Joint efforts tackle both the talent shortage and environmental changes

In North Savo’s technology industry, the foundation for success is built on a strong spirit of collaboration and an unwavering, innovative attitude. Support, peer coaching, and solutions for future challenges are actively explored and implemented through networks.

When looking at the region as a whole, certain regional characteristics emerge: Upper Savo is home to companies that manufacture mobile work machines, the Kuopio area emphasizes wellness and health technology, and the Varkaus area focuses on energy technology.

Statistics show that the turnover and exports of industrial companies operating in Upper Savo have grown faster than the rest of Finland since the early 2000s. In 2019, Upper Savo’s industrial turnover was €2.6 billion, with exports totaling €520 million.

According to TechSavo Project Manager Markku Penttinen, the region’s strengths include bold, innovative operations and a persistent attitude.

“Collaboration is a necessity, and this is something the companies themselves emphasize. They face similar challenges, and together we can consider how to address them and develop our joint efforts,” says Penttinen.

Previously, different development companies in North Savo ran their own projects and support measures, such as those targeted at technology companies. In recent years, these development companies, together with educational institutions, have engaged in close cooperation through regional development initiatives. According to Penttinen, companies have seen significant value in the services and networks enabled by such collaboration—when meetings and trainings are arranged for a broader audience, clear synergies are created.

“We are able to both increase and share knowledge and activate companies’ development and investment efforts in tangible ways,” says Penttinen.

Efficiency and a future-focused outlook

In recent years, many companies have focused on improving their own operations due to economic cycles. However, they are also seeking more information about new technologies, which often require joint research and exploration. One such example is the application of artificial intelligence, and the opportunities created by the green transition.

Future scenario planning has also proven beneficial for companies. Regional educational institutions and businesses are engaging in open dialogue about how competence needs will change. This kind of foresight work requires companies to open up their strategies, which in turn demands trust.

“We’re pleased to see a lot of great conversations taking place around these topics. Another example of using future scenarios comes from the KesTech project, which aims to develop the vitality of Upper Savo and the entire region’s industry by leveraging the opportunities of the green transition. A key part of the project involves foresight work to assess how national energy and climate strategies might impact our region—and how we could respond,” Penttinen explains.

Changes in national security and Finland’s NATO membership have also opened new types of opportunities for businesses in North Savo. To meet this emerging need, a Borderland training series is being launched for companies across Eastern Finland.

“It’s intended for companies already operating in or looking to expand into the defense and security sectors. The training offers an opportunity to develop expertise and network with stakeholders in the field.”

Shared challenges, shared solutions

The tradition of collaboration runs deep in North Savo and is also supported through various publicly funded projects.

“In Upper Savo, we’ve identified the coordination of the big picture as a challenge for joint efforts. Naturally, each company has its own goals and responsibilities, so the question becomes: who is the coordinating party that everyone can accept? But piece by piece, things are falling into place, and we are making progress here as well,” Penttinen believes.

One of the region’s leading companies is Normet, known globally in the mining sector as a specialist in underground mining and tunneling solutions. Juho Mark, a process and systems specialist at Normet, also sees inter-company cooperation as a strength. The experiences of local companies are used in process development, and company visits occur at various levels. In addition, personnel have been seconded between companies.

Local businesses face similar challenges, making the ability to gather around the same table highly beneficial.

“We don’t compete directly with one another, which allows us to engage in open dialogue and explore shared solutions that give all companies better conditions for success,” Mark says.

Concrete actions to ease the talent shortage

Normet, headquartered in Iisalmi, employs around 450 people in North Savo, with 99% of its production destined for export. To alleviate the talent shortage, Normet maintains close ties with local educational institutions. The company faces challenges particularly in securing top-level technology engineers and software professionals.

“We are the technology leader in our segment. To remain competitive and harness new technologies, we must ensure the availability and retention of these experts,” says Mark.

A concrete step toward improving access to talent was the establishment of master’s-level engineering education at the University of Eastern Finland’s Kuopio campus. Normet worked toward this goal in partnership with the Kuopio Chamber of Commerce and local companies. The company also helped bring Koodikoulu Sisu to Kuopio—an initiative aimed at increasing the number of software professionals in North Savo and tailoring programming skills to meet the needs of local businesses.

Additionally, Normet has opened its own facilities in Kuopio, right next to educational institutions—an important way to secure access to skilled professionals.

“A significant number of our employees live in the Kuopio area, so we wanted to offer them an alternative to remote work. In addition to accessibility, shared and pleasant workspaces enhance a sense of community and belonging, which helps engage existing employees and attract new ones.”

Boosting local awareness of companies

An essential part of collaboration with educational institutions involves offering internships and summer jobs to students. That’s how Mark’s own career at Normet began—he joined the company to write his master’s thesis and was later hired.

Normet encourages employees to continue their education and transition into new roles.

“The atmosphere is very supportive and development-oriented. It’s possible to build your own career path within the company,” Mark says.

Many young people move away from North Savo to pursue their studies elsewhere. A common challenge for local businesses and municipalities alike is how to attract this talent back to North and Upper Savo.

“Many students seek international roles, but they don’t realize that we offer those opportunities right here in Upper Savo. People are often surprised by how global our operations are,” Mark reflects.

In production, the working language at Normet is Finnish, but in office roles, it’s English. Many teams operate globally, including Mark’s own, which creates opportunities for international professionals.

“We have a great team spirit, and you can always approach people in different roles. Everyone is easy to talk to, and the atmosphere is very positive,” Mark says.

Penttinen also recognizes the challenge in local brand recognition for companies.

“We’ve encouraged local businesses to invest in building their brand. Larger companies generally have established brands, but among smaller firms, there’s a lot of variation. Word-of-mouth is very effective in reaching talent, which is why employer branding and reputation must be on point.”

Technology industry as a focus area in the Talent First project

Technology industry is one of the four key sectors in the Talent First project. The project aims to improve the availability of skilled professionals, enhance the region’s attractiveness and retention, and foster increased collaboration among local stakeholders.

Talent Talks podcast

Listen to Jora Pruthis interview

Jora Pruthi moved to Finland and to Kuopio four years ago to study International Business, even though she had completely different study plans originally. Through her studies, she got a position at Normet, where she now works in international procurement.

In her story, Jora talks about what it’s like to work in Iisalmi at the international company Normet. She also shares what shocked her the most when she first arrived in Finland, and how the corona pandemic brought its own challenges. Still, the move to a foreign country and culture has brought many unexpected experiences.

For other international experts, she gives advice, including that North Savo has many good companies and job opportunities, but they need to be actively sought out. She encourages focusing on learning the culture and language, even though one can get by well in Finland with just English.

All Talent Talks podcast episodes are available on our website.