The City of Kuopio was founded 230 years ago, in 1775. Kuopio situated in Eastern Finland can be reached easily by road, rail, water and air. A flight from the Finnish capital Helsinki takes about 35 minutes. Kuopio is the 8th largest city in Finland and a home to 90 700 inhabitants (in the region about 120 000 inhabitants).

Vital Kuopio is well-known for successful enterprises, high quality education, research and science as well as cultural activities and events.

Kuopio invests in modern technology and business. The focus in economic life emphasizes more and more modern businesses, especially information and welfare technologies. Kuopio is one of the national centres of expertise and a major university city. Wood and food industries are the most important traditional industries. Additionally, tourism has an important role for the economy of the city. Most employees in Kuopio work for service industries.

The University of Kuopio has an international reputation in the fields of health, environment and well-being, with particular strengths in biotechnology, life sciences and biomedicine. Kuopio is one of the expertise centre regions in Finland. Technology Centre Teknia Ltd is responsible for the coordination of Kuopio Region Centre of Expertise Programme and its fields agrobiotechnology, pharmaceutical development and health care technology. Information technology has also grown rapidly in the Kuopio region due to the efforts of Kuopio university and Savonia polytechnic.

Lakes and forests characterise Kuopio region. Waters, rich flora and differences of height are the essential characteristics of the natural beauty in Kuopio. The Kuopio region offers a perfect setting for all kinds of activities throughout the year, thanks to its lovely unspoilt countryside and location in the middle of Europe’s largest lake district. Kuopio is famous of its rich cultural life and international annual events such as World Cup Ski–jumping competitions, Finland Ice Marathon and the oldest and most extensive high quality dance festival in the Nordic countries, Kuopio Dance Festival. Kuopio’s pleasant and outstanding environment, a variety of leisure activities and efficient services guarantee high quality of life for its inhabitants.

Regional Health Kuopio programme

The Kuopio Region is nationally recognised and operationally profiled as a cluster for expertise in the field of well being that aims at international top-level expertise and an ability to apply this exellence in the commercial markets. Its pre-eminence stems from the University of Kuopio which has always concentrated on health and well being, and the University is backed up by the Kuopio University Hospital and Savonia Polytechnic. Technology Centre Teknia Ltd. is a major player, ensuring that the needs of local businesses in the health and well-being sector are not neglected.

The Health Kuopio programme is a cooperation network between social and health services, enterprises, research and education, through which products, services and well-being are developed. It is a joint project between the City of Kuopio, the University of Kuopio and various businesses and organisations in the region. The programme aims at turning the city and its surrounding region into one of the leading European centres of expertise in health and wellness. Furthermore, the programme´s goal is to commercialise top-level international research and develop practical applications and services for the benefit of the community. The focus of the programme is wellness expertise in the areas of health, environment and social welfare, with a practical focus on health technology.

The realization of the health Kuopio programme is in practice several different schemes, i.e.

1. Ageing population
2. Wellbeing technology
3. Promoting good health
4. Health tourism
5. Healthy housing

In these areas the Kuopio region is looking for new international ways to produce services for residents and at the same time create new jobs. The schemes are almost equivalent to WHO Healthy Cities themes on Phase IV.

Healthy City Kuopio

Kuopio joined the Finnish National Healthy Cities network in 2000. During last five years Kuopio has been participating in the work and projects of this national network. Thus, basis in the health and well-being issues was already strong when Kuopio was designated as a WHO Healthy City in May 2005. During the Phase IV (2003-2008) Kuopio wants to continue its healthy city project work on health and well-being more in the line with the themes of Phase IV and strengthen especially the role of health promotion in city development.

For further information go to:
- City of Kuopio
- Kuopio Region
- Technology Centre Teknia Ltd.
- The University of Kuopio
- Health Kuopio programme
- Centre of Expertise Programme
- Finnish National Healthy Cities network