Business Kuopio

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Existing Businesses

Business Kuopio brings together all the services, expert assistance and networks provided by the City of Kuopio to businesses. This page contains the services aimed at domestic businesses.

• Business and financial advice
• Business location and premises
• Networks
• Product development and testing
• Changes of ownership
• Export promotion and internationalization

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Business and financial advice

Ask the Business Development Services of the City of Kuopio for help if you are planning on developing your business or expanding to new market areas in Finland or abroad. The services are always tailored to meet the needs of your company.

The experts at the Business Development Services can help you with various business development matters, such as:

• funding
• business growth
• internationalization
• product development and research
• networks

Contact us and ask for more information!

• Marja-Leena Laitinen, Business advisor, Business Development Services & Business Center, marja-leena.laitinen@kuopio.fi, +358 44 718 2044
• Maarit Manninen, Business promotion officer, Business Development Services & Business Center, maarit.manninen@kuopio.fi, +358 44 718 2087
• Anu Häiväläinen, Business promotion officer, Business Development Services & Business Center, anu.haivalainen@kuopio.fi, +358 44 718 2036

Business location and premises

Does your company need bigger premises or a new office? Business Kuopio and the Business Development Services of the City of Kuopio can help your company find suitable premises. Our experts can also advise and help you with permit issues, applying for a plot, town planning matters and negotiations with the city, for example.

In matters related to business location and premises, help is available from

• Unto Juutinen, Business promotion officer, Business Development Services, unto.juutinen@kuopio.fi, +358 44 7182 084
• Mika Raatikainen, Business promotion officer, Business Development Services, mika.raatikainen@kuopio.fi, +358 44 718 2048

Networks

The business ecosystem in the Kuopio region is constantly evolving, and innovative business environments are developed in close cooperation with companies.

The open innovation ecosystem Kuopio Health is one example of a collaborative project that fosters business growth, creates networks and accelerates the birth of new companies. We are working in constant cooperation with business service providers and regional development projects to support the success of companies.

Read more about the networks and partners of Business Kuopio.

Product development and testing

Kuopio Living Lab is a concept for product development and testing services formed by three expert organizations: Kuopio University Hospital, the City of Kuopio and Savonia University of Applied Sciences.

Kuopio Living Lab makes it possible for companies in the field of health and wellness technologies to test their products in authentic customer and expert environments.

Browse the opportunities of Kuopio Living Lab.

Changes of ownership

Savon Yrittäjät, the regional association of Suomen Yrittäjät, provides free consultation in the region of North Savo on selling and buying a business and undergoing a change of generation. For more information, please visit the website.

The service does not require membership of an entrepreneurship organisation and is intended for all companies in Northern Savo. You can access the service by filling in the service order.

Export promotion and internationalization

Are you looking for new partners or international business and relocation opportunities?

The “Kuopio Goes” concept is a versatile internationalization service for companies and others operating in the region. Kuopio Goes helps promote business life in the region of Kuopio and improve awareness of the region both in Finland and abroad. Kuopio Goes consists of, for instance, joint export promotion and market research trips to attractive international events and markets with local companies. The purpose of the trips is to showcase expertise from Kuopio, build international networks and discover fresh ideas for business. Previous Kuopio Goes destinations have included Shanghai, London, Stockholm and Bodø.

Read more about the Kuopio Goes concept and the trips.

Export2X – Roadmap of North Savo to create more export companies. North Savo aims to double the number of export companies in the region by the year 2030. The Kuopio Region Chamber of Commerce together with a network of partners have set out to build the Export2X roadmap, which identifies the skills of businesses and builds skills programmes to help improve the internationalization potential of companies.

The Export2X partner network consists of Team Finland, Business Kuopio, Regional Council of Pohjois-Savo, Business Center Pohjois-Savo, Savon Yrittäjät, Navitas Business Services, SavoGrow and the City of Iisalmi. The roadmap is facilitated by Talentree Oy.

Read more about the Export2X project and browse the companies selected in 2021.