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TAMK International

Category: Project

Creative economies in the Baltic Sea Region: what regions gain from deeper connection and active cooperation?

Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) aim to strengthen regional competitiveness by building on local strengths and fostering innovation through collaboration. Increasingly, there is recognition that these strategies would greatly benefit from embracing the creative economy. Yet across the Baltic Sea Region and beyond, creative and cultural industries (CCI) still struggle to find a clear and consistent place within regional planning. This creates a paradox; Creative ecosystems are already contributing to talent retention, startup creation, and regional attractiveness, but they often remain only loosely connected to the strategic frameworks that are meant to guide regional development.

Pilots in Ikaalinen

Kylät yli kuntarajojen is a rural development project in the Pirkanmaa region, Finland. The project aims to protect and develop rural services and the economy through multiple channels, working together with local communities and regional and provincial partners. Project aims to develop pilot projects and operational models that can be replicated in other villages. It is a partnership between Ikaalisten Kehitys Oy, the City of Ikaalinen, and Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK). Other collaborators include Pirkanmaa Leader group, Pirha, Sasky, Pirkan kylät and local villages.

Turning Ideas into Action: Prototyping, Production and Financial Thinking

Every great business starts as a spark — an idea born from curiosity, frustration, or a bold dream of doing things differently. But what happens next is what truly separates dreamers from doers. Turning Ideas into Action is about taking that first rough idea and shaping it into something real through prototyping, smart production choices, and clear financial thinking. For young aspiring entrepreneurs, this journey is not reserved for “someday” or “when you’re ready” — it starts now.

Making a Difference through an RDI Project

If you are a teacher, the idea of working in an RDI project might sometimes feel unattractive. You might think it is somehow trivial or boring paperwork that will not really benefit anyone in the end. Let me offer you another viewpoint through a recent example.

Making a marshmallow tower can teach you business skills

The Succeed in Business project is about to start its second round of training with new enthusiastic participants interested in entrepreneurship. There are about twenty young adults aged 18-25 from Finland who are expected to learn about entrepreneurship and what it takes to run a business. When we gathered with the Finnish group on 12.11.2025 in Paidia for a meeting to get to know each other, expectations for the course were also described as a desire to understand, among other things, "what it really takes to turn my ideas into something valuable".

Leading Internationalization: TAMK’s Two New Team Finland Knowledge Projects for 2025

Team Finland Knowledge (TFK) projects are designed to foster international cooperation, innovation, and excellence in higher education. Funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education, these projects support the development of global partnerships, enhance the quality of teaching and research, and promote mobility for students and staff. Securing TFK funding is highly competitive, making it a significant achievement for any institution.

Kicking Off REAVES: Building Resilient Creative Ecosystems Across Europe

From September 16th to 18th, 2025, the serene surroundings of Hotel Gut Klostermühle in Alt Madlitz, Germany, provided the perfect backdrop for the kick-off meeting of the REAVES – Resilient Ecosystems for AV&M Entrepreneurial Support project. This gathering brought together project managers, researchers, and creative industry professionals from across the Baltic Sea Region and beyond, united by a shared vision: to strengthen the creative and cultural industries (CCI) through cross-sectoral collaboration and innovation.