On this page, you will find the networks of the Varsinais-Suomi Developer Forum, as well as other key regional, national, and international networks with which we are building the future of the region.
The Varsinais-Suomi Developer Forum brings together the region’s development networks and stakeholders from various sectors. It provides a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and ideas, as well as for co-development. The Developer Forum supports the implementation of the Varsinais-Suomi Strategy and promotes the creation of impactful solutions that benefit the entire region through openness, interaction, and collaboration.
The Open Data Network brings together experts in open data, geospatial information, data analytics, and data management in the Turku region and more broadly in southwestern Finland. The network’s objective is to exchange information on new developments in open data, gain new ideas for one’s own work, and learn from other stakeholders.
Contact persons: Antti Vasanen and Maiju Kähärä, Lounaistieto, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
The Foresight Academy is a joint network of the education, business, and public sectors in Varsinais-Suomi that identifies future competence needs and directs the development of education. The Academy brings together experts from various fields to produce knowledge that is utilized in regional development and decision-making.
Contact person: Esa Högblom, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
Contact person: Juha Tuominen, Secretary of the Southwest Finland ELVAR Committee, Southwest Finland Economic Development Centre
Contact persons: Tauno Linkoranta, Varsinais-Suomi Villages Association, and Henna Salminen, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
Contact person: Sonja Palhus, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
Contact person: Jaana Eskola, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
The Southwest Finland Forestry Council is a statutory collaboration network operating in Varsinais-Suomi and Satakunta that promotes forest-based industries and regional cooperation in the forestry sector. The network brings together regional-level stakeholders to develop the forestry sector and implement the regional forestry programme in practice.
Contact persons: Minna Rautalin, Finnish Forest Centre; Maija Perävainio, Westas Group Oy
The Pharmaceutical and Health Technology Group brings together the region’s RDI and educational organizations, as well as companies, to implement the smart specialization strategy, developing experimentation and testing platforms, data capabilities, and international visibility. The group’s objective is to accelerate the development of pharmaceutical and health technology in Varsinais-Suomi and jointly leverage EU-level opportunities.
Contact persons: Janne Lahtiranta, Business Turku; Salla-Maria Lauttamäki, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
The Varsinais-Suomi Tourism Forum is a tourism sector collaboration network that supports the regional strategy’s objective of synergy between an attractive environment and tourism, and promotes the implementation of the Varsinais-Suomi tourism industry roadmap. The Together for Sustainable Growth 2.0 tourism roadmap aims to ensure sustainable tourism growth throughout the region.
Contact person: Esa Högblom, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
Collaboration related to the maritime industry is conducted, among other things, in the Varsinais-Suomi Maritime Expert Group. The group promotes the development of strong maritime industries, the creation of new innovations and value chains, and the identification of collaboration opportunities.
Contact person: Petteri Partanen, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
The Business Section under the Regional Cooperation Group is a regional cooperation body that brings together public and private sector stakeholders to promote business development. The section coordinates development activities, prepares strategic guidelines for business policy, and supports the region’s competitiveness at national and EU levels.
Contact person: Petteri Partanen, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
The Climate Responsibility Section is an advisory and coordinating forum that supports the achievement of the region’s carbon neutrality goal. The section develops regional climate policy, promotes the green transition, and brings together various stakeholders for joint climate action.
Contact person: Riikka Leskinen, Valonia
Contact person: Esa Högblom, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
The Rural Section promotes the development of archipelago and rural areas by bringing together stakeholders to coordinate regional and EU co-financed development activities. The section prepares development plans, coordinates funding, and brings rural matters to the Regional Cooperation Group for consideration.
Contact person: Sami Heinonen, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
The Varsinais-Suomi Food Developers’ Forum brings together food sector companies and development stakeholders to strengthen the region’s innovative food chain. The network promotes collaboration as well as companies’ competitiveness and export readiness regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Contact persons: Ella Koivuniemi, University of Turku; Riikka Leskinen, Valonia; Salla-Maria Lauttamäki, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
The Turku Chamber of Commerce committees provide companies with a key channel to influence and network for the development of business life in Varsinais-Suomi. The Chamber operates 11 committees: business policy, industry, transport and logistics, trade and services, law and finance, tourism and experience, ICT, education and workforce, real estate and construction, well-being and health, and communication and marketing.
Contact person: Olli Hakala, Turku Chamber of Commerce
Contact persons: Heidi Saaristo-Levin, Kaisa Äijö, and Kristina Karppi, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
Contact person: Sara Tamsaari, Turku Museum Centre
Contact person: Salla Murmann, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
The Archipelago Committee promotes the development of the archipelago areas of Varsinais-Suomi and acts as an advocate for the archipelago. The committee ensures that the special characteristics of the archipelago are taken into account in decision-making and supports vitality, accessibility, and the sustainable use of natural and cultural environments.
Contact person: Sami Heinonen, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
Contact person: Timo Juvonen, Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi
The Varsinais-Suomi Water Body Restoration Network brings together the region’s volunteer actors, landowners, and experts, and shares information and materials. Through the network, associations, volunteer actors, and landowners interested in protecting their local water bodies can find each other and share their experiences and knowledge related to water protection. The network’s objective is to increase collaboration among stakeholders, encourage stakeholders to undertake water protection projects, and thereby promote the achievement of better water status in Varsinais-Suomi.
Contact person: Riikka Leskinen, Valonia
Contact person: Anneli Frantti, City of Turku
Contact person: Joni Kajander
The Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi operates actively in international networks, where the region’s expertise and development needs are brought into European and global collaboration. Through the networks, partnerships are built, funding is sought, and Varsinais-Suomi’s position is strengthened internationally.
The Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi is also a member of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), through which the region’s special characteristics are highlighted, EU policy is influenced, and partners are sought for joint projects. We participate in the organization’s Baltic Sea Commission and its working groups.
The Archipelago Cooperation brings together the archipelago areas of Varsinais-Suomi and Uusimaa, the archipelago municipalities of Åland, as well as the archipelago parts of Stockholm and Uppsala counties, and the archipelago parts of Södermanland and Östergötland. The objective of the cooperation is to strengthen the vitality, services, and accessibility of the archipelagos and ensure that the Baltic Sea archipelagos develop in a balanced and sustainable manner.
The Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi is a full member of the Scandria Alliance network, which operates on the Scandinavian–Mediterranean corridor of the European TEN-T transport network. Through the network, the Council can influence the development of sustainable accessibility and green logistics, as well as the region’s key transport connections as part of European transport networks.
The Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi conducts active national advocacy to ensure that the region’s strengths, needs, and perspectives are visible in state decision-making. The objective is to create conditions for sustainable growth, smooth everyday life, and the competitiveness of all of Finland from Varsinais-Suomi.
The Pro Varsinais-Suomi network, established to support national advocacy, brings together Varsinais-Suomi-positive stakeholders operating in the capital region from political decision-making, administration, business, research, and culture. The network’s objective is to strengthen the region’s visibility and increase understanding of the region’s needs in national decision-making.
The 17 Members of Parliament from Varsinais-Suomi form the constituency’s Members of Parliament cooperation group, which operates in close interaction with the Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi and other regional stakeholders. The group’s objective is to strengthen the region’s common advocacy goals and ensure that Varsinais-Suomi’s voice is heard in national decision-making.
The Southern Finland regions of Varsinais-Suomi, Uusimaa, Päijät-Häme, Kymenlaakso, and South Karelia conduct close advocacy and EU influence work together. The focus of the cooperation is particularly on EU influence. Southern Finland’s common objective is to direct state and EU regional development resources to where they generate added value for the benefit of the entire country. Uusimaa serves as the chair of the network.
Joint advocacy is strengthened by a council composed of Members of Parliament and regional politicians from the regions, whose task is to advance Southern Finland’s interests during the current parliamentary term. In the current Parliament, Southern Finland has 93 Members of Parliament.
Uusimaa, Varsinais-Suomi, Pirkanmaa, and Ostrobothnia collaborate to improve the conditions for growth. The objective is the ever-better success of growth regions, which supports the well-being of all of Finland. The five common government programme objectives for the 2023–2027 parliamentary term are education and immigration ensuring skilled labor, competitive RDI funding, green and smart transition, fast connections, and urban and EU policy supporting growth.
© 2026 Regional Council of Southwest Finland.
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