystem, including:
*   **Digi & Game Center:** An ecosystem built largely through volunteer efforts, involving the City of Jyväskylä and regional education organizations.
*   **Key Facilities:** Visits to JAMK University of Applied Sciences and the GamePit Pro facility to explore esports, education, and project work.
*   **Strategic Insight:** A core message was that decision-makers must understand the games sector to ensure that education, co-working spaces, and ecosystem activities form a mutually reinforcing whole.

### Helsinki: Assembly Winter 2026
The final day was spent at Assembly Winter 2026, where the group explored:
*   **Event Production:** The infrastructure, production models, and volunteer efforts required to host large-scale digital art and gaming festivals.
*   **Digital Innovation Policy Roundtable:** Discussions on linking digital innovation to S3 regional development, digital nomad visa practices, and improving internet infrastructure.

## Key Learnings for Regional Development
The visit reinforced four pillars for building sustainable games ecosystems:
1.  **Space and Routines:** Well-functioning ecosystems require regular meet-ups and clear ground rules.
2.  **Growth Through Doing:** Game jams, workshops, and mentoring create pathways for new makers.
3.  **Youth Engagement:** Low-threshold, safe, and accessible channels are essential for engaging young people.
4.  **Events as "The Glue":** Events bring people and ideas together, making expertise visible and fostering collaboration.

## Future Collaboration
The lessons gathered during the visit will be integrated into the project’s pilots and regional development work. Partners continue to maintain dialogue through online platforms, including the newly launched "Greenland Gaming" Discord server.

## Project Resources
*   [Interreg NPA project page](https://www.interreg-npa.eu/)
*   [“Greenland Gaming” Discord server](https://discord.gg/)

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*Article authors: Kalle Sievänen (RDI-specialist, InnoGS, Sustainable Societies) and Sami Partanen (RDI-specialist, InnoGS, Wellbeing), Savonia University of Applied Sciences.*