Posts Tagged ‘Oulu’
Oulu strengthened its status as an international conference city in 2025 – the Capital of Culture year began with strong growth in tourism
Oulu’s position as an international conference and congress city was strengthened by the growth in events held in 2025. At the same time, recent tourism statistics show that 2026 has started strongly for both tourism in Oulu and the Pohjola Route region. This growth is supported by increased event activity, the visibility brought by the Capital of Culture year, and growing international interest in Northern Finland.
According to recent statistics from the Finland Convention Bureau, 36 international congresses were held in Oulu last year, which is five more than in 2024. This result placed Oulu sixth in the comparison of Finnish congress cities.
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Originally published on 9 Mar
Read MoreHelse Vest in Norway invests in Medanets after a successful pilot
Senior Advisor Trond Waehle from Helse Vest IKT presented the pilot results at the Medanets User Days 2026. Based on the evaluation, the regional board approved the investment in Medanets for clinical use. Helse Vest is currently planning the rollout of the solution across the region and extending the usage to additional features not included in the pilot.
Medanets was piloted with our partner Mesalvo’s EHR solution, which has been in place at Helse Vest since a decade. The pilot utilized Mesalvo’s HealthCentre Cortex technology with Medanets. The piloted scope included mobile Early Warning Score, vital signs and pain assessment using Observation values, and administration of medications. 150 nurses piloted the features for about six months using iPhones and our Next Level iOS app.
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Originally published on 10 Mar
Read MoreDemola and BusinessOulu Connect Talent and Companies Through Innovation Projects – Future Expert Launchpad is now in Oulu!
The Future Expert Launchpad (FELP) aims to support the employment and skills development of highly educated international professionals, graduating students, and individuals seeking new career directions. FELP offers participants the opportunity to work on genuine, market‑driven projects and strengthen their expertise through hands-on collaboration.
Demola is a Finnish company with 15 years of experience in new concept development and co-creation. Its globally operating innovation platform brings together talent and real business needs.
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Originally published on 2 Mar
Read MoreCentre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment supports Medanets’ AI development
The North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment has awarded Medanets a grant of about €200,000 to accelerate the development of new AI-driven features and capabilities for their app.
AI technologies have already begun to reshape a range of clinical workflows, and national-level studies have explored their potential in healthcare. AI offers promising opportunities to streamline operations, reduce administrative burden, and strengthen diagnostic and care pathways.
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Originally published on 16 Feb
Read MoreCross-border collaboration can strengthen sustainable cultural tourism
Strong and durable collaboration between cultural actors and tourism stakeholders across Northern Sweden and Northern Finland could play an important role in strengthening regional development in the Bothnian Arc. This conclusion is presented in a new white paper produced within the ACCENT project, a cross-border collaboration between the University of Oulu, Luleå University of Technology, LTU Business, and the Oulu Culture Foundation.
The white paper, Opening pathways to sustainable cultural tourism in the North, presents evidence-based insights from the ACCENT project on how culture-led tourism can support sustainable regional development across Northern Sweden and Northern Finland.
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Originally published on 9 Feb
Read MoreThe Port of Oulu’s sawn timber exports hit a new record – container traffic also near all‑time highs
The Port of Oulu achieved a significant new export record in 2025. The volume of sawn timber exports rose to the highest level in the port’s history, totaling 675,000 m³. The previous record was from 2018, when exports reached 620,000 m³.
Container traffic also came close to an all‑time record. The final container volume for 2025 was 50,715 TEU, strengthening Oulu’s position as the most important container port in Northern Finland. Growth compared to the previous year was +31%.
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Originally published on 12 Jan
Read MorePeili Vision’s solution helps West Yorkshire pupils tackle ADHD challenges
Peili Vision has partnered with a West Yorkshire school to show how targeted interventions can significantly improve children’s attention and executive function.
Over 12 weeks, a local school ran an executive function intervention with 10 students. Assessments using Peili Vision’s EFSim tool, conducted before and after the programme, revealed that 66% of participants advanced from the “severe” to the “moderate” category for attention and executive function. This highlights the substantial potential for tracking and improving cognitive skills in young people facing ADHD-related challenges.
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Originally published on 7 Jan
Read MoreIQM Quantum Computers opens new R&D office in Oulu
IQM Quantum Computers, a global leader in superconducting quantum computers, has opened a new R&D office in Oulu, the tech hub of northern Finland, as part of its efforts to develop advanced quantum chips for error-corrected quantum computers.
The move represents a strategic investment for IQM, complementing the company’s production and cleanroom facilities and assembly line in Espoo and quantum data centre in Munich, Germany.
In addition, the new office reflects IQM’s continuing commitment to building quantum ecosystems in major tech hubs and supporting research innovation and development activities.
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Originally published on 10 Dec
Read MorePort of Oulu Accelerates Green Transition
The Port of Oulu is preparing for significant green transition investments that will strengthen the region’s position as a hub for sustainable energy production and synthetic fuels.
The port’s updated master plan outlines developments through 2040, with the most notable changes driven by the emerging hydrogen economy. New port areas in Oritkari and the existing Vihreäsaari site will be zoned for chemical industry use. Key infrastructure upgrades include 400 kV substations and new quays to support future operations.
Earlier this year, French energy company Verso Energy secured a plot in Oritkari for a new plant dedicated to hydrogen and synthetic fuel production. The Port of Oulu’s TEN-T core network status and strong logistical connections were decisive factors in attracting the investment.
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Originally published on 3 Dec
Read MoreNorthern Power 2026 Challenges Key Industries to Cut Emissions with Hydrogen
As the heaviest-emitting sectors of industry aim for lower carbon footprints, attention is increasingly turning to the hydrogen economy. Northern Power 2026, taking place in Oulu this February, brings together the companies and experts building practical pathways toward carbon-neutral steel, aviation, and shipping.
Nordic Hydrogen Week gathers hydrogen technology users and developers in Oulu from 10–12 February 2026. The three-day programme, examining the hydrogen economy from multiple angles, culminates in the Northern Power Business Forum at Oulu Music Centre, where the entire hydrogen value chain comes together to develop actionable pathways toward decarbonization.
This year, Northern Power’s programme focuses particularly on the off-takers of hydrogen in the steel industry, maritime sector, and aviation – all themes that hold unique opportunities from a Finnish perspective.
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Originally published on 3 Dec
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