Jyväskylä invests in the development of the games sector
Games are becoming increasingly important for different areas of society. From healthcare to defence, many sectors could benefit more from the use of game technology solutions.
The Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ is driving a project to develop the regional gaming and digitalisation ecosystem and to build up Jyväskylä's position as an increasingly important international centre for gaming technologies.
The project has recently secured funding from Sitra in a funding call for RDI cooperation projects between business and research organisations.
"The games sector offers substantial potential for growth and applications, which has not yet been fully realised. The Jyväskylä region has strong educational and research resources, but there has been a certain lack of a common strategic direction and coordination," says Tuomas Roininen, Project Manager at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥.
Jyväskylä's role as a pioneer in gaming technologies will be significantly strengthened
"This funding will enable us to take the gaming ecosystem to a new level. Jyväskylä has been advancing this development for a long time, and now we can translate this work into growth in new application areas. The project will significantly strengthen Jyväskylä's role as a pioneer in gaming technologies, especially through international education and research."
In addition to the University, the project involves the City of Jyväskylä, the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Central Finland (ELY Centre), Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences Jamk, Jyväskylä Education Consortium Gradia, POKE Vocational College, the Jyväskylä Game Industry Hub, Zaibatsu Interactive, Noveltive, Elomatic, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team and Exen Esports.
Growth and vitality
The game ecosystem is linked to the region's key sectors: sport, health and well-being, industry renewal and, in the future, cyber-security and the circular economy
"The development of the gaming ecosystem has the potential to serve the business sector in the region in a very broad sense. The game ecosystem is linked to the region's key sectors: sports, health and well-being, industry renewal and, in the future, cyber-security and the circular economy," says Professor Raine Koskimaa of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥.
The project is already underway and will run until 30 June 2025. The project will gather information on business opportunities in the games sector, create a hackathon-based model for accelerating the games ecosystem under the leadership of Jamk, and build the basis for the expansion of the ecosystem and link it to European innovation ecosystems.
"This is an important investment in the growth and renewal of many businesses and the vitality of the region as a whole. At the same time, we are building continuous learning and work-based skills for the games sector," says Koskimaa.
The games sector is part of the strategic development of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥.
"From the university's perspective, the project strengthens our position as an international forerunner in games research and education."
Join us: GAMEHack Game Ecosystem 2.0
Sign up to attend the hackathon event, organised Friday 16 May!
The event is open to all interested participants, companies, research institutes, educational institutions and other actors interested in the application of gaming technologies. Participation is free of charge.
