|Bioeconomy and circular economy
||The Satakunta region provides a competitive operating environment for the growth of the bioeconomy. The main natural biological capital resources in Satakunta include the biomass (i.e. organic material) found in forests, soil, fields, water bodies, and the sea.
Satakunta region’s industrial symbiosis creates opportunities for energy-efficient, material-efficient, and low-carbon circular economy practices.
Robotics, automation, and data analytics are examples of technologies that enable the creation of new business models.
||The Satakunta region has a diverse energy production cluster that produces electricity more than three times the region’s needs, which accounts for 26% of Finland’s total energy production. Satakunta is the largest electricity producer in Finland. The region produces electricity for the needs of society from nuclear and renewable energy sources. The possibility of decentralised energy production is also seen as a strength in Satakunta’s energy production.
Diverse energy supply and know-how provide a strong competitive advantage for the region’s energy-intensive industry. In addition to basic energy production, Satakunta invests in anticipating the energy transition and the versatile use of renewable energy sources. Energy transition is accelerated by supporting the use of CO2 emissions as a raw material (Power to X technologies) and the wider deployment of hydrogen solutions in the region, and by promoting RDI activities related to energy storage and sustainable battery technology.
The use of peat in energy production has declined rapidly and has led to a decline in peat production. In Satakunta, it is important to ensure that appropriate support mechanisms are in place so that the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by this transition can be addressed in a timely manner and according the needs of industry. The pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) must be used extensively to mitigate the adverse effects of transition in accordance with Satakunta’s territorial just transition plan
|Food industry cluster
||The strength of Satakunta’s food production lies in its versatility. Satakunta is home to several leading national food production companies, and the region has a long tradition of contract-based production, which ensures the economic, environmental, and ethical sustainability of production.
Satakunta’s food production also plays a key role in ensuring Finland’s security of supply. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of domestic food production. There is good demand for Satakunta’s responsibly produced, safe, and healthy food on the global market.
The popularity of responsibly and locally produced food and access to international markets increase the demand for, and added value of, food produced in Satakunta.
|Automation and robotics cluster
||The Satakunta region has a strong cluster specialised in automation and robotics: The Robocoast network includes companies in the fields of robotics, automation, IoT, and artificial intelligence, as well as research, education and development organisations. The importance of technological know-how, especially in software development, is emphasised in the field of robotics and automation. Strengthening Satakunta’s welfare, health technology and robotics expertise will enable the development of social innovations and new solutions for the promotion of health and wellbeing, the treatment of diseases, and rehabilitation. It will also help create new business, advanced services, and social innovations.
The Gamecoast cluster, which operates alongside the Robocoast network, focuses on promoting and identifying the opportunities of gamification, creative industries, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality, which enable the development of new educational and product development innovations. Promoting the opportunities offered by gamification in the region can support, for example, occupational safety and game-based continuous learning in educational contexts. Gamification enables the development of new business and co-development models for product development.
|Technology metal, mineral, and battery cluster
||The Satakunta region has an internationally significant ecosystem for the production and further processing of technology metals, which will further expand with the increased demand for metals created by electrification related to digitalisation and green growth. Due to its strong position in the metal processing industry, the Satakunta region is an important part of Finland’s minerals cluster.
Having an automated, digital and intelligent production and logistics system is a prerequisite for competitive metal production. In order to accelerate growth, deeper cooperation is needed to capture the full potential of digitisation and to identify the growth opportunities created by electrification. For example, battery solutions and e-mobility systems are potential drivers of growth for Satakunta. In addition, the factories in the battery supply chain need automation and robotics expertise.
||In the Satakunta region, the strengths of the blue economy are related to water-related RDI activities, the maritime industry, the maritime cluster, development of water know-how, groundwater, water protection, fisheries, recreation, wellbeing services, and water tourism in all waterways.
Maritime spatial planning supports long-term development of the marine region and promotes blue growth and the protection of the environment and nature by reconciling the needs and objectives related to these activities at a local level.
Water-related research and innovation, water protection, and cooperation will be further strengthened with the help of both national and international networks.
||The Satakunta region offers attractive and responsibly produced tourism services and high-quality cultural services, and hosts internationally renowned events, which are important for the region’s economy.
The cultural environment is used to increase the region’s attractiveness and the wellbeing of its residents. Investing in the experience economy has a positive effect on society overall, creating experiences for and promoting the wellbeing of local residents, and providing various leisure opportunities. The development of tourism services strengthens the image and brand of Satakunta and contributes to attracting international experts to the region.
The strengths of the Satakunta region lie in its diverse marine, nature and cultural environments, culture and art, cultural heritage, national parks, the Geopark, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
||The welfare technology know-how of the Satakunta region can be used to develop solutions that improve the quality of life and wellbeing of residents, and ensure that each individual is able to cope with everyday life in accordance with their own goals, and live a meaningful life.
Similarly, health technologies may offer solutions for social and health care service providers for the prevention and treatment of diseases, and health maintenance.
At the same time, these technologies help create new business, advanced services, and social innovations.
|Safety and security of supply
||Safety and security of supply are important themes in this export-driven region. Safety issues related to Satakunta’s industry, energy production, food production, and land and sea transport are also key to national security of supply. Cyber and information security is an important part of overall security in various organisations, and this dimension is highlighted in a region that specialises in automation and robotics. Increasing regional cooperation is key to maintaining security and anticipating security risks, especially now that climate change and the resulting adverse weather conditions, as well as unforeseen pandemics, will increase concrete security risks in people’s everyday lives.
The core dimensions of security include, for example, the safety of citizens, industrial security, and environmental safety and cleanliness. Safety also involves anticipating and ensuring preparedness to deal with environmental accidents and damage. Response planning for both marine and land-based environmental damage, and the continuous development of inter-authority cooperation, contribute to the region’s overall safety.
The transport system must provide safe and efficient connections for residents and businesses throughout the region.