Health & Wellbeing
Do you want to be part of developing solutions that promote wellbeing, health, and physical activity in Helsinki? We are looking for multidisciplinary companies to test and develop their innovations together with end users and the city in a real-life environment.
Wellbeing for all citizens
Wellbeing is widely considered in Helsinki. We want to offer all residents the necessities for a good life. The city promotes wellbeing and health in areas such as social wellbeing, health, quality of life and physical activity.
We aim to resolve health-related challenges with new technologies. Various innovations related to well-being have already increased at a tremendous rate. Digital solutions, such as virtual reality, robotics, and artificial intelligence, enhance social services and health care. They also provide solutions to support individual wellbeing.
Companies outside the traditional health technology sector also have enormous potential to promote citizens’ wellbeing both directly and indirectly— for example, through environmental technologies, digital services, spatial design, creative industries, restaurant and sports services, and sustainable mobility solutions.
What do the test platform activities offer to businesses?
Companies and innovation organizations from different fields can test and develop their solutions within Helsinki’s operations. These thematic areas include for example Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division, urban environments, or digital services. Through the testing platform, we offer the opportunity to explore the needs of our sectors in collaboration with our professionals and customers in everyday work. Upon completion of the test, the company is provided with a valuable reference that can be used for marketing the jointly developed solution.
Testbeds for health and wellbeing
Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division
For example, Kustaankartano and Myllypuro senior centers—which provide daytime and service center services—are involved in the testing and implementation of new products and technical solutions for the Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division. The activities focus on developing elderly work and gerontological treatment, as well as technology utilization.
Home care and remote home care services are also a significant development area. Helsinki Service Centre, which offers 24/7 remote care and nursing services as well as virtual rehabilitation to Helsinki residents, is involved in the development and testing activities.
The Kalasatama Health and Wellbeing Center is one of the central development and testing platforms for business cooperations focusing on health and substance abuse services. The Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division offers alternative development and testing environments, such as in family and social services.
We select our partners and sites on a case-by-case basis. Since providing wellbeing, health, and social security for Helsinki residents is the most important task of the Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division, the development and testing activities are based on demand. The implementation depends on the available human resources.
Additional development and testing possibilities for companies are offered by the health sector ecosystem Health Proof Helsinki, where we collaborate with Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and HUS.
Other Testbeds
The City of Helsinki also offers testing opportunities in other sectors. For example, education services, culture and leisure, and urban environment development can serve as platforms for solutions that enhance citizens’ wellbeing.
In these areas, testing can include:
- Solutions that encourage physical activity
- Innovations that improve access to cultural and sports services
- Sustainable urban living solutions that support comfort and safety
- Digital services that make everyday life smoother (e.g., smart spatial solutions, mobility services)
- Services that strengthen participation and community (e.g., digital platforms, participatory event concepts)
Testing activities are planned case by case together with city experts and end users to ensure they meet real needs and take place in authentic operating environments.
Urban Wellbeing Lab
The urban environment is becoming a new kind of wellbeing innovation platform as the Urban Wellbeing Lab project brings together companies, research, and data to promote citizens’ wellbeing and physical activity. The project is co-funded by the European Union.
KauKo – Urban Environment as Innovation Platform for Wellbeing
In the KauKo project, urban and built environments were developed to encourage physical activity and support health and wellbeing together with companies in the field. The project is co-funded by the European Union.
Photos: Maija Astikainen
