Cursor – A Driving Force for Growth and Internationalization in Southeast Finland

The cooperation includes guest lectures, support for student entrepreneurship, foresight work, utilization of RDI activities for the benefit of local businesses, and the co-development of new solutions. Collaboration responds directly to the needs of working life and the regional economy.

Impactful cooperation and successful projects

Xamk’s role is to bring new expertise and skilled professionals to the region, while Cursor provides valuable insights into the needs of the business sector—both now and in the future.

“We want our students to become familiar with Cursor’s services and, ideally, to encourage future entrepreneurs to stay and commit to our region. Cursor plays a key role by providing our students with information and networks. Our cooperation with Cursor is smooth and efficient—the entire staff is clearly committed to promoting regional vitality,” says Heta Vilén, Stakeholder Manager at Xamk.

For Cursor, collaboration with educational institutions and tapping into student potential continuously offers significant opportunities.

“Successfully executed joint projects are one of the greatest benefits of our cooperation. I’d particularly like to highlight the Digiasema project, which enabled tailored digital and cybersecurity services for local companies through competitively selected experts. Another important joint initiative has been the Varustamo project, which supports business ownership transitions by developing a unified regional service model in Southeast Finland. Likewise, Xamk has supported the Eagle Accelerator project, which boosts business growth, internationalization, innovation readiness, and the green transition,” says Elina Reijasalo, Director of Business Services at Cursor.

One of the key outcomes of the long-running collaboration between Xamk and Cursor is the *ship Startup Festival, a startup acceleration and development platform event that celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024. The event is originally developed by Cursor, and now implemented by Xamk with continued financial and personnel support from Cursor.

The partnership also extends to forward-looking initiatives. One example is the planned new business center adjacent to the Kotka campus, where education, research, and industry will be brought together more closely than ever before.

Cursor’s business services, Invest In, and Visit Kotka-Hamina

Cursor Ltd is the regional development company responsible for business and tourism services in the Kotka-Hamina region and the Loviisa area. Its core mission is to strengthen regional vitality, support business growth, and attract significant investments.

Cursor’s operations focus on business advisory services, entrepreneurship education, regional tourism development, and investment attraction. The Cursor Invest portfolio exceeds €10 billion in planned and ongoing investments.

Notable recent examples include Google’s data center and Easpring Finland’s battery materials factory currently under construction in Keltakallio.

Cursor has a wide business interface, serving approximately 2,300 business clients annually out of the region’s 6,200 companies.

The organization collaborates extensively with expert organizations, the public sector, and commercial service providers under certain conditions. In addition to educational institutions, key partners include local cities and municipalities, the wellbeing services county of Kymenlaakso, and regional employment services.

Cursor is also responsible for regional tourism marketing under the Visit Kotka-Hamina brand and manages significant real estate properties in the area.

Read more about Cursor Ltd: Cursor Oy

Read more about *ship startup festival: *ship Startup Festival – Kaakkois-Suomen ammattikorkeakoulu Xamk

Read more about the Varustamo project: Varustamo – Supporting Business Ownership Transfers

Read more about the completed Digiasema project: DIH Kymenlaakso – Digibuusteri