Future Proof Health and Wellbeing innovation hub builds positive counterforces to global challenges
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences addresses societal and global challenges through phenomenon-driven innovation hubs, utilizing impactful research, development, and innovation (RDI) activities. Annually, Metropolia undertakes approximately 100 RDI projects in collaboration with working life and partner networks.
Future Proof Health and Wellbeing innovation hub develops solutions to promote planetary health, holistic well-being, and meaningful good life. The innovation hub collaborates with businesses, research institutes, cities, wellbeing services counties, organizations, residents, and students to tackle global challenges such as good aging, children’s and youths’ well-being, modern health services, multicultural society and strengthening communities and participation. The innovation hub aims at systemic change driven by humanity, justice, creativity and diversity.
The director of the Future Proof Health and Wellbeing innovation hub is PhD Minna Elomaa-Krapu, Doctor of Health Sciences.
Phenomenon-based innovation advances societal development
In Finland and throughout the EU, solving societal challenges requires RDI competence based on a phenomenological approach, multidisciplinarity, partnerships and a solution-oriented approach. Metropolia supports and promotes societal development through RDI activities, focusing on the following strategic areas:
- Smart and creative city innovation hub
- Future-proof health and well-being innovation hub
- Clean and sustainable solutions innovation hub
- Emerging technologies and entrepreneurship
The innovation hubs pursue solutions through phenomenon-driven and open innovation and research. They provide a new way to learn and produce knowledge addressing global challenges and societal needs. Alongside the innovation hubs, Metropolia strengthens entrepreneurial thinking and the application of new technologies to support the emergence of new solutions.
Solutions in the innovation hubs emerge through co-creation, collaboration, and learning among diverse stakeholders. Partners, students, and staff work together on various RDI projects and Collaboration Platforms, delivering customer projects and services. Students from Health Care and Social Services, Technology, Business, and Culture actively participate in RDI activities, learning and innovating through thesis work and innovation projects. Cross-disciplinary student teams develop solutions to real-world challenges in these projects.
A distinctive feature of Metropolia’s RDI activities is the Futureproof RDI partnership, which involves not only partners but also citizens, users of services and products, researchers, developers, and other stakeholders.
More information
Anna-Maria Vilkuna
Director, RDI, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
anna-maria.vilkuna [at] metropolia.fi (anna-maria[dot]vilkuna[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Minna Elomaa-Krapu
Innovation Director, Future Proof Health and Wellbeing innovation hub, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
minna.elomaa-krapu [at] metropolia.fi (minna[dot]elomaa-krapu[at]metropolia[dot]fi)