Project
Center of Expertise in Esports in Central Finland
Project sponsors
Abbreviation
Project type
Focus area
Implementation time
1.2.2023 - 30.4.2025
Project unit
Financing program
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2021-2027
UN Sustainable development goals
Project description
Central Finland has potential to be a locally, nationally and internationally known esports province. Key economic operators in the esports sector, research and educational institutions, excellence and existing facilities have so far been utilized to a rather limited extent and the activity has been left to individual experiments. The operating environment and structures of esports in Central Finland are also still very fragmented. The regional development of esports requires organized, coordinated and regular network activities, which provide versatile and comprehensive services to operators interested in esports throughout the province. This need is answered with the Central Finland's center of expertise in esports -project.
The main goal is to create a center of expertise that brings together key actors, which can be used to develop and increase esports-related know-how, business conditions and R&D together with research and educational institutions and the business in order to accelerate the growth of the esports industry. In the project an operating model and principles will be created for the center of expertise in esports. Main functions of the center of expertise in esports are networking and events and an open website, which gathers all the esports operators in Central Finland together with descriptions of their activities and services. Go to the site coesports.gg.
In addition, the center of expertise in esports;
- increases Central Finland's expertise and know-how in esports industry, as well as cooperation between the business and research and educational institutions, and RDI activities
- improves the business conditions related to esports and the cooperation with the business in order to accelerate the growth of the industry
- activates esports operators and those interested in it through networking, events, website and visibility, and above all
- secures the development of esports expertise and business in Central Finland, as well as the operating conditions of key operators in the field in the province.
The project is implemented by using three work packages:
WP1 Strengthening esports expertise in Central Finland
WP2 An attractiveness factor of the experimental environments of esports in Central Finland
WP3 Promoting cooperation between business and research related to esports in the Central Finland region and increasing knowledge.
In order to achieve the goals, the project includes systematic, cross-cutting and continuous communication, which promotes the effectiveness and visibility of the esports industry in Central Finland both during and after the project. The communicative goal and effectiveness are implemented, for example, by creating a website that will also remain in use after the project and by producing social media content about events and opportunities.
The long-term goal of the center of expertise in esports is that Central Finland will be the most competent and attractive esports innovation and experimentation environment in the future. Including, for example, the joint new bold experiments of the research and business field of esports, the continuous development of the skills of different actors, the proactive identification of new business, investment and financing opportunities, and the creation of completely new jobs and innovative products.
The project implements Central Finland's smart specialization strategy and the top priorities for growth, especially the goal of advanced digital skills and the province's strong sports and sports profile.
The project is implemented by the Jamk University of Applied Sciences (main implementer), the University of Jyväskylä, the Jyväskylä Educational Consortium Gradia and Finnish institute of high performance sport KIHU February 1, 2023-April 30, 2025 in cooperation with R&D operators linked to and focused on esports in Central Finland, as well as SMEs operating in the region.
More information:
Tuomas Rauhansalo
Project manager
tuomas.rauhansalo(at)jamk.fi
+358 50 597 5473
Funding Program: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Funding Authority: Regional Council of Central Finland
JAMK - Total funding: €239,492, of which ERDF funding is €191,593.
Project results
The project's key measures have been diverse and comprehensive. The measures have been included in three work packages.
Work package 1: STRENGTHENING ESPORTS EXPERTISE IN CENTRAL FINLAND
T1.1 Creation of a center of expertise in esports (responsible: Jamk)
The first measure was the creation of a center of expertise in esports, which mapped and recruited target companies and other stakeholders in the Central Finland region to participate in the project's activities. According to the project plan, the goal was to operate and activate target groups throughout the Central Finland region, and this was achieved with great success. The municipal areas listed in the plan underwent a few changes during the project due to activity and interest in cooperation. The project measures were carried out in the following municipalities/cities: Jyväskylä, Karstula, Laukaa, Saarijärvi, Viitasaari, Pihtipudas, Äänekoski, Joutsa and Jämsä. During the project's operational years, a total of 31 committed and active companies were recruited (to be specified in the spring semester 2025), with whom successful experiments, research openings and cooperation on e-sports and gaming phenomena were carried out. In addition, the research and educational institutions of the competence cluster, i.e. coordinators, met regularly to promote the network's activities and concrete activities for target groups.
T1.2 Athlete path and competence development linked to the esports industry (responsible: Gradia)
The second key measure of the project was the development of an athlete path and competence linked to the esports industry. The project developed a pilot platform suitable for cooperation between the business community, the www.coesports.gg website, through which orders from companies related to esports were received, and will continue to be received. The website is used to participate in and connect the expertise of research and educational institutions to the needs of companies, including events, service design, recruitment of new experts and research. The Coesports.gg website has also served as an effective communication channel for the experiments, business collaborations and new research and education openings carried out in the project, which serves to increase knowledge and understanding related to esports nationwide. The Jyväskylä Education Consortium Gradia modeled a degree module on working in esports, which will provide resources in the near future for creating new expertise in the region and promoting business collaborations with the educational institution. During the project, many collaboration openings were made related to research and the development of new products, events or services. This measure has significantly promoted cooperation between educational institutions and the business community in the Central Finland region.
Work Package 2: FACTORS DRIVEN BY THE CENTRAL FINLAND ESPORTS EXPERIMENTAL ENVIRONMENTS
2.1 Modeling the esports testing and expert concept (responsible: KIHU)
Here is a model of esports testing and expert concept: link.
T2.2 Piloting esports event environments (responsible: each project implementer)
The project actively participated in various regional and national events that promoted the visibility and networking of the project. During the project, a total of over 25 events were organized or participated in. Almost 300 visitors and business representatives participated in the self-organized events and events in the project. The project contributed to the creation of three new public event concepts in the region; CS2 Major view party at Kankaansauna, Rally of the Kankaan sauna and Esport Nexus Jyväskylä event. Also larger gaming and essports events, such as Elisa Masters Espoo and Assembly events, have been natural places to promote the visibility of the project and engage companies and other stakeholders in the project. The events marketed the Central Finland e-sports competence center and collected information about the possibilities and perceptions of a larger esports event in Central Finland, as well as networking with industry players.
Work package 3: DEVELOPING COOPERATION BETWEEN BUSINESS AND RESEARCH RELATED TO ESPORTS IN CENTRAL FINLAND AND INCREASING KNOWLEDGE
T3.1 Networking events of the Center of Expertise in Esports to develop cooperation between business and research (responsible: Jamk)
A practice of networking events was created for the Center of Expertise, and AfterWork concept were launched in 2024. The aim of the networking events was for the network to come together and get to know the companies operating in the area, as well as to increase understanding of services, events and the opportunities of esports. The events have promoted cooperation between business and research and educational institutions, RDI openings and sharing of expertise. A total of 6 networking events were organised during the project, and in addition to this, individual company visits and mapping visits aimed at cooperation were carried out. A final publication has been produced on the network activities and modeling of the knowledge cluster, which can be found here.
T3.2 Impact assessment of esports events (responsible: Jamk)
The project produced an impact assessment for the Assembly Winter '25 event, the results of which will be used to develop future events. The impact assessment also enables a suitability report to be made for the Jyväskylä and Central Finland region from the perspective of similar large gaming and esports events.
T3.3 Developing the business conditions of e-sports operators (responsible: JYU)
Upcoming
T3.4 Promoting RDI and service business related to e-sports (responsible: JYU)
Upcoming
As a whole, the implementation of the group project
The project's objectives have been achieved excellently. Regional esports expertise and knowledge of the industry have increased significantly, and cooperation between the business community and research and educational institutions has been strengthened. Business conditions have improved, and cooperation with the business community has promoted the growth of the e-sports industry. Esports related companies and those interested in the field have become active through networking events, events and a website. In addition, the development of new expertise and business, as well as the operating conditions of key players in the field, have been secured in the province, as the active collaboration created in the project will continue even after the funding has ended.
Updated 28.4.2025