KUKA – Cultural Production Strengthening Kainuu’s Economic Vitality

The main objective of the project is to strengthen the vitality of Kainuu and diversify its economic structure by reinforcing the creative industries ecosystem and expanding educational provision.

Towards a stronger creative industries ecosystem

– Creative industries as a driver of regional development
– New solutions for regional needs
– Stronger collaboration between education and business
– Skills and pathways for the future
– Boosting attractiveness and retention in Kainuu

The KUKA project is a development initiative implemented by the Humanist University of Applied Sciences, aiming to strengthen the role of the creative industries in renewing Kainuu’s vitality and economic structure. The project is carried out across the entire region of Kainuu and is built on the integration of education, experimental approaches, and regional development work. The primary target group consists of organisations, companies, and micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises that contribute to the development of the creative and cultural industries ecosystem. In addition, the project supports professionals in the cultural sector and individuals entering the field by providing new opportunities for skills development and education through both continuous learning pathways and a newly launched higher-education degree programme in cultural production.

The project responds to the need to diversify Kainuu’s economic structure and to utilise the potential of the creative industries more systematically as part of the regional economic ecosystem. The Humanist University of Applied Sciences brings strong expertise in cultural production and creative industries education as Finland’s largest educator in the field. Kajaani University of Applied Sciences acts as a key partner, complementing the project with regional development expertise and a game industry study module. Together, the universities enable cross-sector collaboration between education, business, and other fields, supporting Kainuu’s attractiveness, talent retention, and long-term sustainable vitality.