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Xamk's impact is made by competencies, expertise and development. See the key figures of regional impact!
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Plant the Future
The value of forests can be preserved for future by developing cross-industry co-operation
When making efforts towards responsibility, individuals actions are not enough. Learn more about the competence network that Xamk has created around wood and bioproducts to strengthen the wood value chain.
When making efforts towards responsibility, individuals actions are not enough. Creating value chains that meet the criteria of sustainable development requires combining skills and competences from various fields. South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) has established a strong network of experts in the field of forestry, including cooperation not only with education and R&D cooperation, but also with businesses. This type of network strengthening regional vitality in several fields is also unique at international level.
Covering all Xamk campus cities, the network has already shown its potential in producing sustainable development inventions. Good examples of these include eco-efficient wood processing innovations introduced by the Materials Technology Laboratory (Mikkeli) and the five patents generated by the Fibre Laboratory (Savonlinna) over the past 10 years, along with the dozens of patents with collaborating client companies. As a result of Xamk’s Fibre Laboratory, Savonlinna has become a strong business and research cluster which has also been joined by the Natural Resources Institute Finland with their forestry laboratory investments and expertise.
“The value chain of wood is a large concept, and South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences wants to bring it to the forefront, as the future lies in renewable and new materials”, says Petteri Ikonen, Director of School (Business and Culture).
A wide network of experts building sustainable development in the forestry sector
150 Years of Forest Industry in Kymenlaakso
From forest into concepts with responsible solutions
In a responsible value chain, the final value of a product or service is the combined result of the different stages in the production, and the solutions implemented during it. Xamk’s ability to develop this process as a whole is its particular strength.
In forestry, a healthy forest, from the young trees to harvesting, is the starting point for everything. In the next stage, value is created by responsible wood processing and handling, bioproduct technologies and logistics. Through construction, design, wellness and experience services and other productisation, the added value of responsibility serves our living environments and wellbeing.
The creation of a healthy value chain is supported by future analysis, applied research and development, test and production platforms, and product and service concepts that combine new digital methods with Xamk’s multidisciplinary high level expertise. The wood raw material is utilised as efficiently as possible, and process by-products are recovered either as materials or used for energy production. With all this, Xamk aims to produce economically and ethically sustainable solutions.
Xamk’s ability to develop cross-industry processes as a whole is its particular strength.
Xamk aims to produce economically and ethically sustainable solutions.
Regional and international cooperation to achieve the Sustainability Leap
In achieving the Sustainability Leap in forestry in South-Eastern Finland and South Savo, Xamk is an important partner for businesses operating in the area. Xamk cooperates with approximately 60 businesses, most of them SMEs, in RDI activities related to the value chain of wood.
Educational institutions train and prepare experts that we will need in the future”, says Veli Hyyryläinen, Director of Elementit-E Oy.
Xamk is well-equipped to share its environmental expertise, also as an international export product. Education-related cooperation and the export of Finnish forestry expertise to Russia have played an important part. Forestry expertise has also been exported to Vietnamese forestry/bioeconomy specialists as part of international projects.
The importance of responsibility grows in all stages of production, at the same time increasing the demand for fresh skills and new business. New jobs may also be created in the process, and Xamk wants to be part of this development.
As Mika Ruponen, Director of School of Technology, puts it: “We are shaping the future for the whole country and for our own children.”
The importance of responsibility grows in all stages of production, at the same time increasing the demand for fresh skills and new business.
Plant the Future! Watch the video
Watch the video and get a good overall picture of Xamk’s activities and the whole network.
All our campuses are involved
All four campuses are involved in multidisciplinary wood value chain which consist of production, research, development and innovation. Cooperation is particularly important between RDI activities, education and business partners.
Savonlinna
Bioproduct Technology
Industrial Wood Construction
Fibre Laboratory
Mikkeli
Environmental Technology
Building Services and Electrical Engineering
Tourism
Digital Economy
Entrepreneurship
Kouvola
Design
Bioproduct Design
Business
Kotka
Construction and Energy Engineering
Forestry and Environmental Technology
Sustainable Development Technologies
Logistics