The City of Riihimäki and Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) Establish New Robotics Competence and Innovation Center 

The City of Riihimäki and Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) are together developing a robotics competence and innovation center as a part of the Robotics Campus – Scale up! project. The city and HAMK invite growth companies in the region to develop a joint innovation ecosystem and utilize robotics and automation. It is anticipated that providing robotics education from early childhood to higher education will cultivate a pool of skilled experts to meet the demands of technology start-ups and companies in Riihimäki region. During the project, an urban event combining art, culture, and technology with robotics will be organized in Riihimäki.

“Cities are competing for talent, growth, and investments. The increasingly competitive environment requires collaboration between companies, universities, and the public sector. The City of Riihimäki has accepted the challenge and wants to be among the winners. In our city strategy, we have underlined the development of future skills and businesses within robotics as one of our spearheads. To succeed, we need to foster a strong environment for collaborating within robotics. This environment includes our companies, which are the engine for sustainable development. We believe that high-quality robotics education and a competitive robotics hub will help us win the game!”, says Jouni Eho, Mayor, the City of Riihimäki.

The project aims to enhance regional and international collaboration and promote robotics education, expertise, research, and innovation. The project consists of two components. The first component focuses on developing future skills. The project pilots further education in robotics for European school teachers in basic education. Furthermore, the project includes drafting an international project funding application for the development of robotics education.

The city of Riihimäki already includes robotics education in the curriculum from early childhood education to high school. Robotics studies can be continued in both vocational and higher education in Riihimäki. With the help of the project funding, HAMK strengthens its international offering of robotics education in the region.

“Riihimäki has an outstanding and thorough approach to developing robotics education. We in Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK entrust to this consistent strategy and want to be part of the active development work – all the way from the daycare up to the University level. Possibilities are enormous for our students but also for the companies and the whole region,” says Pertti Puusaari, President and CEO of Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK.

The project receives support of 173,506 euros from the national funding allocated for regional development (AKKE) managed by the Häme Region. The project started on February 1, 2023, and will conclude on March 31, 2024.

Follow the updates of the Robotics Campus – Scale up! project on social media channels @robotiikkakampus and @HAMK_UAS, as well as on the Robotics Campus website and HAMK’s website.

For more information:
Jouni Eho, Mayor, City of Riihimäki, tel. 044 767 6674
Pertti Puusaari, CEO, President, Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK, tel. 0400 469 605
Pia Engström, Development Manager, City of Riihimäki, tel. 040 6297672