City of Kuopio – Welcome to Capital of Happiness, Heikki Helve, Development Director, City of Kuopio

1. KUOPIO
Heikki Helve
Development Director
8.9.2014

2. KUOPIO IS A CENTRE OF HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND SECURITY COMPETENCE, providing services that promote the well-being of local residents. Kuopio is known as the best environment for children to grow up. Welcome to the capital of happiness!

3. STRONG GROWTH CENTRE AND AN ACTIVE UNIVERSITY TOWN
lCentre of Eastern Finland
lApproximately 110,000 inhabitants in the city, and 170,000 in the commuting area
l8th largest city in Finland
lcity of trade and education
lcity of sports
lcity of culture
lcity of tourism
lcity of modern trade and industry
l2nd largest summer cottage municipality
lA university town focusing on well-being, health and security competence
lCity of dance and music

4. URBAN ENVIRONMENT OF STRONG GROWTH AND
BOLD DEVELOPMENT

5. PLEASANT AND DYNAMIC PEDESTRIAN CENTRE
lHas a nationally known market place and a market hall with a rejuvenated look
lThe renewed market place with its environs are transformed into part of an extensive pedestrian city centre
lSmooth access to underground parking facility under the market place – right in the middle of the city – 24 hours a day
lAnti-freezing system of pavements and streets makes running of errands in the city centre easier
lBusy tourist harbour and opportunities for versatile sports and cultural activities are located near the city centre

6. THE BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN TO GROW UP

7. LIVING CLOSE TO NATURE
lThe built structures of the City of Kuopio follow the contours of the terrain and the traffic routes. The city is expanding towards south, where a new suburb Saaristokaupunki (town of islands) is emerging.
lAbout one-half of the residents of Kuopio live in apartment houses, and almost every third in a detached house
lKuopio offers residential areas close to nature, with excellent public transport and opportunities for outdoor activities.
l85% of the residents of Kuopio live in an urban environment, and 15% in rural areas: due to municipal mergers, Kuopio has a lot of rural areas.

8. CENTRE FOR
HIGH-LEVEL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

9. KUOPIO SCIENCE PARK
Unique combination of expertise and know how in the fields of health, security, environment and well being, as well as ICT and sensor technology competence.
•Over 240 enterprises
•Around 20,000 people working or studying in the area
•University of Eastern Finland
•Savonia University of Applied Sciences
•Kuopio University Hospital
•Several national research institutes
•Technopolis Plc, Kuopio Innovation Ltd.
•Kuopio Science Park video http://youtu.be/_61mVrTObY8

11. IN THE MIDDLE OF ATTRACTIVE KUOPIO, a work, residential and educational centre for almost 40,000 people will emerge on the shores of the beautiful Lake Kallavesi by 2020. There, the collaboration between various fields of science, students and companies, and even quite unexpected encounters will generate new jobs and facilitate future innovations. The lively and international atmosphere can be felt everywhere in Kuopio, the best city of Finland for students. Come and experience the most beautiful campus in Finland!

12. PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Kuopio and Turku are Finland's representatives in the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Healthy Cities network.
The Healthy Kuopio programme is an extensive co-operation project with an aim to transform Kuopio and its neighbouring areas into one of the leading well-being centres of excellence in Europe.
Focus areas
lHealthy community: enhancing the services for families with children and promoting their well-being
lHealthy lifestyle: smokeless city, active lifestyle, and happiness
lHealthy urban environment; urban planning, climate strategy, and sustainable development

13. 2014 SUPER YEAR OF EVENTS

14. KUOPIO-TAHKO
TOURISM CENTRE

15. UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS IN THE KUOPIO REGION

16. THE MOST FASCINATING STORIES IN FINLAND ARISE FROM UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS IN THE KUOPIO REGION
Small and large, Orthodox and Lutheran, east and west, fun and full of top know-how, dynamic and comfortable, urban cityscapes and pristine nature all at once.
These surprising and unusual encounters are the salt of the Kuopio region and spark off the most interesting stories in Finland.

17. THE KUOPIO REGION IS:

18. WELCOME TO THE CAPITAL OF HAPPINESS!
www.kuopio.fi/web/english