# Tackling the problems of Northern rural areas through gamification - Savonia AMK

> Through gamification, we are able to create new opportunities and strengthen communities in areas facing challenges of distance and isolation.

## Project Overview
Northern rural areas in Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Iceland and Greenland face common challenges such as isolation, aging population, and the migration of young residents away from these regions. Through international cooperation coordinated by Savonia University of Applied Sciences in Finland, these challenges are being tackled using gamification related digital solutions.

The collaboration will develop solutions which integrate young people and other underrepresented groups into tailored, place-based communities, design services to attract and retain digital creative professionals in northern rural areas, as well as advance education on digital and gamified innovations.

"Through gamification, we are able to create new opportunities and strengthen communities in areas facing challenges of distance and isolation. We are looking forward to collaborating to achieve our joint goals," says Mariia Hämäläinen, Project Manager.

## Building Virtual Communities
As a result of this cooperation, an international cooperation platform will be built to share knowledge on the game industry, digital gamified solutions and other collaborative efforts. By combining the resources of the partner countries, physical and virtual communities will be created to improve the quality of life in rural areas. The project’s results will also enhance regional expertise in emerging technologies and promote sustainable business development in the northern peripheral regions.

## The InnoGS Consortium
The “Innovation Through Gamification Solutions” (InnoGS) consortium includes:
* Savonia UAS (Finland)
* Humak University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
* Region Västerbotten (Sweden)
* Creative Crowd (Sweden)
* Ardán (Ireland)
* The Government of Greenland
* University of Iceland

The project has received 1.6 million euros funding from the EU’s Interreg NPA (Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic) program. InnoGS starts on 1 March, 2025 and lasts until 29 February, 2028.

## Project Details
* **EU Funding Programme:** Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic
* **Project Priority:** Innovation
* **Project Period:** 01.03.2025 – 29.02.2028
* **Objective:** 1.2 Reaping the benefits of digitisation for citizens, companies, research organisations and public authorities
* **Total Budget:** 1.603.953,39 EUR
* **NPA Co-financing:** 1.042.569,69 EUR