Project information:
Official name of the project: Sustainable prototyping
Duration of the project: 1.8.2025 - 30.7.2027
Project coordinator: VAMK
Project partners: City of Vaasa, VAMIA
Funding: Regional Council of Ostrobothnia,
Budget: 275 457 €
Contact person in VAMK:
Lotta Saarikoski, Principal Lecturer (School of Technology)
tel. +358 207 663 412, lotta.saarikoski@vamk.fi
Project description
The project combines circular-economy–driven product design and prototyping into a new operational model that enables local companies to develop sustainable solutions in collaboration with educational institutions. The model is developed through demonstrations in which VAMK students design and VAMIA students manufacture circular-economy–based prototypes for metal industry companies. In addition, the project produces tools for companies to support circular-economy–oriented product design, prototyping, and collaboration with educational institutions.
The project is implemented as a joint initiative between VAMK and VAMIA and is funded by the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia.
Goals
The project creates a collaborative model in which the project partners work closely with local companies to address their concrete needs related to the circular economy. In this model, university of applied sciences students design prototypes that support circular-economy principles for companies, while upper secondary vocational students manufacture these prototypes as part of their studies. At the same time, the project develops tools that support circular-economy business models and help companies integrate circular-economy principles into their product development and prototyping processes at an early stage.
The project generates new expertise for both students and company employees, thereby strengthening the regional economy and enhancing competitiveness.
Demonstrations will be carried out in collaboration with companies and public organizations, and the results will be used to support the wider dissemination of the cooperation model. The model brings together the resources of companies, higher education institutions and vocational institutions to advance the circular economy through hands-on prototyping. It is embedded into the structures and practices of the participating organizations. Based on this model, companies will be able to more easily draw on the expertise of local educational institutions in their future development activities. In addition, the project aims to increase companies’ understanding of the potential of prototyping as a tool for supporting innovation.
Results
The project will result in:
- A physical prototyping model that takes circular economy requirements into account and supports sustainable development in the Ostrobothnia region.
- A toolkit for producing physical prototypes, including concrete prototyping tools in which sustainability requirements are fully integrated into the process.
- A collaboration network that promotes and deepens cooperation between VAMK, VAMIA and regional companies, supporting businesses in achieving their product development and circular economy goals.
- Support especially for the metal industry, construction sector, component manufacturers and SME subcontracting chains in Ostrobothnia, creating new business opportunities and innovations.
- Summary: the project will produce two co-creation platforms and networks, an operational model, and a practical toolkit.
