Epanet Network: Bridging University-Level Research and Education to Region Without University
About this good practice
Endowed five-year professorships are linked to region’s smart specialisation strategy and the fields critical to the development of South Ostrobothnia. The funding for these positions is coordinated by the South Ostrobothnia University Association.
EPANET focus areas are
- Sustainable food solutions
- Smart Technology
- Welfare and Creativity
- Entrepreneurship and growth.
The appointed professors build high-level research teams funded through competitive research grants. These teams implement RDI (research, development, and innovation) projects in collaboration with large companies and SMEs, municipalities, universities, and other partners, fostering regional development and innovation.
By bringing university-level research to the region, EPANET makes collaborative R&D+I projects more accessible for regional companies (large and SMES) as consortium members.
Main funding for coordination and professorships comes from the municipalities of the region. Also large companies and SMEs are actively involved in funding.
EPANET professors’ governance is divided in five Finnish universities. Together these universities and the South Ostrobothnia University Association form the Seinäjoki University Consortium. They are physically close to each other in the same premises on the Seinäjoki University Campus and foster the collaboration between organisations both in strategic and operational level.
Resources needed
Coordination employs three persons full-time.
The yearly budget of professorships and research groups is 5-6 million euros.
Evidence of success
EPANET has successfully fostered impactful research and product development activities in region, enhancing the competitiveness of local businesses. The local research and development community is expanded, and dynamic, continuously evolving collaboration is created. Epanet strengthens regional innovation ecosystems and supports sustainable growth.Research groups are active in utilising EU R+I Funding. For example following Horizon Europe have partners from EPANET: Envision, Conserwa, Avangard.
Potential for learning or transfer
The collaborative EPANET approach is in particular of interest for other European regions without own universities.