1. Possibilities for the Future Central Finland Pekka Lankia, Vice President of the Board1 1 1

2. CENTRAL FINLAND Population: 274 000
Capital: Jyväskylä, with inhabitants
23 municipals 2

3. Regional council, a tool for open democracy
Regional councils are
For municipals and citizens
In a regional level, joint municipal author by law
Municipals must be members of regional council
Regional councils have a role in regional development
land use planning
implementation of EU structural fund programs
regional foresight and strategy work
lobbying and co-operation at regional, national and international level 3

4. Major global changes – and possibilities!
Climate change
Growth of population
Lack of clean water
→ All these have effects to
human activities
→ But they also mean possibilities to new innovations, new products, new business, new sustainable growth, new wellness! 4

5. Wellbeing Bioeconomy Digital economy Knowledge based economy
International approach
Regional structure and accessibility 5

6. NEXT WAVE OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
By 2030, the world will need 50 % more food, 45 % more energy and 30 % more water compared to present situation. 6

7. Bioeconomy as a possibility
Local example – A bioproduct mill
to Äänekoski
Largest investment in the history of the Finnish forest industry, 1,2 billion €
Building has started, ready to operate 2017
Next-generation bioproduct mill, new products are developed in network with various players 7

8. Äänekoski bioproduct mill – some examples
Main product is pulp, but...
Target to be a factory without any waste – all raw material are used
- biocomposite to replace plastic
- even the smell or pulpmill is used, odorous gases
are converted into sulphuric acid
- etc.
The mill is over energy self-sufficient
- all energy from wood, no fossile energy needed 8

9. Bioeconomy - new product opportunities
Next step - new bio-based products
- new wood fibers replace cotton → saves farmland for food production → saves clear water and hard chemicals in cottonfields
- new biobased materials
for food and medicin
packing?
- flexible screens made by
nanocellulose? 9

10. Digital economy is changing our world
Digitalization mean revolution in all sectors of business
Industrial production, marketing, banking, communication, commercial and public services etc.
Important part of digitalzation is cyber security
Some keywords: robotics, 3D-printing, internet of things, open data and bigdata, sharing economy, virtual currency...
Question is not ”do we like everything what is happening?” – right question is ”do we understand and manage the change?” 10

11. Forerunner in cyber security
Knowledge on protection of the cyber threats
Test environment for companies
JAMK University of applied sciences and University of Jyväskylä
CENTRAL FINLAND IS... 11

12. KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY
Success in global economic competition needs
Innovations from knowledge
Better cooperation with business, entrepreneurs and education in all levels from primary school to university
Networking on local, European and global level
Better partnership can mean win-win-situation
→ both sides can share the latest information.
We can compete only with the know-how, not
with cheap labor. 12

13. WHAT CAN WE DO FOR OUR YOUTH?
We can encourage them to build their own future
But we must also give them the best available tools for this
We must keep our eyes open to see the change around us
And also... 13

14. Frank Zappa Thank You! “A mind is like a parachute.
It doesn't work if it is not open.”
Thank You! 14