Kehy's project activities

Hiitolanjoki Flow business group project 1.12.2020-30.6.2022

The Hiitolanjoki River, which is the setting for the project, has a long history of interest to people nationally and internationally. The Hiitolanjoki River is an ancient waterway, a fishing site, a transport and floating channel and a source of power for mills, sawmills and hydroelectric power stations.

The Hiitolanjoki Flow business group project will develop a tourism and experience brand around the Hiitolanjoki River and will productise joint service packages of the participating companies. The aim is to develop tourism regionally and, indirectly through the project, in the whole province. The cooperation between the entrepreneurs will serve as an example to other entrepreneurs of the benefits of networking and the potential of cooperation to increase business.

Five companies from Rautjärvi, Parikkala and Lappeenranta are involved in the project: B&B Hiitolanjoki, Koitsan pito ja palvelu, Simmes Oy and Retuperä Reload. The project is managed by the regional development company Imatran Seudun Kehitysyhtiö Oy. The project has received funding from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of South-Eastern Finland and South Karelia Kärki-LEADER ry from the Rural Development Programme of Mainland Finland 2014-2020.

Saimaa's River Vuoksi to Nature business group project 1.7.2020–31.12.2022

Entrepreneurs producing nature-based tourism services based on sustainable development principles and respect for nature have joined forces and work together to develop responsible tourism packages for both domestic tourists and tourists from abroad. The tourism packages are intended to familiarise visitors with the richness and diversity of nature in the Saimaa and Vuoksi regions, without leaving any permanent traces of human activity in the natural environment. The aim is to develop tourist packages that offer an experience for visitors, but also provide information on responsible activities and travel in nature. The project will brand sustainable tourism. The values and activities of the companies are in line with practices that put nature and its conservation at the heart of their activities. Highlighting and marketing this to customers will encourage responsible customers to think more carefully about their choices and pay more attention to environmental issues in tourism.

This business group project has received funding from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of South-Eastern Finland and South Karelia Kärki-LEADER ry from the Rural Development Fund of Mainland Finland 2014-2020. The project involves three companies providing tourism services, Discover Saimaa / Tarude, MK produktions / MS Emma and Vuoksen Lautturi Oy / Vuoksen Kalastuspuisto. The project is managed by the regional development company Imatran Seudun Kehitysyhtiö Oy.

Contact person: Miia Ruohio, Imatra Region Development Company Ltd

TalentHUB South Karelia 1.3.2020-28.2.2022

The main objective of the project is to create an independent operating model that helps to meet the growth and development challenges of SMEs operating in South Karelia, by quickly formulating the need for skills, combining the need for skills and experts as part of the company's business strategy.

The TalentHUB South Karelia approach works together to make it easier for companies to use international experts for business growth and development. The implementation of the objectives will focus in particular on marketing communication measures, outreach to the business community and practical assistance to companies in recruiting international experts.

The main outcome of the project will improve the ability of enterprises in South Karelia to attract and recruit new experts, grow and develop in the region and create new knowledge-based jobs in the region.

The project is managed by LAB University of Applied Sciences and co-implemented by the City of Lappeenranta, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Imatra Region Development Company Ltd.

Contact person: Miia Ruohio Imatra Region Development Company Ltd

RoboCamp - Robotics for competitiveness in South Karelia 1.9.2019–31.8.2021

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

The sub-objectives of the project are:

1. To form a regional robotics and software robotics knowledge network
2. To create a joint testing, development and innovation environment focusing on robotics and software robotics for businesses and educational institutions 
3. Develop and increase robotics and software robotics competences in businesses 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 their industry. Other target groups are educational institutions in the South Karelia region, their students and staff.

The project is coordinated by Sampo Vocational College of Saimaa, Saimaa University of Applied Sciences, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, South Karelia Summer University and Imatra Region Development Company KEHY are co-organisers. The project is funded by the Uusimaa Regional Council and the European Regional Development Fund.

Contact person: business expert Sven Langbein, Imatra Region Development Company Ltd

UIR -Urban infra revolution project 2018-2020

The project website provides up-to-date information on the progress of the project.

The aim is to modernise working methods in urban construction, create new export products for the construction industry, launch preliminary planning for an investment in an enrichment sand processing plant and promote the environmental friendliness, aesthetics and employment of urban construction.

The project will make use of by-products from forestry companies in the region and Nordkalk's tailings for the production of geopolymers to replace concrete. Cement production accounts for 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions. The circular economy and the use of new types of manufacturing materials can significantly reduce climate emissions. The project aims at regional innovative experimentation, including the development of 3D printing technology and a new geocomposite material to replace concrete. This combination can be used to print low-carbon solutions for the construction industry, among others.

The new technology will enable, for example, the printing of circular shapes and the construction of versatile urban landscapes. Construction would no longer require moulds, which would therefore save material costs, human resources and time.

The total cost of the project is €4.3 million, of which 80% will be covered by EU funding. The amount of corporate and municipal funding from South Karelia is €860 000. Participating companies include forest industry companies operating in the region (UPM-kymmene PLC, MetsäGroup and Stora Enso International Ltd), Outotec (Finland) Ltd, Nordkalk Ltd and Imatra Region Development Company Ltd. Lappeenranta University of Technology and Saimaa University of Applied Sciences provide the expertise needed for the different work packages. The City of Lappeenranta is the main coordinator of the project.

FIMATEC Finnish Intelligent Module Apartments Ltd (FIMATEC Ltd) is developing 3D printing technology. The project will also include 3D printing of pilot projects, which may be, for example, the printing of aesthetic noise barriers and structures to increase the attractiveness of city centres, or the construction of a site to be specified later.

Contact person

St. Petersburg – Saimaa Lakeland travel corridor  1.1.2019–31.12.2021

Funding: South-East Finland - Russia CBC 2014-2020 programme (80%), project partners (20%)

Project partners: Savonlinnan Hankekehitys Ltd (main developer), Mikkeli Development Company Miksei Ltd, City of Lappeenranta, Imatra Region Development Company Ltd, Saint Petersburg City Tourist Information Bureau, Tourist Information Centre of Leningrad Region.

The regions of St. Petersburg and Lake Saimaa are both popular tourist destinations, with the main target markets being in the home country, neighbouring countries and Europe. However, there are challenges for tourism in these regions, such as seasonality. In addition, in order to increase the number of tourists and grow the tourism industry, new customers should be reached from geographically and culturally distant regions, which makes marketing a challenge for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises in the region.

The aim of the project was to increase the utilisation of tourism services, create new business opportunities and promote the St. Petersburg - Saimaa Lakeland travel corridor. The aim of the corridor is to combine two unique destinations into a single tourist experience in all seasons. By enabling the St. Petersburg-Saimaa travel corridor and by shaping the tourism offer, marketing strategy and appropriate marketing channels, the two destinations can together attract more tourists to the region. The project also promoted the development of service providers' products and skills for new customer groups.

Other material produced by the project is available at St. Petersburg - Saimaa Lakeland travel corridor - Savonlinna Business Services.