Arctic Edge Project Partner Meeting in North Karelia

From 10th to 12th June Arctic Edge project partners met in Joensuu, North Karelia, Finland for a partner meeting. Our hosts, the North Karelia Chamber of Commerce organised an exceptional experience, from a round-the-clock series of insightful events to thoughtful touches such as table signage, beautifully crafted invitation booklet, branded Arctic Edge caps for participants, and even arranging perfect weather.

The meeting opened with an informative presentation by Antti Toivanen, CEO of the North Karelia Chamber of Commerce, who provided an insightful overview of the regional economy, innovation landscape, and local life in North Karelia.

This was followed by a strategic partner meeting, during which we refined the project statement aimed at SMEs and engaged in a productive brainstorming session on long-term outreach strategies. These efforts are geared toward ensuring the project’s relevance and impact beyond its completion in 2027. The outcome will be a finalised project statement ready for dissemination to SMEs and support organisations interested in participating in our mentoring programme as well as concrete initiatives aiming at long-term project outreach. We also discussed our social media content plan.

In the afternoon technical meeting, partners reached several important agreements regarding the technical direction of project’s first pilot. This pilot will demonstrate the interconnectivity of a three-tier simulated supply chain involving AIM, NKCCI, and LTU.

We also explored the breathtaking Koli National Park, renowned for its stunning landscapes and deep ties to Finnish mythology. The experience fostered a powerful sense of connection to nature, complemented by a warm atmosphere, great humour, and shared purpose, all of which made our teamwork more effective and enjoyable.

A warm and heartfelt thank you to our wonderful hosts, Juha Ahokas and Antti Toivanen from Pohjois-Karjalan kauppakamari - North Karelia Chamber of Commerce, for making this partner event such a memorable and inspiring example of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and meaningful connection. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to Teemu Purmonen and Petteri Torssonen, for their valuable participation and contributions to our discussions and activities. A special thank you as well to all Arctic Edge partners who joined us both in person and online, including Tracy Ferguson (SCC), Akshit Saradagi (LTU), Gudmundur Valur Oddsson (UoI), Markus Paananen (Centria), Olli Isohanni (Centria), Elena B and Zainab Saleem (AIM).