RDI and Business 2025

Strategy-Driven Growth and Impact

VAMK’s Strategy 2035, Towards a Wellbeing Economy, guided the development of research, development and innovation activities and business operations in 2025 in line with clearly selected focus areas.

The implementation of the strategy was strengthened through organisational and operational model reforms. As a result, the RDI and Business Unit, established in the spring, has overall responsibility for the results area covering Vaasa University of Applied Sciences’ RDI and business activities. The research areas, Smart Industry, Smart Business, Smart Society and Smart Design, support and implement these prioritised strategic choices.

Strategy-driven development work has been highly productive.

In 2025, the growth of the VAMK’s external RDI funding was the highest among universities of applied sciences in Finland in relative terms.

External R&D funding generating matching funds increased to €2.68 million, representing an increase of approximately €880,000 compared to the previous year. This development indicates that RDI activities targeted at the chosen focus areas align well with national and international funding priorities.

RDI activities were carried out in close cooperation with industry, working life, and key stakeholders. Particular attention was paid to supporting the growth, competitiveness, and renewal capacity of SMEs. At the same time, we systematically expanded our national and international networks within our focus areas.

The development of RDI activities and the supporting research infrastructures responded excellently to the guidelines of national RDI policy, particularly in terms of sustainable growth, digitalisation, and comprehensive security. A key strategic initiative was the establishment of the Ostrobothnia Dual Use, Defence and Security (ODDS) ecosystem, which supports business competitiveness and strengthens Finland’s security of supply and overall security.

Marja-Riitta Vest
Director of Research, Development and Innovation