Development of the Savonlinna Health and Wellbeing Competence Hub 2026-2028
Savonlinna
The Health and Wellbeing Competence Hub brings together key stakeholders across South Savo to strengthen brain capital, that is health, wellbeing, work ability and functional capacity.
We collaborate with municipalities, employment areas, the wellbeing services county, businesses, associations and other organizations to promote sustainable wellbeing and regional development. Through this work, we contribute to the vitality, growth and overall resilience of South Savo.
“People’s health and wellbeing are largely shaped in everyday environments, influenced by a wide range of factors and stakeholders. This makes it essential to develop a shared understanding of health and wellbeing challenges, as well as the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Mika Pyykkö
Cross-Sector Collaboration for Brain Capital
The initiative was launched jointly by Xamk and the City of Savonlinna.
By 2029, the Competence Hub aims to become a regional platform from the perspective of proactive and preventive activities that supports brain capital, that is health, wellbeing, work ability and functional capacity through close cooperation between municipalities, employment services, the wellbeing services county, businesses, associations and other stakeholders. At the same time, it will strengthen the vitality, growth and comprehensive security of South Savo.
We believe that genuine collaboration across organizational and sectoral boundaries provides a strong foundation for innovation and leadership. The initiative is also linked to a regional outcomes contracting pilot currently under development, which, if implemented, would be the first of its kind in Finland.
This page brings together materials related to the development of the Competence Hub and may be freely used with appropriate acknowledgement of copyright.
Welcome to the Regional Outcomes Contracting Pilot Workshops! We warmly welcome participants from across South Savo and beyond, regardless of organizational background. The most important requirement is an interest in the workshop theme and a willingness to contribute to a shared understanding of the selected phenomenon, an assessment of the current situation, and the definition of change objectives that are both ambitious and realistic.
3 November 2026, 9:30-15:30 | Savonlinna
- Supporting independent functioning and living at home in later life (compare also HYTE indicator concerning hip fractures + other accidents among older people)
- Registration by 23 October: mika.pyykko@xamk.fi
10 November 2026, 9:30-15:30 | Juva
- Children and healthy growth and development (compare also HYTE indicator concerning the number of NEET young people + drug-related deaths)
- Registration by 30 October: mika.pyykko@xamk.fi
18 November 2026, 9:30-15:30 | Juva
- The promotion of employment (compare unemployment among young adults and long-term unemployment)
- Registration by 6 November: mika.pyykko@xamk.fi
24 November 2026, 9:30-15:30 | Juva
- Increasing healthy and functional years of life (compare prevention of major chronic diseases and reducing years of life lost before the age of 70)
- Registration by 13 November: mika.pyykko@xamk.fi
Resources and Links
Introduction presentation to the Hub
Opinion piece
Has the Spirit of Our Legislation Been Forgotten? Mika Pyykkö. Länsi-Savo 5 September, 2026
Outcomes contracting
Report: Outcomes-Based Contracting – Financing Early Action and Long-Term Public Value. University of Eastern Finland, September 2026.
Terveyden tukeminen on vastuunkantoa
Etelä-Savossa valmistellaan Suomen ensimmäistä maakunnallista vaikutusten hankintapilottia
Interested in Collaborating
We bring together researchers, developers, businesses, third-sector and citizen-led organizations, as well as public-sector actors to create proactive and preventive solutions that improve the health and wellbeing of the people of South Savo.
Contact information
Mika Pyykkö
Developer
Health and Wellbeing Competence Hub
Tel. +358 400 841 662
mika.pyykko@xamk.fi
More about health promotion at Xamk
How does breathing influence brain-body interaction in elite adolescent ice hockey players?
Take your child to the forest – Finnish maternity and child health clinics tell you why
Maternity and Child Health Clinics Can Now Offer Guidance on Nature Exposure
Heart-healthy lipid profile benefits brain health in adolescents
