Health & Wellbeing

We promote the testing of health and wellbeing-related innovations by co-creating new solutions in real-life environments together with end-users, city staff, and companies. Health and wellbeing companies, do you want to join us and start developing wellbeing in Helsinki?

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.

What do the test platform activities offer to businesses?

The operations and facilities of City of Helsinki’s Social Services and Health Care Division and the Culture and Leisure Division can be used as testing environments for health and wellbeing tech companies and innovation organisations. With our testing and development platform, we want to offer developers of health and wellbeing solutions the opportunity to identify the needs of our industry by collaborating with our professionals and customers. 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

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 and Health Care 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 and Health Care 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 and Health Care 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.

Test platform activities promote innovations for physical activity

Physical activity is also at the core of health and wellbeing test platform activities. Helsinki’s own development environments offer real-life test platforms for companies working with technologies and services promoting physical activity.

Test platform activities are carried out in a close cooperation with specialists from the City’s Culture and Leisure Division.

To whom are the solutions developed for?

Solutions are developed primarily for end-users, i.e. all Helsinki residents. In addition, the staff of the Helsinki’s Social Services and Health Care Division are also a key target group.

News

New service by City of Helsinki, HUS and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences expediting health sector companies’ entry into market

Health Proof Helsinki is a health sector ecosystem built by the City of Helsinki, HUS Helsinki University Hospital and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, the purpose of which is to streamline companies’ research and testing path. The grand opening of Health Proof Helsinki was held on 5 October 2022 at the Myllypuro campus of Metropolia.

Borrowable activity monitoring – Fibion is bringing its tracking devices to libraries

Together with library services and the activity measurement development company Fibion, the Economic Development Division of the City of Helsinki has launched an experiment that involves testing the borrowing of activity trackers at two libraries in Helsinki. The tracking devices are available for borrowing until the end of October.

Major event in health tech, HIMSS22 Europe, brings health innovations and pioneers to Helsinki in June

The major event in healthcare and health technology, HIMSS European Health Conference & Exhibition, takes place in June at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. The industry-leading European congress will showcase the world’s best digital health innovations and bring together companies, experts and decision-makers developing them, along with state-of-the-art programme and an extensive exhibition.

Innovation challenge for increasing the physical activity of young people – submit your proposal now!

The City of Helsinki has launched an innovation challenge aimed at companies to promote the physical activity of young people. Through the challenge, the City is looking for innovative ways to increase the physical activity of upper secondary students and comprehensively promote well-being.

Welfare technology helps address the challenges of sedentary behaviour in Helsinki

The costs of sedentary behaviour are socially significant: we are sitting more and moving less than ever before. On the other hand, Finland has long been considered to be a pioneer in welfare technology.

Seniors exercised actively in company challenges of Helsinki Physical Activity Programme

The City of Helsinki set an increase in physical activity as one of the main goals of its City Strategy for 2017–2021. Companies were also approached to seek solutions for fighting a sedentary lifestyle. In early 2021, we started a pilot project for companies to increase the activity of seniors living at home in Helsinki. The digital pilots were implemented with two companies, Rehaboo and Fustra. Based on the feedback from seniors, these pilots were seen as useful and increasing activity. Based on the pilots, the companies received several ideas for the development of their products, which will help them serve the senior target group even better in the future.

Want to hear more?

  • Sanna Hartman

  • Senior Advisor
    Health and Wellbeing Services, Health Capital Helsinki Cooperation
    City of Helsinki
    Business Helsinki, Innovation services
  • Roope Töllikkö

  • Project Manager
    Urban Environment as Innovation Platform for Wellbeing (KauKo)
    City of Helsinki
    Business Helsinki, Innovation services
  • Tiina Inki

  • On parental leave
    Project Specialist
    Urban Environment as Innovation Platform for Wellbeing (KauKo)
    City of Helsinki
    Business Helsinki, Innovation services
Emilia Saarelainen
  • Emilia Saarelainen

  • Project Specialist
    Urban Environment as Innovation Platform for Wellbeing (KauKo)
    City of Helsinki
    Business Helsinki, Innovation services