| Project name: FutureRoots Implementation period: 01.01.2025–31.12.2026 Coordinator: Municipality of Pihtipudas on behalf of the Sydänsuomessa region municipalities Budget: 171 248 € Funded by: The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Central Finland (ELY Centre) through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (2023–2027), and the municipalities of the Sydänsuomessa region. The project is a Smart Villages cooperation project granted by Leader Viisari. |
Objectives
- Support young people in recognizing and utilizing their strengths related to digital business.
- Encourage youth participation in entrepreneurship projects and support the transition from entrepreneurship trials to actual business ownership.
- Strengthen cooperation within the Hub network across the Sydänsuomessa region.
- Explore new business models as part of how young people engage in entrepreneurship.
- Promote youth entrepreneurship and rural retention through small-scale experiments and by creating location-independent work opportunities.
- Build international networks and business opportunities by utilizing the Start Up Village network.
- Generate new international development project ideas within the Start Up Village network.
- Deepen collaboration with project partners.
- Provide support for former 4H entrepreneurs in transitioning to new forms of business.
Target groups
- Young people in the Sydänsuomessa region
- Local and regional companies
- Local and regional educational organizations
How?
- Organizing workshops, innovation competitions, and hackathons
- Creating and launching mentoring processes for young people
- Developing business ideas and identifying their potential
- Promoting international business opportunities and participating in international networking events and visits
Why?
The project has been launched to address the needs of young people in the Sydänsuomessa region to develop their digital business competence and entrepreneurial skills. Young people in the area have strong potential and interest in digital entrepreneurship, but they need support and resources to get started.
Currently, the most well-known way for local youth to experiment with entrepreneurship is by founding a 4H company. The project aims to create new operational models that enable business advisors to provide 4H entrepreneurs with more comprehensive business guidance and support in transitioning to new business forms.
FutureRoots seeks to provide young people with the opportunity to develop their skills and explore entrepreneurship in a supportive environment, where they receive guidance for growing their businesses. In addition, the project strengthens the vitality of the region by creating new business opportunities and international networks that support both youth entrepreneurship and the development of the area.
When?
The project will be implemented 01.01.2025–31.12.2026.
Results and impacts
The project results will be summarized towards the end of the project.
Contact information
Emmi Määttä
Project manager
emmi.maatta@pihtipudas.fi
tel. +358 40 186 1122