The Location Innovation Hub, which started its operations in 2023, has provided free services to more than 700 customers during its first project period. These customers include startups, SMEs and public sector actors. Among other things, the LIH has provided customers with financial and technical consulting, as well as support for using new concepts and test services. The Hub has also published guides and held events to introduce spatial data to different audiences.
‘During the first project period, we have helped hundreds of customers move ahead and contributed to more than EUR 12 million of approved funding. All the while, we have built partnerships that combine research, business and public administration to create concrete solutions,‘ says Antti Jakobsson, Project Manager of the Location Innovation Hub at the National Land Survey of Finland
Unique position in Europe
The Location Innovation Hub is part of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH). According to a recent EU report, Finland is among the top countries in the EDIH. It has fewer resources compared to the large Member States, but uses them effectively to provide services with an above-average customer satisfaction in the EU.
LIH is the only EDIH that focuses specifically on location information, driving international demand for Finnish expertise. Jakobsson continues:
‘The Finnish public administration progressively focuses on data sharing and collaboration. We also engage in close and constructive dialogue with the business community. Research in the field is also among the best of the best in Finland. Continuance of this project will allow us to push forward based on these strengths‘.
Same operation, new themes
With the new funding period, the LIH will continue to work in the built environment, agriculture and forestry sectors, as well as transport and logistics. It introduces new priorities in defence and space technology, which are seeing significant growth. In addition, the Hub focuses on artificial intelligence and digital twins, which can provide solutions to complex challenges that current language models cannot solve.
The Location Innovation Hub is also part of the European Regional Development Fund’s (ERDF) co-funded DATASTEP project, which helps businesses seize the opportunities of the data economy and the European data space.
Its long-term goal is to create a permanent operating model in Finland that supports the development of innovations, test services and ways to seek funding in both Finland and Europe. What’s important for its future is to ensure national funding and cooperation with other Finnish innovation hubs.
Further information
Antti Jakobsson, Project Manager, +358 50 599 4123, firstname.lastname@nls.fi
About the Location Innovation Hub
- The Location Innovation Hub is a centre of expertise for location information and technology, which provides free services for small and medium-sized enterprises and central government organisations.
- The LIH provides support for business development and adoption of new technologies, as well as information on funding opportunities. Its aim is to improve customer competitiveness and ability to innovate, strengthen networks, and support the international growth of business.
- The Location Innovation Hub is part of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), a European network of nearly 170 innovation hubs. It is Europe's only innovation hub that focuses on location information.
- The Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI) of the NLS coordinates its activities. It works with 15 partners and other collaborators.