There are two main project partners from Finland University of Helsinki, Ruralia Institute and Haapavesi Vocational School
Ruralia Institute is an independently administrated multidisciplinary expert institute at the University of Helsinki. The mission of the institute is to improve the welfare of rural people and
develop the sources of livelihood in the rural areas through research, development, education and training. In total the institute has about a hundred employees specialising on rural research
development and training activities.
The key areas of expertise are:
• Rural entrepreneurship
• Rural policy
• Rural culture
The Institute has done pioneering work with small-scale entrepreneurship in the food, nature-based entrepreneurship sectors and in the reorganisation of rural services, and has special know-how in promoting entrepreneurship and business activities in rural areas.
The Institute aims to bring together both scientific competence and practical knowledge and it works in close co-operation with the different Helsinki University departments, other research and training organisations, enterprises and local government bodies on regional, national and transnational levels.
Contact person: Anne Matilainen, anne.matilanen(at)helsinki.fi
