In 2017, JAMK’s RDI activities increased by more than 30% compared to the previous year. External funding of RDI activities amounted to €6.6 million (€4.7 million in 2016), constituting a growth of approx. €1.9 million from the previous year. The overall volume increased significantly from the previous year to €9.4 million (€7.6 million in 2016). RDI activities increased in all units, but especially in the School of Technology unit, in which external funding amounted to almost €2.9 million.
As a new opening, JAMK received funding from the Horizon 2020 programme. Near the end of the year, JAMK began an external evaluation of its RDI activities, and the related four-person group made an evaluation visit in early November. The theme of the evaluation was improving the effectiveness of the RDI activities.
The RDI efforts focused on the strengths specified by JAMK’s strategy, including education and business expertise, bioeconomy, applied cyber security, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, and automation and robotics as an emerging field.
In order to strengthen the strategy work, expert groups led by the department managers were established for each of JAMK’s areas of strength. The activities of the strength areas were developed in a multidisciplinary manner. Similarly, the co-operation with key partners, the University of Jyväskylä and the municipal education consortium was diverse. JAMK experts were actively involved in the development of the Kangas, Nova (new hospital) and Hippos areas. Additionally, the EduFutura co-operation was established and strengthened.