Kehy's project activities

The Rautjärvi region-based business group project aims to develop tourism in the region by strengthening business cooperation, marketing and services. The project aims to increase the flow of tourists to the region, develop the quality of tourism services and improve business cooperation networks. Key activities include joint marketing, service design, research into Central European customer markets, benchmark trips and test customer groups.

The project is expected to bring long-term benefits to the South Karelia region, especially in the form of increased tourist flows and services used in the region, but also through expanding cooperation between companies. The project will complete a comprehensive study of the service needs and interest of German tourists in Finland and the Rautjärvi region of South Karelia.

The achievement of the goals is ensured through expert services, close cooperation between companies and, in particular, the development of targeted international communications.

The corporate group project involves 3 companies, which have also participated in the planning of the project.

• Huugo's villas and smoke saunas and Hugo's rectory (1130528-0) entrepreneur Heikki Penttilä
• Taxikko Oy (1544904-6) entrepreneur Heikki Partinen
• Home Care Kaakko Oy (2818943-1) entrepreneur Katri Kaskinen

The project is managed by Imatra Region Development Company Ltd. The project has received EU rural funding from Leader Kärki ry.

Contact person: business expert Miia Ruohio

Growth Builders is a free, six-month program that offers tailored support to selected companies to accelerate growth.

Contact person: CEO Antti Oravuo

Power with green hydrogen and carbon dioxide is the purpose of the Southeast Finland project
promotes the economical use of renewable energy and production based on carbon dioxide and hydrogen
conditions for utilization and the development of industrial activity based on them in particular
in southeastern Finland. The project strengthens the cooperation of the actors in the region
in development and highlighting the region's strengths and marketing.

KEHY acts as a sub-implementer of the project together with the main implementer of the project, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, and other sub-implementers. KEHY's ​​role is to specifically target measures to the companies in the area so that they are sufficiently aware of the services offered by the project and the companies know how to utilize the services offered. 

Project implementers: Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, City of Lappeenranta, Suomen Vetylaakso ry, Southeast Finland University of Applied Sciences Oy. Lab-ammattikorkeakoulu Oy, Kouvola Innovation Oy, Cursor Oy and Imatran Seudun Development Company Oy

The financier is the South Karelia Union.

Contact person: business expert Jani Saajanlehto.

The PÄRM situation is unpredictable, i.e. a sudden change situation, the structural change of livelihoods was not visible for a long time. The goal of the coordination funding granted for the situations is to create vitality and new growth opportunities for the regions.

The project has a goal

• develop the region's vitality and respond to the challenges brought by the sudden local structural change
• preserve and create new jobs in a wide variety of sectors
• strengthens the competitiveness of the region's tourism, forest industry and other industries
• mitigates the effects of unemployment and improves employment and well-being in the region.

The key measures of the project are to hire a project manager, build a Hub for Imatra that brings together employment and vitality services, and create a brand and overall concept for it, especially from the perspective of competence development.

The grant is granted by the South Karelia Federation. The project has received funding from the Sustainable Growth and Vitality of Regions (AKKE).

Contact person: project manager Johanna Ruotsi, Imatran Seudun Kehitysyhtiö Oy

Imatra region's fishing tourism sales network 1.11.2023 November 31.5.2025-XNUMX May XNUMX

The goal is to develop fishing tourism in the area with the help of the companies' joint sales and booking platform. The project plan
within the framework, a functional reservation system is selected, a sales office is established and participation is taken
to international fairs. 

Contact person: business expert Jani Saajanlehto

Imatran Seudun Kehitysyhtiö Oy is implementing the Villages Meet preparatory project together with the municipality of Ruokolahti. The aim of the project is to plan twinning village activities between Ruokolahti and a German municipality. The aim is to develop new participatory operating models, increase international cooperation and promote local vitality.

During the preparatory project, a project plan is drawn up, partners are identified and future cooperation is prepared. The project results in a complete plan for the actual international cooperation project.

The project receives EU rural funding through the Leader Kärki association.

Contact person: business expert Sven Langbein, Imatran Seudun Development Company Oy

Mioni Industrial Park - Ecosystem operators 1.6.2022-31.5.2024

The main goal of the project is to bring carbon-neutral companies to the area and thereby increase jobs. The aim is to attract companies from industries included in the spirit of the ecosystem agreement to the area and offer them an innovative and competitive operating environment (e.g. energy solutions, skilled workforce, good transport connections). The goal of the project is also to increase the competence of organizations, e.g. in the fields of regional marketing and sales.

The project is financed from the European Regional Development Fund's (ERDF) Renewable and skilled Finland 2021–2027 EU regional and structural policy program, granted by the South Karelia Association.

Contact person: sales manager Janne Saharinen

Yhes-Elinvoimaa with cooperation in South Karelia 1.11.2022-31.10.2023

Yhes - Cooperation brings vitality to South Karelia is a project aimed at activating companies, which wants to increase awareness of the possibilities of business group projects for the operations of companies in the region. The activation project brings together companies that are interested in business group projects.

The measures of the activation project bring entrepreneurs together, and as a development company, through the project, we aim to meet the needs of promoting the cooperation of entrepreneurs. Above all, the goal is to create new cooperation networks between companies in accordance with common measures and needs.

The goal is that the results of the project would create 2 new business group projects in South Karelia.

Contact person: business expert Miia Ruohio     

COMPANY GROUP PROJECTS

South Karelia SME growth program 1.11.2021 November 31.8.2023-XNUMX August XNUMX

The project seeks to expand and supplement the value network with the province's SMEs. The goal is to build companies' growth plans and network operators. The main goal of the project is to create a growth business program for the entire province, which will be utilized by the public actors involved in business development activities in the region and the companies in the program. With the help of the growth plan, the SME has better capabilities and the ability to create new business both in Finland and on the international market. 

The project develops new types of business models, innovation processes and business network models that support growth. The rapid development of new technologies changes traditional business models and requires operators to have a new kind of competence and way of thinking (Mindset). The project offers a working platform for companies, where they can use new business models and tools for change.

The project is a continuation of MOKRA Arvoverkto's renewal and AKKE Arvoverkto's joint development program for the project. The project is financed by the European Regional Development Fund, granted by the Union of Uusimaa. The project manager is Imatran Seudun Kehitysyhtiö Oy and in cooperation with the city of Lappeenranta, Wirma yrtyspalvelut.

Contact person: Jani Saajanlehto

Saimaa Vuoksi Luontoon business group project 1.7.2020 July 30.06.2023-XNUMX June XNUMX

Entrepreneurs who produce natural tourism services with the principles of sustainable development and respect for nature have wanted to join forces and jointly develop responsible tourism packages for both domestic tourists and tourists from abroad. The purpose of the travel packages is to introduce the Saimaa and Vuoksi region to the richness and diversity of nature, without leaving permanent traces of human activity on nature. We want to come up with ideas for travel packages offering experiences to customers, but also sharing information about responsible activities and movement in nature. The project aims to brand tourism in line with sustainable development. The company's values ​​and operations follow operating methods where nature and its preservation are at the center of operations. Bringing this to the fore and marketing it to customers makes responsible customers think more carefully about their choices and pay more attention to environmental issues in tourism.

This business group project has received funding from Ely of Southeast Finland and Kärki-LEADER ry of South Karelia from the Rural Development Fund of Mainland Finland 2014-2020. Three companies producing tourism services are involved in the project, Discover Saimaa / Tarude, MK produktions / MS Emma and Vuoksen Lautturi Oy / Vuoksen fishing park. The project is managed by the regional business company Imatran Seudun Kehitysyhtiö Oy.

Contact person: Miia Ruohio, Imatran Seudun Kehitysyhtiö Oy

COMPANY GROUP PROJECTS

Hiitolanjoki Flow company group project 1.12.2020-30.6.2022

TalentHUB South Karelia 1.3.2020 - 28.2.2022

The main goal of the project is to create an actor-independent operating model that helps respond to the growth and development challenges of SMEs operating in South Karelia, by rapidly formulating the need for competence, combining the need for competence and competence as part of the company's business strategy.

In the TalentHUB South Karelia operating model, we work together so that it is easier for companies to utilize international experts in business growth and development. The realization of the goals is particularly focused on marketing communication measures, getting a foothold in the business field, and practical help for companies in hiring skilled workers.

The main result of the project improves the chances of companies operating in South Karelia to be able to attract and recruit new talent, to grow and develop in the province, and to create new skills-based jobs in the province.

LAB Ammattikorkeakoulu Oy is the administrator of the project, and the city of Lappeenranta, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Imatran Seudun Kehitysyhtiö Oy are the partial implementers.

Contact person: Miia Ruohio Imatran Seudun Kehitysyhtiö Oy

St. Petersburg - Saimaa Lakeland travel corridor 1.1.2019 - 31.12.2021

Funding: Southeast Finland - Russia CBC 2014-2020 program (80%), project partners (20%)

Project partners: Savonlinnan Hankekehythsi Oy (main implementer), Mikkeli development company Miksei Oy, City of Lappeenranta, Imatran Seudun Development Company Oy, Saint Petersburg City Tourist Information Bureau, Tourist Information Center of Leningrad Region

The regions of St. Petersburg and Saimaa are both popular travel destinations, whose main target markets are located in Finland, neighboring countries and Europe. However, there are challenges in tourism in the regions, for example seasonality. In addition, in order to increase the number of tourists and grow the tourism industry, new customers from geographically and culturally remote areas should be reached, which makes marketing challenging for small and medium-sized tourism companies in the region.

The goal of the project was to increase the utilization rate of tourism services, create new business opportunities and promote the St. Petersburg - Saimaa Lakeland travel corridor. The purpose of the tourism corridor is to connect two unique destinations into one tourist experience in all seasons. By enabling the tourism corridor between St. Petersburg and Saimaa and by modifying the tourism offer, marketing strategy and suitable marketing channels, these two destinations can together attract more tourists to the area. In addition, the project promoted the development of service providers' products and expertise for new customer groups.

Other materials produced in the project are available at St.Petersburg - Saimaa Lakeland travel corridor - Savonlinna business services.

RoboCamp - Competitiveness in South Karelia with robotics 1.9.2019 September 31.8.2021-XNUMX August XNUMX

The main goal of the RoboCamp project is to create competitiveness for companies in the South Karelia region by finding new innovative ways to apply robotics and software robotics together with companies, a regional development company and educational institutions.

The sub-goals of the project are:

1. Forms a regional robotics and software robotics competence network
2. To create a joint testing, development and innovation environment for companies and educational institutions focused on robotics and software robotics
3. To develop and increase the knowledge of robotics and software robotics in companies and educational institutions in the region

The actual target group of the RoboCamp project is SMEs and their staff in the South Karelia region, regardless of industry. In addition, the target groups are the educational institutions of the South Karelia region, their students and staff.

The project is coordinated by Saimaa vocational college Sampo. Saimaa University of Applied Sciences, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, South Karelia Summer University and Imatran Region Development Company KEHY are part-implementers. The project is financed by the Union of Uusimaa and the European Regional Development Fund.

Contact person: business expert Sven Langbein, Imatran Seudun Development Company Oy