Ville Petman and his SaiPa teammates have taken the Finals to game sixČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Niklas PehkonenThe 2025 Liiga Playoff Finals are not over yet, after SaiPa went to Kuopio and came from behind to win 4-2 in game five, reducing KalPa's lead in the series to 3-2.Since SaiPa won the opening match of the series, KalPa had been dominant 8-1 and 2-0 victories to put them one win away from the Kanada-malja That dominance looked to be continuing back at Olvi Areena within six minutes, when Aleksi Klemetti played the puck from the left wing to in front of the net where Patrick Curry found the net But the home side's hopes of strolling to the title in front of their home fans were dashed four minutes later, when SaiPa won a faceoff in KalPa territory and worked the puck back to Saku Salminen His long-range effort looked to have been dealt with by Stefanos Lekkas but the puck squeezed past him and into the net That was SaiPa's first goal since Salminen's effort in period two of game three The visitors didn't have to wait as long for their next strike, which arrived with 15 minutes played in the second period - Miska Siikonen drove through the heart of the KalPa defence, drew the goaltender and tapped the puck back to Roni Karvinen Just 28 seconds of play later, it was 3-1. Mikko Petman picked the puck up at centre ice burst into the attacking zone and powered the puck past Lekkas and in off the post But KalPa weren't done and were back in the match early in the third period when a speculative effort from Andreas Okany from wide out on the left decieved Kari Piiroinen and found the net However, hopes of a comeback were snuffed out midway through the third - Samuli Niinisaari's initial shot was saved by Lekkas, but the rebound fell kindly to Janne Naukkarinen, who made it 4-2 KalPa will have their second chance to wrap up the title tonight in game six Follow the 2025 Liiga Playoff Finals on Flashscore. YIT is starting the construction of a self-developed apartment building project called Asunto Oy Kuopio Maaherra in the center of Kuopio The five-storey residential building will house 51 homes The value of the project is approximately EUR 15 million The construction works were started in April and the project is due to be finished by the end of 2025 which will be built on its own plot in the best location in the city center will house residential spaces of about 2,700 square meters and business premises with a total area of about 160 square meters Kuopion Maaherra's apartments will range from 26 to 116 square meters in size and residents may choose their new home from a variety of floor plans ranging from studios to four-room apartments Residents will have access to an atmospheric sauna with a terrace for cooling down a club room for activities such as remote work The house will be built in line with the A energy class requirements and solar panels will be mounted on the roof to generate some of the energy required by the property Apartment-specific monitoring of cold and hot water consumption helps save water A carbon footprint calculation has been made for the project helping in the choice of materials that burden the environment less during the construction phase only renewable electricity will be used on the construction site and at least 75% of the waste generated on the site will be sorted for recycling Some of the parking spaces are ready for an electric car charging point which has also been recorded in its articles of association “It is great that we are able to launch a new YIT self-developed project in Kuopio Kuopion Maaherra will be located right in the heart of Kuopio and health services will be right on the doorstep There is no better location than this in Kuopio,” says YIT's Regional Director Marjaana Nissilä-Ryytty YIT has completed the Asunto Oy Kuopion Hovineito and Asunto Oy Kuopion Ruuturouva projects in the same central area We build and develop sustainable living environments: functional and attractive homes future-proof public and commercial buildings infrastructure to support the green transition as well as industrial and energy facilities to support our customers' processes YIT's vision is to be the expert partner in developing sustainable homes There are approximately 4,100 professionals in our team and our revenue in 2024 was EUR 1.8 billion YIT Corporation's shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki though they were originally founded in 1929 as Sortavalan Palloseura in Sortavala The team plays their home games at Olvi Areena a modern arena with a capacity of about 5,300 The venue is known for its lively atmosphere and strong local support helping KalPa maintain a solid home-ice advantage KalPa have deep roots in the Kuopio community and are partly owned by former NHL stars Sami Kapanen who have all contributed to the club’s growth and success KalPa’s major achievements include silver medals in the 1990/91 and 2016/17 Liiga seasons and an international highlight: winning the Spengler Cup in 2018 The team have also reached the Liiga finals Their major achievement came in 2025 when they won their first-ever Liiga title and were crowned champions of Finland The club have developed several top-level players who went on to have careers in the NHL These alumni underscore KalPa’s reputation for producing elite talent and fostering player development KalPa continues to be a key presence in Finnish hockey blending tradition with modern competitiveness The club have played in four past Champions Hockey League seasons Mondi's Kuopio mill in Finland will resume semi-chemical fluting production before Christmas Production was halted on 4 November when an explosion in the pulp tower also damaged the roof of the production hall, according to the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency Tukes which is currently investigating the incident "Repairs are underway and we aim to resume production before Christmas we will supply our customers with our other semi-chemical flutings ProVantage Frescoflute and ProVantage Aquaflute We are focused on ensuring the safe and efficient resumption of normal operations at the mill,” said Juha Koukka In June 2024, Mondi completed the investment project at the Kuopio plant which resulted in an increase in capacity of over 55,000 tpy to approximately 340,000 tpy of semi-chemical fluting The project involved modernising the woodyard the evaporation plant and the paper machine The paper machine produces the ProVantage Powerflute predominantly used in fresh fruit and vegetable trays and boxes Service Customer Service+49 7224 9397-701servicenoSpam@GO-AWAYeuwid.de Editorial Team+49 7224 9397-0papernoSpam@GO-AWAYeuwid.com Get the latest news about developments and trends in the industry sent to you once a week free of charge by newsletter Sign up for our newsletter We use cookies and external services on our website others enhance your user experience or help us 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You can find more information on the individual external services in our privacy policy Airport company Finavia has completed its extensive runway and taxiway renovation at Kuopio Airport The renovation, which cost almost €20m, will enable the continuation of smooth and safe air traffic at Kuopio Airport Finavia has extensively renovated the airport area for three summers in a row the taxiways were widened and resurfaced and the airport lighting system was modernised “Over the past three years, Finavia has made significant investments in the development of Kuopio Airport's air traffic areas the project was completed within the original budget and schedule,” said Mari Nurminen Finavia's vice president responsible for Central and Eastern Finland airports The summer 2024 renovation project at Kuopio Airport employed about 80 people in the local area and several local companies were involved in its implementation electrical and earthworks experts were involved in the planning of the project planning work was carried out in close cooperation with the companies and authorities operating at Kuopio Airport which is why the approach lighting line used by aircraft is built in water both the approach lighting line and the associated support structures were replaced The condition of the body of water was monitored throughout the project by flying drones it has been possible to monitor that the currents do not move the soil in the renovation area in the lake away from the areas limited by filter nets The lighting system and electric power system of the entire airport area were also replaced as part of the renovation The light fixtures of the runway and taxiways were replaced with energy-efficient LED technology which contributes to Finavia’s sustainability goals During the entire three-year renovation project up to 12.5km of new routes were dug for the cables of the lighting systems to implement the modern solutions throughout the airport area.In this latest phase of the renovation the stormwater sewer network at Kuopio Airport was also renovated to improve the efficiency of stormwater management in the airport area and reduce the environmental impacts of airport operations “We understand that as the owner of the airport, Finavia plays an important role in providing energy-efficient solutions for companies operating at the airport our goal is to build infrastructure that enables those operating at the airport to develop sustainable operations,” said Nurminen flights to Kuopio Airport were paused from June 24 to August 6 The airport opened to aviators on August 6 and scheduled flights resumed according to the normal schedule on August 7 Further work will now be carried out in the airport area as part of the third phase of the project Are you an airport industry decision maker Register today for your complimentary subscription to Airports International magazine plus digital access to all previous issues 1 Takumi Matsushita/Pekka Kelander (Renault Clio Rally3) 2 Henri Altomaa/Jussi Kärpijoki (Renault Clio Rally3) 3 Pekka Keski-Korsu/Hannu Lamminen (Renault Clio Rally3) 4 Eamonn Kelly/Conor Mohan (Ford Fiesta Rally3) 5 Ossi Pohjanharju/Jani Laitinen (Renault Clio Rally3) 6 Kristian Nieminen/Valtteri Nieminen (Ford Fiesta Rally3) Retired Shotaro Goto/Jussi Lindberg (Renault Clio Rally3) Mikko Hirvonen (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program chief instructor)“This was a fantastic result for Takumi in his first event in Rally3 and his first winter rally on snow and ice Last year we saw that he and Shotaro have been handling things well and adapting quickly so we felt they were ready to take this next step They have been doing well testing the Rally3 car and we believed that they could be fast with it We’ve had less snow this winter in Finland so there were not really any snowbanks meaning the stages were more open and high speed You really had to be committed to be quick but it looks like it suited Takumi well and he found good confidence early on He surprised us also with how consistent he was and how he was able to challenge the top drivers Shotaro’s car had a problem from the beginning relating to the electronics so he wasn’t able to do any of the stages at full speed and eventually retired We just need to resolve the issue so that he can try again at the Arctic Rally in a couple of weeks.” Shotaro Goto“Unfortunately we had a technical problem from the first stage of the rally and it got worse and worse with every stage The team tried to fix it during the mid-day service so the decision was made to retire after SS5 It’s frustrating for my first rally in the Rally3 car It’s the first time I’ve been driving a four-wheel drive car and it has felt more like a proper rally car: it’s really stable with better suspension and the cornering is much faster I’m trying to adapt and it’s feeling better every time I’m in the car so I really hope we can have a good rally with no problems at the Arctic Rally.” Takumi Matsushita“I’m so happy to have taken this win When I reached the end of the last stage and the interviewer told me I had the victory I was very surprised because I was expecting second or third I was feeling pretty good with the car and I could trust the pacenotes so I was able to stay consistent and focus on my own pace all the time The conditions were difficult with gravel coming through and soft snow and it was different in every corner but I could manage that well I was expecting the addition of the rear differential to be the main difference to Rally4 but it feels totally different with a lot more traction it’s easy and fun to drive and I’m feeling more comfortable with it I’m looking forward to Arctic Rally now: I want to keep pushing but also stay calm and keep gaining experience.” TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program is supported by following partners TOYOTA GAZOO Racing reinforces WRC line-up with youth and experience for 2025 A breakthrough rally for Challenge Program’s Takumi Matsushita Challenge Program trio ace Italian tarmac test Matsushita and Goto deliver pace and progress in Lahti Kuopion Energia will start an environmental impact assessment for potential plant locations Suitable locations for the plant will be refined during the environmental impact assessment process suitable places in cities include existing industrial sites "The investment decision will be made by Kuopion Energia which will also seek necessary zoning changes in due course," Steady Energy said "Zoning decisions are the responsibility of the City of Kuopio The estimated construction time is 3.5 years." Steady Energy's LDR-50 district heating SMR - with a thermal output of 50 MW - has been under development at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland since 2020 Designed to operate at around 150°C and below 10 bar (145 psi) the company says its "operating conditions are less demanding compared with those of traditional reactors simplifying the technical solutions needed to meet the high safety standards of the nuclear industry" It noted that its reactors are affordable enough for municipal utilities to invest in independently "LDR-50 is a small and simple nuclear reactor which would help Kuopio to achieve its climate goals and provide affordable energy for heating the city," Steady Energy said "The newly signed agreement initiates practical work towards an investment decision for the plant." Steady Energy said it is set to start construction of its first LDR-50 district heating reactor pilot plant in Finland next year the proposed locations for the pilot plant include: Salmisaari caves in central Helsinki; Huuhanmäki caves in Kuopio the regional capital of North Savo in eastern Finland; and the power plant sites at Kymijärvi and Teivaanmäki in Lahti the company signed a letter of intent with municipal energy company Kuopion Energia in Eastern Finland that includes an option for the construction of up to five district heating reactors starting in 2030 That agreement followed a letter of intent signed in October between Steady Energy and Helsinki's energy company Helen for the construction of up to 10 SMRs for district heating Company aiming to start construction of LDR-50 district heating pilot plant Finnish nuclear startup Steady Energy has signed a one-year pre-planning agreement with power utility Kuopion Energia aimed at constructing a small modular nuclear power plant to start producing district heat in the city of Kuopio in south-central Finland in the early 2030s Kuopion Energia will begin an environmental impact assessment for potential plant locations Steady Energy said suitable locations for the plant will be refined during the environmental impact assessment process It said suitable places might include existing industrial sites “The investment decision will be made by Kuopion Energia which will also seek necessary zoning changes in due course,” Steady Energy said in a statement “Zoning decisions are the responsibility of the City of Kuopio The estimated construction time is 3.5 years.” Steady Energy said in June that it plans to start construction of its first LDR-50 district heating SMR pilot plant in Finland next year The company said potential sites include the Finnish capital Helsinki and two other cities It did not name a final site for the plant but did say Kuopio was one possible option It said construction of the first operational plant is projected to begin by 2028 with the first unit expected to be operational by 2030 The pilot plant – the first of its kind in Finland and one of only a few close to deployment globally – will serve as a full-scale operational model of the Finnish-designed SMR unit the pilot unit will use an electric element to produce heat inside the reactor capsule instead of nuclear fuel Steady Energy said the main purpose is to test operational features and to establish the supply chains needed to build actual plants comparable in size to an upright shipping container can be built entirely underground or on an existing industrial site The company has already signed letters of intent for the delivery of up to 15 reactors for district heating with Helsinki’s local utility Helen and Kuopio Energy Finland is largely heated by district heating District heating systems take energy released as heat from a range of energy sources – in this case an SMR – and connect it to energy consumers through a system of highly insulated pipes One advantage of SMRs would be their low emissions Metrics details The Original Article was published on 07 February 2022 Correction to: Gene Therapy https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-022-00322-9 Figure 2 has now been corrected with image from d29 (d2) These authors contributed equally: Jaakko Lampela A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-024-00481-x Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Former Troy University All-American linebacker Carlton Martial is playing professional football in Finland for the Kuopio Steelers The Kuopio Steelers are a professional football team located in Kuopio Finland that has been in existence since 1991 The Steelers play in the Finnish Maple League the highest level of American football in Finland The Steelers have won Maple League Championships in three of the last four seasons Martial ended his Troy career with a staggering 577 total tackles, 50.5 tackles-for-loss, six interceptions, eight forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one touchdown. In four games with the Steelers so far this season, Martial has tallied 29 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, one interception and one fumble recovery. In Kuopio’s last game, Martial was named the Steeler Player of the Game after recording a season-high 12 tackles with his first career interception and fumble recovery. There are four games featuring a SWAC team on the Monday college basketball schedule, including the Jackson State… The Florida A&M Rattlers (8-11, 5-3 SWAC) will attempt to build on a three-game home winning streak when… The Nashville Predators’ Roman Josi and the Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk will be two of the most exciting… The Nashville Predators, including Brady Skjei, play the Ottawa Senators on Monday, February 3, 2025 at 7:30 PM… The Nashville Predators, including Steven Stamkos, will be in action Monday versus the Ottawa Senators at Bridgestone Arena,… You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email a startup company spun out from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and municipal energy company Kuopion Energia have signed a one-year pre-planning agreement to develop nuclear heating based on small modular reactors (SMRs) in Kuopio in Eastern Finland the two parties signed a letter of intent (LOI) that included an option for the construction of up to five district heating small modular reactors (SMRs) starting in 2030 based on Steady Energy’s LDR-50 SMR Kuopion Energia is now taking the next steps towards a final investment decision The ultimate goal is to begin constructing the plant to provide district heating for Kuopio in the early 2030s The investment decision will be made by Kuopion Energia which will also seek necessary zoning changes in due course Zoning decisions are the responsibility of the City of Kuopio The estimated construction time is 3.5 years The LDR-50 has been in development at VTT since 2020 The 50 MW reactor is designed to operate at around 150 degrees Celsius and below 10 bar (145 psi) Steady Energy says its operating conditions are less demanding than those of traditional reactors simplifying the technical solutions needed to meet the high safety standards of the nuclear industry where VTT researchers and technology are brought together with business leaders and investors to renew industries VTT LaunchPad supports incubator teams to develop VTT-owned intellectual property rights into fundable spin-off companies The LDR-50 reactor module comprises two nested pressure vessels with their intermediate space partially filled with water When heat removal through the primary heat exchangers is compromised water in the intermediate space begins to boil forming an efficient passive heat transfer route into the reactor pool The system does not rely on electricity or any mechanical moving parts which could fail and prevent the cooling function The innovation was awarded a patent in 2021 the passive heat removal solution incorporated into the LDR-50 reactor plays a major role in its safety Passive systems make it possible to meet extremely high safety requirements with simplified technology Steady Energy said it planned to start construction of its SMR pilot plant in Finland next year Potential sites include the Finnish capital Helsinki and two other cities CEO Tommi Nyman said construction of the first operational plant is projected to begin by 2028 The pilot investment is estimated to be around €15–20m ($16–22m) Final evaluations of potential sites are underway with a decision expected by the end of summer the proposed locations for the pilot plant include Salmisaari caves in Helsinki’s inner city and the power plant sites at Kymijärvi and Teivaanmäki in Lahti in Southern Finland ‍Steady Energy previously said it had signed letters of intent for the delivery of up to 15 reactors with Helsinki’s local utility Helen and Kuopio Energy Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the Progressive Media network © Business Trade Media International Limited FinVector and Ferring Pharmaceuticals have opened a new gene therapy production facility The facility specialises in the production of gene therapy viral-based drugs for the treatment of bladder cancer state-of-the-art production facility that can produce large quantities of the drug efficiently and safely The completion of Finport and the operation of FinVector have had a significant economic impact on the Kuopio region in recent years Cooperation with local authorities and financial partners has been close FinVector is one of the largest private sector employers in the Kuopio region The company strengthens Kuopio’s knowledge and research centre in the field of health technology “We have come a long way together to reach this point City of Kuopio is privileged to provide a home for this world-class pharmaceutical factory and its international staff,” says Soile Lahti In recognition of the importance of the event on 3 October City of Kuopio awarded the Kuopio Medal to Frederic Paulsen (Chairman Emeritus of the Ferring Group) and the City of Kuopio Gold Medal to Jean-Frederic Paulsen (Executive Chairman of Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Ferring Ventures) These are the most important honours awarded by the City of Kuopio in recognition of outstanding service to Kuopio Production at Mondi's Kuopio containerboard mill has been standing still since an incident in the pulp tower in early November Mondi has resumed production at the group's semi-chemical fluting mill in Kuopio the repair work has been successfully completed and operations are ramping up Mondi Kuopio runs one paper machine with an installed capacity of 340,000 tpy of semi-chemical fluting. Production was interrupted on 4 November when an explosion in the pulp tower also damaged the roof of the production hall housing the mill's paper machine There’s plenty to do for school children and families of all ages every day and in between outdoor activities you can pop indoors for a variety of things to do There are plenty of free activities on offer Kuntolaakso and Lippumäki swimming pools will kick off the holiday week with the Kauko swimming on Monday 3 March Kuntolaakso and Lippumäki swimming pools will be free of charge for swimmers under the age of 18 from Monday to Friday 3-7 March there will be jumping from the diving tower and Wibit water track in the pool for extra fun There will also be a Wibit competition on Friday persons under 18 can exercise free of charge from Monday to Friday 3-7 March between 8am and 4pm unless there are other reservations (the gymnastics area is subject to a fee) The Kuopio Hall gym is open to visitors aged 15 and over the program of Super Holidays includes bowling winter events in Kuopio and Juankoski and various activities at Puijo The exhibitions at the Kuopio Museum and Kuopio Art Museum have enough to see and explore for a whole day At the Kuopio Museum you can go to the Disco on 90-s on Saturday 8.3 The main library is celebrating Harry Potter week Orthodox Church Museum RIISA and VB Photographic Centre for under 18s The varied program also includes workshops Youth centres offer free activities for schoolchildren of all ages and at Jynäri there are sweet buns and a movie day Check out the full programme for the holiday week on the Kuopio Wall:https://kuopionseina.fi/hyperhiihtoloma/ will turn 250 years old on 17.11.2025.We will celebrate the anniversary for a whole year starting in November 2024.We invite Kuopio residents various participants and companies to build experience and celebrate this anniversary together The Jubilee will be visible in the city’s streets neighbourhoods and rural areas through a diverse range of events the program will consist of events produced by residents and various operators The programs will be mainly free of charge There are also events with admission charges You can take part in the anniversary program already from the beginning of November for example at the Market of Opportunities in Matkus on 9 November.The official opening of the Kuopio 250 anniversary year will take place on Saturday 16 November 2024 at 15:00 in the Market Square in combination with the opening of the Christmas season The program will include a greeting from the Mayor The event is free of charge and suitable for all ages The opening ceremony will be followed by the main event of the opening week – the Välke light event.The event will feature a series of lightworks in the city centre and rural areas of Kuopio Citizens will be able to admire the light art and enjoy the accompanying program all weekend on 16-17 November at 16-21.The light works will be on display in Snellmaninpuisto Park The event is free of charge and open to everyone The opening week also includes an official opening concert at the Kuopio Music Centre on Thursday 21.11 the Family Church Service in Kuopio Cathedral on Sunday 17.11 and the Day of Children’s Rights at Kuopio Museum on 16.11 Other events include the Responsible Wellbeing Day at Kuopio City Theatre and performance of the Dance Theatre Minimi in Kuvakukko – 33⅓ years of professional dance from North Savo All programs and event information for the anniversary year can be found in the Kuopion Seinä – event calendar under the Kuopio250 anniversary category The program will be completed during the year The call for applications for the anniversary programme started in January 2024 and so far more than 140 proposals have been received from citizens The call for programme and production support for the jubilee is still open “It has been a pleasure to see the enthusiasm with which the citizens of the city have come up with ideas and proposals for the programming of the anniversary year Children and young people in particular will have plenty to experience with events open to all and free of charge and you can also invite a neighbour to join you Come and join us for a unique experience that will live on in the history of our city and for generations to come we will make this a year of celebration for our city!” A warm welcome to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere under the twinkling lights of Finland’s most beautiful Christmas market Once again there will be a Christmas programme Kuopio Christmas Market is open from 13 to 23 December 2024 For more information and the program, visit the Christmas Market’s website. Employment services will be transferred from the TE Offices to the municipalities when the TE Offices are abolished from 1 January 2025 staff and services will be transferred to the municipalities We are forming the Kuopio employment area together with 10 other municipalities and in this employment area you can get employment services from TyöNavigaattori Our employment area includes the municipality of Kuopio The reform does not require any action from jobseekers The customer will automatically be transferred to the employment area Your rights and obligations as a jobseeker-customer will also remain unchanged You are advised to continue your job search as planned and to report any changes in the Job Finder’s Customer section as before We will be in contact with jobseekers as necessary the municipality will also transfer staff from the TE Office This means that your own specialist may change with the reform Some of the specialists will also change their phone number and e-mail address at the turn of the year so please contact them by phone on 044 718 1807 Website www.tyonavigaattori.fi opens 2.1.2025 www.tyomarkkinatori.fi/en has increased its attractiveness the most among the ten largest cities in Finland Tampere is still the most attractive city in Finland while the capital region has a better reputation for its residents The annual Reputation & Trust survey T-Media surveyed the views of residents of Finland’s ten largest cities on the cities’ attractiveness and the views of potential residents on the cities’ attractiveness Tampere was the most attractive city in the survey and managed to raise its reputation from the previous year “It is difficult to compete with Tampere in terms of vitality and overall performance Kuopio scores better than Tampere in terms of safety and cost of living,” says Andrei Sergejeff A survey carried out by T-Media shows that the choice of where to live is influenced even more by the comfort and especially the safety of the area than by municipal services The community character of the area also appeared to be a very important factor in the choice “Kuopio was the only city where current residents gave excellent ratings for safety and comfort No other city scored excellent in this important area,” says Sergejeff The survey investigated the attractiveness and retaining power of Finland’s ten largest cities in terms of population A total of 2 166 respondents participated in the survey of city residents and 2 067 respondents in the survey of potential residents The target group of the survey was Finns aged 15-65 a city’s attractiveness score is the average of six different areas: economic vitality Mondi has completed a €125m investment project at its Kuopio containerboard mill As a result production capacity will go up by 55,000 tpy while efficiency and environmental performance will be improved The new capacity of the machine will be 340,000 tpy of semichemical fluting Mondi held an official inauguration ceremony on 19 June commented: “Mondi's purpose is to be sustainable by design and investments like this support our MAP2030 sustainability commitments around circular-driven packaging and paper solutions The local community will benefit from a modernised mill including improvements in safety and environmental performance.” Kuopio will turn 250 years old on 17 November 2025.The celebrations started in November 2024 and the buzz will grow throughout 2025 towards the big anniversary There will be a varied programme of events Special co-productions of the City of Kuopio’s centenary year will include a festive concert open to all Kuopio residents a light event and birthday events in November 2025 the anniversary will be visible in the city’s streets with a varied programme of events open to all 180 programme proposals have been received Special co-productions of the City of Kuopio will be the Made in Kuopio250 concert on 23 August as well as a lighting event and birthday events in November 2025.The Made in Kuopio250 concert will support local awareness and present Kuopio and modern Savoism in a positive way The concert will also employ local businesses and Kuopio-based artists New events are also planned for children and young people an age-neutral rap event will take place at the Savilahti Sports and Events Centre Luola on the day of the end of school A drawing competition for Kuopio’s children and young people will be organised at the beginning of the year seeking the target group’s views on how they would like Kuopio to look in the future National communications and campaigns will be used to raise Kuopio’s profile and present Kuopio as a vibrant and developing event city the Kuopio250 theme will also be taken to the Travel Fair at the Helsinki Exhibition Centre with ten Kuopio companies and local event organisers One of the objectives of the anniversary year is to develop Kuopio as an event city and thus increase Kuopio’s attractiveness more permanent ways of working in Kuopio’s event scene – to leave a mark on Kuopio’s history New events are announced on the events calendar all the time. The full program for the anniversary year will be published at: kuopio250.fi Kuopio’s first bicycle garage will open in Lukkaripuisto Park at the corner of Käsityökatu and Kirjastokatu streets The garage is a supervised bicycle parking area with spaces for 90 bikes The garage has a charging locker with 8 charging points for electric bicycle batteries You can try out the garage free of charge until 31 August 2025 It is proposed to the city planning committee that the charge should be eight euros per month The committee will discuss the matter at its meeting on 12 February 2025 The user of the bicycle garage will have to use the Moovy application to access the garage he will receive a personal PIN code which will allow him to enter the garage The Moovy redemption also applies to the free trial period during spring and summer The construction of the Kuopio Lukkarinpuisto bike garage is part of a larger project to develop cycle parking in Kuopio city centre and has received investment support for walking and cycling from Traficom The project also includes cycle parking facilities for Vuorikatu and Haapaniemenkatu streets and three portable cycle parking stands A total of 156 new cycle parking spaces were created in Kuopio About us | Advertise with us | Contact us Finavia will carry out the final phase of the exceptionally extensive runway and taxiway renovation at Kuopio Airport in the summer of 2024 Finavia will carry out the final phase of the exceptionally extensive runway and taxiway renovation at Kuopio Airport in the summer of 2024 the value of the three-year investment will rise to nearly EUR 20 million of which the share of the work done in 2024 is about EUR 13 million flights to and from Kuopio will be suspended from 24 June to0 6 August 2024 “Finavia’s investment in the renovation and development of the runway and taxiways of Kuopio Airport is very significant in terms of its size We are very pleased that this year we will be able to carry out the final phase of the large-scale project which will ensure smooth flight operations well into the future,” says Mari Nurminen Finavia has invested in the long-term development of its airports in Eastern Finland Finavia carried out a EUR 3 million renovation at Savonlinna Airport the runway and taxiway surfaces were replaced as well as part of the apron that serves as a parking area for aircraft Finavia invested EUR 1 million in improving the runway and taxiway of Joensuu Airport the runway safety areas at the ends of the runway were renovated and technical preventive maintenance was carried out in the air traffic area The preparatory work for the renovation will begin in mid-May and will last six weeks The preparatory work will not impact the current air traffic Flights to and from Kuopio Airport will be suspended during the second phase of the renovation from 24 June to 06 August 2024 The renovation has been timed in such a way that the impact on air travel will be as small as possible the nearest airports serving passengers will be the Joensuu from which there is an onward connection to Helsinki Airport the third phase of the renovation will be carried out in the airport area Kuopio Airport´s terminal building and apron the replacement of the runway and taxiway edge lights and electric power systems used by aircraft will also be completed the line of approach lights located in Juurusvesi will be completely replaced the B and C taxiways will be widened and all taxiways will be resurfaced The renovation of the storm water sewer system which is important for minimising environmental impact The replacement of the entire lighting system and electric power system will be carried out in line with Finavia’s climate targets and energy efficiency The runway and taxiway lights will be replaced with energy-efficient LED technology up to 12.5 kilometres of new routes will be dug for the cables of new efficient lighting systems in order to implement the new solutions throughout the airport area we want to enable environmentally friendly energy solutions for those operating at the airport and greatly reduce the environmental impact of Finavia’s own operations,” Nurminen says A special feature of Kuopio Airport is the line of approach lights built into a lake which will be replaced during the renovation In the design of the line of approach lights in the lake special attention has been paid to minimising the environmental impact during the construction The summer 2024 renovation project will employ 80 people in the Kuopio area and several local companies are involved in its implementation electrical and earthworks experts are involved in the design of the project planning work has been carried out in close cooperation with the companies and authorities operating at Kuopio Airport “It is important for us to be able to provide airlines with an airport environment where their operations can be smooth and efficient The development of the airport’s infrastructure will 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Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy Website design and development by e-Motive Media Limited Videh Kumar Jaipuriar has been nominated for his exemplary leadership in managing and navigating Delhi International Airport (DEL) during the COVID-19 pandemic He led multiple initiatives to ensure business continuity at DEL which included passenger safety and convenience and care for environment and employee safety He proactively engaged with the government stakeholders and supported them in safeguarding aviation through strong confidence building measures for travellers such as developing several indigenous technology solutions like air circulation with six changes per hour and a combination of UV and plasma disinfection systems to provide safest journey experience to their passengers DEL has been forefront of implementing safety measures which was later adopted across the country Jaipuriar ensured that DEL was operational for rescue missions and transporting medical essentials to various parts of the country He further led the Vande Bharat Mission flights of Government of India (a rescue mission to get Indians back to India) as well as rescue flights by other international governments His outstanding leadership across all areas across the stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem and going beyond the call of duty in managing and navigating this crisis for a national capital airport having national importance makes him the apt choice for the Person of the Year Award Adnan Saggaf continues to demonstrate strong leadership skills throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and brought out of the box ideas in attracting traffic and to support his team during this difficult time With new innovative ideas in balancing cash flow the facilities were kept maintained and the personal were kept employed Saggaf has protected the financial stability of his staff income shown excellent performance of crisis management and exceptional negotiation skills shown with authority regarding agreement restructuring and receivable payments To handle the loss of Umrah traffic to the airport to use the terminal with attractive offers and more reliable services He built a new strategy by diversifying the airport offers He prepared the facilities by deploying new technology and working on enhancing passenger experience Saggaf also initiated a capacity building programme for the airside team by drafting SOPS as well as initiating dedicated workshops to discuss ideas and to deploy new initiatives and this is exactly what Saggaf showed and why he deserves to be awarded as the Person of the year 2021 Peter has been with the Sangster International Airport for over 25 years operations and now oversees the security function and is also the Chief Operations Officer Peter has been instrumental in co-ordinating the preparation and implementation of a COVID-19 response plan for not just MBJ but to guide the operation of all agencies operating on airport The aim of this plan was to ensure a safe environment for staff and the travelling public; therefore this plan was instrumental to establish consumer/travellers/public confidence and provided information and guidelines on the new protocols implemented at the airport Peter is well known for his expertise in investigation and aviation security His co-operation with law enforcement stakeholders has been unrelenting in assuring the security of the airport and stakeholders alike While Peter is known as a firm individual that displays the outmost professionalism and integrity he operates on the basis of equity and fairness in all matters relating to staff Robson Freitas has developed and led the BH Airport plan for the resumption of airport operations post-COVID-19 as well as being responsible for leading the group of Directors and Managers at the airport defining the three main pillars of recovery: Health and Safety of People Institutional and Integrated Communication and Institutional Partners These central pillars include ensuring hygiene and health and social distances measures for passengers in addition to participating in strategic committees involving the public sectors to comply with regulatory rules Freitas developed the COVID guardians programme who were responsible in monitoring and following up on the measures already implemented for COVID-19 and advising users employees and other people on compliance with distancing hygiene and health measures recommended by health authorities He also developed a COVID booklet with information and guidance for the airport community regarding good hygiene and health practices and led the beginning of the publication of a monthly newsletter with passenger curve information allowing the planning of reopening and rehiring by commercial stores Freitas also supported the reduction of OPEX by planning the temporary closure of areas toilets and equipment in common use and internalising some activities Raghunath worked closely with all the aero concessionaires and cargo operators to minimise disruption and provide financial relief to them The airline marketing team helped launch a historic first route to the U.S West Coast and the cargo team at BIAL also achieved record numbers over this period with the airport becoming India’s leading airport for the export of perishables Raghunath has led a digital transformation and expansion at BIAL airport with new initiatives and the deployment of the fully biometric-based self-boarding solution for seamless passenger flow and travel experiences and a process automation and analytics platform meant that the airport won ACI World’s ‘Voice of the Customer’ initiative which recognised BIAL airports efforts to prioritise their customers during COVID-19 Raghunath has remained a staunch and resilient leader during such an uncertain time and is very much appreciated by his team Alicia Prince has played a critical role in leading and navigating Cairns Airport through the COVID-19 pandemic Prince implemented a functional plan to ensure business continuity and staff welfare segregating front-line operational staff into work teams to avoid interaction between groups She ensured that the $55 million domestic Terminal upgrade continued safely despite the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis She also deployed the COVIDSafe Operation Plan for Cairns Airport which was endorsed and later commended by Queensland Chief Health Officer As part of this plan Alicia developed an airport layout to provide physical separation of low risk and high-risk arrivals and initiated increased hygiene and sanitisation protocols The health and safety of the airport community was paramount to maintaining operations and in response to this Alicia initiated a COVIDSafe training program for the entire airport community and worked closely with her team to deliver As a result of the great work Prince has done to ensure COVID-19 best practices Cairns Airport was one of the first Australian Airports to be awarded an ACI Global Health Accreditation Alicia also led the terminal optimisation project which assessed and implemented terminal downscales due to the crisis Significant savings (both financial and environmental) were achieved by reducing the operational footprint of the airport Whilst maintaining operations throughout the pandemic was a priority Alicia ensured her team were kept well informed and engaged Cairns Airport has a team of 33 volunteers which form part of Alicia’s wider team To ensure they remained connected and cared for Alicia and her team created care packages including home-made cakes and personally delivered to each of the volunteers’ houses in a COVIDSafe manner Alicia demonstrated great leadership throughout the pandemic and continues to do so today Her clear and transparent communication and collaboration with other Australian Airports and key agencies to ensure best practice and alignment contributed greatly to business continuity all the above was managed whilst working remotely and juggling home schooling with her two young boys Balram Bheodari leads Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as North America’s most efficient airport due to his vast knowledge of and astute attention to efficiency in aviation which has allowed the airport to thrive in the most difficult of markets and selflessness to provide a quality of leadership throughout Atlanta Airport He oversees all facets of airport governance including operations and a multi-billion-dollar capital improvement programme designed to pave the way for Atlanta’s growth over the next 20 years Bheodari developed a comprehensive resumption of operations playbook that served to support ATL’s recovery efforts With guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) amid evolving health and safety guidelines Bheodari steadfastly encouraged collaboration among stakeholders he participated in daily calls with Airports Council International and other large-hub airports to share best practices as well as information from Washington He aimed to restore customer confidence and ensure the airport was a healthy facility using COVID-19 safe protocols the airport achieved Airport of the Year by the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Bheodari was the most ardent supporter of our mission-critical employees Having worked his way up through the ranks he fully appreciates the oftentimes thankless jobs these employees perform that keep the Airport safe and running optimally at all times Morale never flagged because Bheodari made sure those employees felt valued through hazard pay His actions and his directives all reflect his commitment to the three key focus areas of our organisation’s strategic plan: people Jonas Abrahamsson has shown the strength to steer the company towards its long-term sustainable goals Abrahamsson has ensured that Swedavia achieved its net zero target for all ten of the airports in 2020 and has continued to support strategic development and innovation to further the cause of sustainable air travel when passenger numbers where down over 90 per cent and a lot of investments were paused he decided that investments in the company’s net zero target should proceed allowing Swedavia to become the first net zero airport group by the end of 2020 Chris Dinsdale has worked at Budapest Airport since 2015 where he was nominated for the position as CEO fought relentlessly to make sure that the company survived the crisis and worked with great commitment to secure the funding of the airport a voluntary salary cut for the executives and the founding of the Budapest Airport Foundation which supports blue collar workers who lost their job during the COVID-19 pandemic After being nominated to CEO position in March 2021 Dinsdale continues to work closely with the executive team to create a clear COVID-19 recovery strategy for Budapest Airport This will also mean that we come out stronger of the pandemic and have a clear focus Dinsdale is an inspiring true leader who helped us all to cope with the very difficult times of the pandemic and I am convinced that he truly deserves this award Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information CookieDescriptioncookielawinfo-checkbox-advertising-targetingThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertising & Targeting".cookielawinfo-checkbox-analyticsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent WordPress Plugin The cookie is used to remember the user consent for the cookies under the category "Analytics".cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessaryThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".cookielawinfo-checkbox-performanceThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent WordPress Plugin The cookie is used to remember the user consent for the cookies under the category "Performance".PHPSESSIDThis cookie is native to PHP applications The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.viewed_cookie_policyThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies It does not store any personal data.zmember_loggedThis session cookie is served by our membership/subscription system and controls whether you are able to see content which is only available to logged in users The integration of immigrant families and the educational success of their children are key to the future of society as a whole the Setlementti Puijola Growing Together project is being started in Kuopio to bring a new kind of support to families with an immigrant background and to schools in Kuopio The project will last two and a half years and will be funded with €337 000 the majority of which will come from the European Union’s AMIF fund The project is implemented in cooperation with the City of Kuopio’s Growth and Learning Service Area the number of foreign-language pupils has grown rapidly in recent years schools and family services in the welfare area have recognised the need for better cooperation with immigrant families The Growing Together project responds to this challenge by creating a new operating model that supports families and schools and increases participation City of Kuopio has recognized the need for activities to promote the integration of immigrant families in basic education families who have just immigrated to Finland receive information on school and parenting issues and get to know the various services offered by our city,” says Alexandra Vikeväinen coordinator of language and cultural groups in Kuopio’s basic education The project will place a community advisor in schools in Kuopio to act as a bridge between families He or she will help parents with issues such as using Wilma guide families to the right support services The project also organises family clubs where migrant families can get support for parenting as well as peer support and expert guidance children will be able to strengthen their social relationships vaan sen tavoitteena on myös torjua kouluissa esiintyvää syrjintää ja rasismia Moni maahanmuuttajataustainen lapsi kokee koulussa ulkopuolisuutta mikä vaikuttaa heidän hyvinvointiinsa ja oppimismotivaatioonsa että kaikki lapset tuntevat kuuluvansa kouluyhteisöön Yhteisöohjaajan läsnäolo ja perheiden tiiviimpi osallistuminen voivat vähentää yksinäisyyttä ja lisätä yhteenkuuluvuutta kouluympäristössä ”Ketään ei jätetä” on myös YK:n Agenda 2030 keskeinen tavoite The aim is to integrate the results of the project into Kuopio’s basic education and welfare area activities so that cooperation between families and schools and better integration of immigrants will continue after the end of the project which includes a comprehensive representation of actors from the City of Kuopio’s Growth and Learning service area Kuopio Parents’ Association and a representative of the project’s target group will be responsible for rooting the results In Kuopio the autumn holiday is the Super Autumn Holiday There’s plenty to do for schoolchildren and families on holiday in the city During the holiday week from Monday to Friday 14-18 October visitors under 18 years of age can swim free of charge all day in Kuntolaakso and Lippumäki pools persons under 18 years of age can exercise free of charge from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 4 pm The Kuopio Hall gym is open to persons aged 15 and over climbing and padel camps for schoolchildren of different ages The main exhibitions at Kuopio Museum and Kuopio Art Museum have enough to see and experience for a whole day the museums have activities for children and young people The Ysäri exhibition at the Old Kuopio Museum includes a Slam book the Orthodox Church Museum RIISA and the VB Photography Centre for persons under 18 years of age Kuopio City Theatre also has plenty to see during the autumn holiday week including the family-friendly fantasy adventure MOMO the hilarious comedy The Dead Awake and the emotional hit musical Blood Brothers Super Autumn Holiday also includes a wide range of workshops There are also plenty of activities on offer at the youth centres the Männistö Latari will make a day trip to the Seinävuori Valley on 14 October and there will be a free Rock the Club event at Kulttuuriareena 44 on 12 October See new ideas for cultural attractions, observation towers and sports tips on the City of Kuopio website: Leisure and well-being – Kuopio The season for city bikes Vilkku starts on Monday 28 April Four new stations will be installed in Neulamäki (K-Market Neulamuikku) Rautaniemi (intersection of Rautokannantie and Kivenapajankatu) and Levänen (exact location to be announced) There have been many requests for new stations and the city will be looking into setting up one more station during the period This year you can purchase a seasonal ticket before the start of the season from 18.4.2025 The city wants to remind users that city bikes may not be rented for business or professional use and bags or equipment may not be attached to the bike in such a way that they remain attached to the bike after riding Under the terms of the City Bicycle Terms of Service the above mentioned violations constitute a material breach of contract and the contract entered into for the use of the bicycle may be terminated immediately any money paid for the right of use will not be refunded the Waltti mobile app will also be available allowing you to use Vilkku city bikes and purchase access rights This is the same app that is used on the Vilkku buses just over a million kilometres were driven on Vilkku city bikes The most popular stations were the Market Square A comprehensive report has been published in North Savo outlining the region’s education and support services available to businesses to aid in recruiting skilled labor and developing staff competencies the report provides timely insights into topics such as training collaboration and services supporting international workforce integration “The report offers a comprehensive overview of the current training and support services available to businesses in North Savo Reviewing the report may also reveal clear opportunities for cooperation such as developing services targeted at companies,” says Reetta Airaksinen North Savo offers a wide range of training solutions to meet the needs of businesses short-term programs funded by The Service Centre for Continuous Learning and Employment’s (SECLE) and language and cultural coaching form key avenues for acquiring new talent and developing the existing workforce Educational institutions and private providers also offer tailored training services in close collaboration with employers The report also comprehensively presents the region’s long- and short-term training offerings across various fields Institutions such as Ylä-Savo Vocational College (YSAO) and the University of Eastern Finland provide both degree programs and flexible These are complemented by national and international education services increasingly available through online and remote formats The report emphasizes the importance of support services in reaching skilled labor Services provided by regional employment areas – such as Kuopio’s Työnavigaattori recruitment and internationalization services from ELY Centers and platforms like Opiskelijatoihin.fi and Aarresaari – assist businesses in finding the right talent and project-based collaboration offer concrete ways to address labor availability challenges “Collaboration is key to maintaining North Savo’s competitiveness in attracting skilled labor We hope this report sparks dialogue and serves as a practical tool for many stakeholders,” Airaksinen notes Interviews with businesses highlighted the need to improve the visibility and packaging of training services Companies call for more practical approaches from training providers and clearer access points for utilizing training and support services the attraction and integration of international talent emerged as critical themes for addressing future skill needs Read the full report (in Finnish) Listen to the summary briefing, in Finnish (Youtube, Feb 12, 2025 / approx. 30 min) This report is part of the Talent First project’s efforts to enhance the availability of skilled labor in North Savo. Compiled by MDI and completed in March 2025, the report serves as a knowledge base for recruitment, regional development, and cooperation between businesses and education providers. Talent First is a project co-funded by the European Union. It involves 12 partner organizations from North Savo and is administered by the City of Kuopio. with the offences believed to have taken place between 2019 and 2023 in and around the town of Lapinlahti in North Savo Open image viewerPolice found the remains of this lynx during the preliminary investigation 11:25The trial of the largest case of suspected poaching in Finnish legal history began at North Savo District Court in Kuopio on Monday morning Poaching refers to the illegal hunting or catching of animals or fish in contravention of protection laws There are a total of 31 suspects in the case with the offences believed to have taken place in and around the town of Lapinlahti Following the completion of the pre-trial investigation police said they suspected that the poachers had killed at least one wolverine three wolves as well as a number of protected bird species including swans and hawks One of the wolves believed to have been killed by the group was being monitored at the time by Finland's natural resources institute including 14 counts of aggravated hunting offences five environmental offences as well as three firearms offences Open image viewerPolice found the remains of two lynx cubs which they suspect the hunting group killed illegally Image: Antti-Petteri Karhunen / YlePolice said the case is exceptional because of the large number of animals killed and the fact that the illegal hunting practices continued for years Investigators believe the poaching was intentional and carefully organised and the activities were hidden under the guise of hunting smaller animals Evidence uncovered during the course of the pre-trial investigation suggested that the group even tried to illegally hunt bears in April 2021 who resigned when the charges came to light When interviewed by police during the preliminary probe the defendants said they were motivated to act as they did by a lack of hunting permits and general dissatisfaction with how Finnish authorities were managing animal populations Open image viewerPolice believe a wolf being tracked by Finland's natural resources institute fell victim to the poachers Detective Inspector Harri-Pekka Pohjolainen told Yle that some of the defendants killed seven swans "on a whim" during a road trip in the summer of 2019 the defendants could face custodial sentences if they are found guilty of the suspected crimes They are also likely to be ordered to pay hefty fines the fine for the unlawful killing of an adult wolverine is 16,000 euros while the amount for killing a wolf is 9,000 euros Kuopio’s streets and airspace are busy practicing preparedness The local defence exercise will take place on 21-28 February 2025 in the North Savo area of Kuopio and Siilinjärvi Karelian Air Force will organize Vihuri 25 air operations exercise at Rissala Base on 24-28 February 2025 lights and other effects of the exercises should not be scared off It is common in Finland for civil and military authorities to train together during normal times and conditions The security situation in Finland and the surrounding area remains good Northern Stone 25 local defence exercise focuses on training in total territorial defence and involves local actors from different sectors and organizations The exercise will increase the participants’ capacity for practical cooperation in the event of incidents and emergencies in Northern Savo reservists and paid personnel from the Kainuu Brigade Karelian Air Command and the Military Medical Centre Around 60 vehicles related to the exercise will be driving on the streets personnel from the Regional State Administrative Agency of Eastern Finland the City of Iisalmi and the Municipality of Tervo will also participate in the exercise Kuopio residents should note that the training activities will be visible as training troops in various parts of the city and as military and official vehicles in traffic The authorities will warn of the troops’ activities and direct traffic if necessary Explosive charges may be used at individual training sites and noise may be generated at different times of the day Both instructors and referees will be on duty at the training sites the telephone number 0299 451 994 will be on call for any contact from the public Northern Stone 25 exercise is part of a series of local defence exercises for the ground forces. In addition to the local defence exercise, Karelian Air Force will organise Vihuri 25 air operations exercise at Rissala and Oulunsalo bases 24-28 February 2025. Vihuri 25 exercise will be flown with F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters in day and night conditions. The training flight activity will start on Monday 24 February at 11am and end on Friday 28 February at 2 pm. From Monday to Thursday, evening operations will end by 24:00. people are now increasingly reaching out to their local communities and that could be a sign of a bigger problem Open image viewerMira Dearsley says a Facebook group for mothers in Kuopio has reinforced her faith in fellow moms. Image: Antti-Petteri Karhunen / YleYle News12.3. 13:18The number of households struggling to make ends meet has grown for the third year in a row according to figures from Statistics Finland One such community is a Facebook group for mothers in the Kuopio area The Kuopio mothers' support circle (Kuopion äitien apupiiri) Kuopio resident Mira Dearsley said she received a lot of help when she moved into a new apartment with her children following a divorce she was unable to bring most of her belongings she received an Ikea gift card worth a few hundred euros she used for a kitchen table and chairs Mothers reach out to the Facebook group for food Sometimes they ask for help with babysitting or want to set up playdates for their children Heidi Miettinen launched the Kuopio mothers' support circle in 2014 as a form of peer support following news of two family murders in Rautavaara and Kuopio where mothers took the lives of their children "Not everyone has relatives living in the same area and especially mothers of young children are often alone," she explained a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said it was not surprising that people are looking for alternative ways to make ends meet "It's only human to want to help a neighbour in need," she said she said social security should not become dependent on the charity of strangers Today Mira Dearsley is retired and shares joint custody of her children with her ex-partner Cuts to social benefits — such as a 100-euro reduction in her housing allowance — have impacted her livelihood She said the Kuopio mothers' Facebook group isn't just a means to ask and offer help but also forms an important community "I grew up in a time that was more communal but today I don't even know half of my neighbours," she explained Dearsley said she has noticed that people in the group genuinely want to help in whatever way they can Asking for help can often be more difficult than offering it "The person asking for help might not realise what a minor thing it is for the person offering it," she added More than one in ten children in Finland are growing up in poor housholds more than 123,000 children lived in poverty in 2023 Users with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here The anniversary year of the City of Kuopio continues and municipal elections are held in the same year as the anniversary Now we can also talk about a celebration of democracy City of Kuopio is taking the municipal elections into account in its communication in several ways. A separate page has been created for the elections. The page contains information and basic information about voting: Municipality elections 2025 The City of Kuopio’s election communication has a particular aim to reach groups where participation in the elections has been low Multilingual communication also aims to reach out to people in Kuopio who do not speak Finnish as their mother tongue citizens of other countries who have the right to vote in municipal elections Municipal elections are the elections that have the most impact on people’s daily lives The municipality is everyone’s contact point for things like welfare Every vote counts,” says Kuopio Mayor Soile Lahti about the municipal elections Print Entire Series Staying lucid as a centenarian may depend on the immune system you inherit Slow clearance of an MRI tracer offers evidence of inefficient glymph transport in the brain VAMP2 helps distinguish pure dementia with Lewy bodies from DLB with Alzheimer’s A synaptic protein panel distinguished FTLD-TDP-43 from FTLD-tau The President of the Republic has awarded the Order of the Lion of Finland Chairman of the Board of Directors of FinVector Oy and Jean-Frédéric Paulsen (Executive Chairman of Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Ferring Ventures) on the nomination of the City of Kuopio This is the first time when the City of Kuopio has presented medals of honor to foreign citizens In the explanatory memorandum to the proposal was mentioned that Mr Carloni and Mr Paulsen have made a significant personal contribution to the construction of FinVector Ltd’s FinPort production facility in Kuopio and to the approval by the US Food and Drug Administration to start production of a gene therapy medicine in Kuopio The impact of this investment is significant for both the region’s industry and educational institutions “These honors are the City of Kuopio’s way of showing how pleased we are with your contribution to our city’s economy prosperity and science,” said Aleksi Eskelinen FinVector Ltd and Ferring Pharmaceuticals opened a new gene therapy manufacturing facility The company’s operations have had a significant economic impact in the Kuopio region in recent years FinVector Ltd is also one of the largest private sector employers in the region The company strengthens Kuopio’s knowledge and research cluster in the field of health technology was visibly touched by the recognition he had received I have lived here continuously for two and a half years During that time I met some wonderful people and felt part of the community This is something I will hold in my heart for the rest of my life,” Carloni said in his thanks speech There are also signs of climate change in Kuopio Temperatures and the number of heat waves have increased Indoor temperatures are already high at times the need for heating buildings during the winter season is decreasing Climate change also leads to higher humidity which intensifies mould problems in buildings and may decrease their service life increased wind-driven rain poses a risk to building structures as well accumulation of moisture in structures must be prevented and sufficient drying ensured Heavy rainfall events have also become more frequent and can cause surface water flooding Management solutions for water drainage must improve in the urban environment both through sufficient organic absorption into the ground and an effective water drainage network The warming climate will prolong the growing season and the abundance ratios of plant and animal species will probably change The eutrophication of water bodies is another challenge connected to the warming climate as well as an increase in nutrient load such as Nitrogen Land use and infrastructure planning can affect the vulnerability of communities in the long term safeguarding biodiversity is a key issue in adapting to climate change We can adapt to climate change in many ways Adapting efforts aim to prevent or mitigate the negative effects of climate fluctuations and to benefit from positive effects The city of Kuopio has worked for a long time to slow down climate change and curb greenhouse gas emissions The city drew up its first climate strategy in 2003 The climate policy program for the years 2020–2030 was approved at the end of 2020 the climate policy program was updated together with the resource wisdom program and they were merged into a new climate and resource wisdom program (Viksu Kuopio 2035) Kuopio aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2030 compared to the level of 2007 The amount of emissions to be reduced is 542 kt CO2-eq without industry and Taking into account the impact of earlier decisions the Kuopio Climate Policy Programme estimates the reduction in the city’s own operations to be 173 kt CO2-eq the aim is to halve the consumption-based carbon footprint from the 2005 level by 2030 Image: Kuopio’s greenhouse gas emissions from 2006-2022 including industrial emissions (data source: Kuopio’s CO2 report 2024 / Sitowise) and the emission reduction need until 2030 according to the emission reduction target The city regularly monitors its greenhouse gas emissions using the results of Sitowise Oy’s annual CO2 report consumption-based CO2 emissions have been estimated using the model developed in the Kulma project GHG emissions from the City of Kuopio can also be found in the weekly emission graph of the CO2 report which includes the greenhouse gases with the highest climate impact Municipal and regional CO2 emissions data can also be found in the online services maintained by the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke): The report is commissioned by regional environmental protection services and the commissioned calculations include Kuopio and Suonenjoki The latest CO2 reports for Kuopio and Suonenjoki can be found below The CO2 report primarily covers emissions arising from the municipality’s energy consumption and waste management as well as other emissions occurring in the municipality’s geographical area agricultural production and the production of products in the municipality’s area are included in the calculation regardless of where the produced products are ultimately consumed the report excludes many indirect emissions caused by residents’ activities consumption-based emissions have been estimated using the model developed in the Kulma project Emissions have been calculated for Kuopio in 2023 (for the year 2022) and in 2022 (for the year 2020) The Kulma model provides more comprehensive information about the climate effects of municipal residents’ activities than before When calculating greenhouse gas emissions from consumption the calculation includes the emissions caused by the consumption of municipal residents regardless of where the goods consumed were produced emissions from food and goods consumed by the municipality’s residents are included in the calculation even if their production takes place outside the municipality’s or Finland’s borders The regional and consumption-based emission calculation models partially overlap we get as broad a data base as possible on the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the activities of the municipality and its citizens GHG emissions from the City of Kuopio can also be found in the weekly emission graph of the CO2 report (below) Emissions are reported in the tables as tonnes of CO2 equivalents by converting the impact of methane and nitrous oxide to reflect the climate impact of CO2 over a 100-year period The emission calculation does not include industrial emissions The weekly emission graph is updated automatically and there is a slight delay in the information the Kuopio of 2035 has a strong spirit of creating new sustainable smart solutions and cleantech Research and educational institutions together with companies and the city create new circular economy innovations that bring vitality to the area utilizes and produces renewable energy in a versatile way and thus also increases security of supply We will introduce more non-combustion-based energy technology in electricity and heat production Our intention is to switch to cleantech by 2030 We want to produce and utilize solar energy in the city’s properties more widely than at present an energy strategy is drawn up for the Kuopio region and energy efficiency is promoted locally The Kuopio of the future is a pioneer in demand flexibility and energy storage We are also looking for innovative solutions to utilize waste heat and we are developing energy-positive waste water treatment plants.   We continue regular energy efficiency work with the goal of increasing energy use by 10% We reduce the energy need of properties with building technical regulations and smart solutions Energy efficiency also brings financial savings We want to develop the Savilahti area as an experimental platform for low-carbon innovative and circular economy-promoting solutions The city wants to act as an enabler of new experiments and spread good practices We want to strengthen the data economy and digital solution expertise in Kuopio Our goal is also to improve telecommunication in both urban and rural areas The goal of the Clean energy and smart solutions -theme is to be achieved by 2035. You can find the planned actions for the years 2024–2035 in the Viksu Kuopio program (in Finnish) 5.1 We turn to cleantech alternatives in heat and electricity production by 2030 5.2 Renewable energy sources are produced and utilized in the city’s properties An energy strategy for the Kuopio region will be made 5.4 Kuopio is a pioneer in demand flexibility and energy storage in 2035 5.5 Energy clusters will be created in the region and cooperation and communication will be increased 5.6 We are looking for innovative solutions to utilize waste heat 5.7 We continue energy efficiency work and constantly look for new ways to improve energy efficiency 5.8 Wastewater treatment plants are developed to be energy positive development and innovation work in cooperation with various operators 5.10 Savilahti will be Finland’s most attractive water sector experimentation and innovation environment by 2027 5.11 Kuopio is at the forefront of water know-how: intelligent water supply solutions and recovery processes are being developed 5.12 The city of Kuopio promotes the Savilahti region as a testing platform for cleantech 5.13 We will strengthen Kuopio’s expertise in the data economy and digital solutions Metrics details A Finnish joint research effort Kuopio Birth Cohort (KuBiCo) seeks to evaluate the effects of genetics epigenetics and different risk factors (medication lifestyle factors and environmental aspects) during pregnancy on the somatic and psychological health status of the mother and the child KuBiCo will ultimately include information on 10,000 mother-child pairs who have given their informed consent to participate in this cohort Identification of foetal health risk factors that can potentially later manifest as disease requires a repository of relevant biological samples and a flexible open up-to-date data handling system to register KuBiCo includes coded questionnaire-based maternal background data gathered before during and after the pregnancy and bio-banking of maternal and foetal samples that will be stored in deep freezers Data from the questionnaires and biological samples will be collected into one electronic database KuBiCo consists of several work packages which are complementary to each other: Maternal foetal and placental metabolism and omics; Paediatrics; Mental wellbeing; Prenatal period and delivery; Analgesics and anaesthetics during peripartum period; Environmental effects; Nutrition; and Research ethics This report describes the set-up of the KuBiCo and descriptive analysis from 3532 parturients on response frequencies and feedback to KuBiCo questionnaires gathered from June 2012 to April 2016 we describe basic demographic data of the participants (n = 1172) Based on the comparison of demographic data between official national statistics and our descriptive analysis KuBiCo represents a cross-section of Finnish pregnant women There is a paucity of data concerning various maternal exposures during pregnancy and their impact on overall developmental outcomes Less information exists about the intake of non-essential nutrients and other food-based compounds and about their association with the health of children It will generate new knowledge by integrating clinical and analytical data achieving a systematic increase in understanding the combined effects of multiple factors on health and disease KuBiCo is intended to help resolve the effects of genetic and epigenetic backgrounds and potential risk factors (medications and nutritional and environmental factors) during pregnancy on the health status of the mother and child KuBiCo is a joint research effort between the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) the Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) and the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) This paper describes the setup of KuBiCo and descriptive analysis of response frequencies and feedback to KuBiCo questionnaires of altogether 3532 parturients from June 2012 to April 2016 we report basic demographic data of 1172 KuBiCo participants and show that they agree with Finnish national statistics the final database is planned to include 10,000 mother-child pairs All pregnant women who are expected to give birth in KUH in the Finnish county Northern Savo are invited to participate in KuBiCo KuBiCo does not include individual exclusion criteria Those who sign the informed consent at any stage of pregnancy will be included in KuBiCo and prospective data collection Majority of the participants (> 90%) are recruited during the routine first trimester visit (gestational week 6–9) at the prenatal clinics by primary health care personnel or midwifes when the pregnancy has been determined by clinical inspection Data collections and timeline of KuBiCo Questionnaire and information platform (WebKuBiCo) Biological samples (maternal and umbilical cord blood maternal and foetal hair samples) are collected by staff in KUH and the main management of samples is conducted by personnel of UEF House dust samples are collected by the participating families according to THL instructions Biological samples are stored in deep-freezers (− 80 °C) of KUH House dust samples are stored and managed in the THL facilities All raw data from the questionnaires and biological samples will be collected and stored in an electronic KuBiCo database (eKuTKa) from which data can be downloaded for investigation by all research partners and international collaborators after mutual agreements The KuBiCo advisory board grants permissions of KuBiCo data usage for research groups This database will be developed and maintained by ISTEKKI (Information Technology services of KUH) The Bioinformatics unit at the UEF provides the appropriate bioinformatics software licenses such as Revolution R Enterprise and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) All raw data obtained from our own or any collaborative studies will be stored on the eKuTKa database and analysed by the core facilities This will ensure continuous support for high quality research Data collected in the work packages is stored in centralized data servers Central storage and processing enables efficient curation resulting in high quality databank that can be reliably used for a wide range of research purposes The data is version controlled and backed up Access to specific parts of the data will be controlled allowing for functional and secure data sharing and dissemination between the research partners and the research community as a whole Standard formats for handling data from different high-throughput technologies will be used and such data will be submitted to open access databases as required by scientific journals upon publication To ensure harmonization of the research protocols for the studies performed in the different work packages of the KuBiCo all active partners have approved final protocols handling and storage procedures of the biological samples by the research groups This also applies to the questionnaires on intake of food and supplements In order to facilitate planned future multinational collaborative research all questionnaires are being translated into English from the original Finnish versions By standardizing all the protocols and questionnaires optimally robust and sufficiently powered statistical analyses will be achieved Power calculations for the KuBiCo are conducted separately within each individual work package or research hypothesis using KuBiCo data any missing data is handled separately in each KuBiCo work package During study and after completion of the material collection the KuBiCo database can be linked to national health registries for epidemiological follow-ups The Research Ethics Committee of Hospital District of Central Finland in Jyväskylä Finland has reviewed and approved the KuBiCo plan 15.11.2011 The ethical basis of KuBiCo is the expected major benefit for future research projects on developmental origin of various childhood and adult-onset diseases and the health of future generations Data sharing among the participating research groups will make it possible to undertake large projects all of the developed data will remain in the database for future generations of scientists Pregnant women are asked to consider volunteer participation which will involve that they provide their data and samples they are automatically informed about their nutritional or mental health status if any causes of concern are identified Metabolism and omics will study how different risk factors affect placental hormone production (i.e. potential for endocrine disruption) and xenobiotics metabolizing characteristics at different stages of pregnancy by the means of metabolic activity determination Paediatrics will survey the somatic health growth and overall development of the children by annual questionnaires to elucidate the role of prenatal factors for example maternal smoking and microbe exposure during birth on health and morbidity of the offspring in later childhood Mental wellbeing targets associations between maternal psychological wellbeing and systemic biomarkers during pregnancy and how the maternal mental wellbeing modulates neonate physiology and the child’s later development the psychological development and wellbeing of the child as well as parent-child relationships will be studied Prenatal period and delivery evaluate perinatal and genetic epidemiology and risk factors and markers for most common obstetrical and perinatal complications and how these factors affect the perinatal outcomes and later the child’s subsequent health Data is collected on different prenatal exposures by biological samples and questionnaires and linked to the information available on prenatal outcomes and the child’s subsequent health Analgesics and anaesthetics during peripartum period evaluates the foetal and newborn effects of analgesics and anaesthetics given for parturient during the perinatal period Maternal pharmacokinetics and –dynamics of different compounds used for pain relief and anaesthesia will be measured aimed at establishing a pharmacodynamic and -kinetic in silico model based on foetal and newborn exposures evaluated from venous blood Nutrition Intake of food and supplements are collected using food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) during the first and third trimester of pregnancy and dietary data of the children at 2 and 4 years of age Web-based FFQ comprises a food list of about 160 food items with nine frequency response options from “never” to “six or more times per day” More than 60 nutrients and 100 food groups are provided FFQ includes also specific questions about supplement use KuBiCo FFQ has been further developed to produce personal feedback about nutrition at first and third trimester of pregnancy Research ethics KuBiCo provides a unique opportunity to pursue the following important points: 1) recruitment and informed consent in a birth cohort 2) evaluation by the recruited families of the usefulness and potential risks to their families 3) handling and long-term storage of samples and information for future use 4) societal benefits of the type of information collected in KuBiCo and 5) what affects the decisions of the people approached for recruitment One of the main aims is to develop reliable tools to evaluate ethical issues in birth cohort studies The organization of the KuBiCo is unique by enabling linkage of birth cohort biobank with clinical follow-up and thus creating the possibility to tackle various questions within the developmental origin of disease concept The aim of this feedback was to motivate and provide an additional health benefit for the participating pregnant women and they have reported that the feedback has been helpful the developed feedback service is already included into the daily routines in the clinics the decrease of mean birthweight has been more significant in Finland since the 1990s This decrease of mean birthweight is especially apparent in boys and in macrosomic foetuses The reason for this phenomenon is unknown and a potential subject for further investigations within and between cohorts ten out of the sixteen twins (62.5%) were preterm One reason for the lower rate of twin pregnancies in Finland may be due to the recommendations of one-embryo transfers in infertility treatment programs the percentage of boys (44.1%) was lower compared to girls This signal will need to be confirmed in the future analyses the pregnant women who used medications had a 13% higher risk to have a small for gestational age newborn a 27% higher risk to have a large for gestational age newborn and a 20% higher risk for preterm delivery in comparison with those women with no medications we noted that preterm delivery was more frequent among the women with regular medication it should be also stated that most of the women with regular medication delivered at term or post-term confirms the induction of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) by smoking KuBiCo cohort represents a cross-section of Finnish pregnant women KuBiCo is a multidisciplinary collaborative effort that enables to unravel the effects of genetics epigenetics and complex life style factors on the future health status of both mother and child The KuBiCo is equipped with a digital database (eKuTKa) to serve all contributors; pregnant women can sign in they can follow the progress and receive feedback from their questionnaires; it also permits the registered investigators’ access the generated data the database will include the data from 10,000 mother-child pairs Our descriptive analysis demonstrates that the material and the proposed confirmatory measures will guarantee the reliability and high quality of this cohort so that it can be exploited in future projects and analyses Babies galore; or recent findings and future perspectives of pregnancy cohorts with a focus on immunity Critical assessment of the research outcomes of European birth cohorts: linking environmental factors with non-communicable diseases legal and social issues in birth cohort studies involving genetic research: responses from studies in six countries Critical windows of exposure for children's health: cancer in human epidemiological studies and neoplasms in experimental animal models Developmental exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals alters the epigenome: identification of reprogrammed targets Microarray analysis of the global alterations in the gene expression in the placentas from cigarette-smoking mothers The human placental proteome is affected by maternal smoking The unique characteristics of metabolism enzymes in placenta The maternal and fetal impacts of obesity and gestational diabetes on pregnancy outcome Cancer and developmental exposure to endocrine disruptors Diabetes in pregnancy and lung health in offspring: developmental origins of respiratory disease Integrating understanding of epidemiology and genomics in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma as a pathway to novel management strategies An epigenetic view of developmental diseases: new targets Safety of Chinese herbal medicines during pregnancy Vuori E, Gissler M. Perinatal statistics - parturients, deliveries and newborns 2015. In: Statistical report 16/2016. Helsinki: The National Institute for health and welfare (THL). http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2016101024921 The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the National Nutrition Council Eating together – food recommendations for families with children, 2016. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-302-599-8 Chemical exposure as etiology in developmental origin of adult onset human cancer Prenatal programming and toxicity (PPTOX) introduction Detection of postnatal depression development of the 10-item Edinburgh postnatal depression scale Heino A, Gissler M. Perinatal statistics in the Nordic countries 2014. In: Statistical report 2016. Helsinki: The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe201603148739 Variations in multiple birth rates and impact on perinatal outcomes in Europe Demographic and behavioral determinants of the reduction of male-to-female birth ratio in Spain from 1981 to 1997 Associations of blood pressure change in pregnancy with fetal growth and gestational age at delivery: findings from a prospective cohort Declines in sex ratio at birth and fetal deaths in Japan Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use during pregnancy and risk of preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis Download references The authors thank all participants in the cohort and the staff of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Kuopio University Hospital for skilful collection of study material This work was supported by the Research Committee of the Kuopio University Hospital Catchment Area for the State Research Funding and grants from Paulo Foundation University of Eastern Finland and National Institute of Health and Welfare University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition Sari Voutilainen & Tomi-Pekka Tuomainen University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital Department of Anaesthesia and Operative Services Kuopio University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine MP and JP are responsible for the metabolism and omics work package of KuBiCo LKN and SH are responsible for the prenatal period and delivery work package of KuBiCo SV and TPT are responsible for the nutrition work package of KuBiCo JP and JL are responsible for the environment work package of KuBiCo APE and KK are responsible for the mental wellbeing work package of KuBiCo RV and KB are responsible for the paediatrics work package of KuBiCo HK is responsible for the analgesics and anaesthetics during peripartum period work package of KuBiCo KV is responsible for the research ethics work package of KuBiCo All authors read and approved the final manuscript The Research Ethics Committee of Hospital District of Central Finland Finland has reviewed and approved the KuBiCo protocol (dated 15.11.2011) Each participant signs an informed consent for KuBiCo Authors declare that they do not have any commercial or financial competing interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-2013-9 Lappi and Katsuta both crash in Finnish snow rally The pair's Rally Sweden warm-up didn't quite go to plan despite strong pace Words by Neither Esapekka Lappi nor Takamoto Katsuta managed to win the Kuopio Rally their warm-up event for next weekend’s World Rally Championship-counting Rally Sweden Due to the reduction in testing for Rally1 crews in the WRC this year Hyundai sent its new signing Lappi to the second round of the Finnish championship where he was joined by Toyota’s Katsuta the pair were naturally the pacesetters on the winter rally – Lappi winning the first six stages of the one-day event to streak into a handsome lead who had initially laid much further behind as he had to slow down on SS2 when a zero car went off the road Katsuta put his GR Yaris Rally1 off into a snowbank A leaking radiator brought about by that incident then meant Katsuta did not start SS6 and Lappi’s sixth stage win put him 1m45s clear of Jari Huttunen who had assumed second place But Lappi then made his own mistake as he ran off the road near the finish of SS7 and lost close to 11 minutes escaping the snowbank and after winning the final stage he ended up finishing the rally 10m05s down on victor Huttunen as he also picked up a 1m20s penalty for being late to a time control Huttunen’s victory was earned following an epic tussle with fellow Škoda Fabia driver Juha Salo with Huttunen in an older car and Salo in a newer version 2019 and 2020 Finnish champion Teemu Asunmaa completed an all-Fabia podium in third and had been the lead Fabia in third overall through the first three stages with Salo ahead of Huttunen by 0.7s at the rally’s halfway point It was still under a second with two stages to go before Huttunen pulled ahead by being the fastest Rally2 driver through the final two stages Tags: , , , , 2023 DirtFish https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2023/02/Nmv9JKbQ-7T5A1015-780x520.jpg February 4 Sign up today and be the first to know about special offers Legal playground and outdoor gym at Mölymäki opened to the public on 12.9.2024 In the centre of Mölymäki Park there is a new football pitch which will be replaced by a rink in winter There is also an outdoor gym next to the pitch The Mölymäenpark playground has also been completed and put into use Park areas have also been finished around the pitch A public toilet in Mölymäki Park will be open to visitors next spring The contractor for the project is Valicon Oy The site was built using concrete rubble from the adjacent demolished Vocational College structures BioFlex has been used as a filler for the football pitch surface Other artificial grass football pitches in Kuopio are filled with rubber ash which will be banned for use on artificial grass pitches in eight years’ time HELSINKI FINLAND Yemeni teacher and resercher at Kuopio University dentistry faculty Finland is facing an increasingly severe shortage of dentists a problem that is particularly pronounced in Eastern Finland The scarcity of dental professionals has led to long waiting lists for patients seeking care with over 5,000 people currently in the queue nationwide This shortage is expected to worsen in the coming years as a significant portion of the existing dental workforce approaches retirement age The situation is especially challenging in regions like Kuopio where the need for dental services is high but the availability of professionals is limited leading to innovative approaches to attract and retain dental professionals Kainuu has begun experimenting with collaborative models between the public and private sectors offering flexible working conditions in an effort to draw dentists to the region a city with a strong history in dental education is at the center of efforts to address this shortage The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) has played a pivotal role in educating and training dental professionals contributing to the health and well-being of the community the region has faced challenges due to past educational policies that resulted in the temporary closure of Kuopio’s dental faculty a decision that had long-lasting effects on the availability of dentists in Eastern Finland amidst concerns of an oversupply of dentists and rising unemployment in the profession the Finnish government made the controversial decision to reduce the number of training positions for dentists This led to the closure of the dental faculty at the University of Kuopio The impact of this decision was felt acutely in Eastern Finland where the need for dental services remained high but the pipeline of new professionals was severely constricted efforts were made to reverse this decision the University of Eastern Finland announced plans to reintroduce dental education in Kuopio the first new cohort of dental students had begun their studies This revival of the dental program in Kuopio is seen as a crucial step in addressing the regional and national shortage of dentists 50 staff members and the employment rate of graduates is a guaranteed 100% The dental program at UEF is designed to provide comprehensive education and training preparing students to meet the diverse needs of patients in the region The program emphasises a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills Students begin with foundational courses in general medicine and basic dental sciences progressing to more advanced and specialised training as they move through the program A key component of the UEF dental education is the clinical training that students receive in their later years of study This includes work at the university’s teaching clinic which is integrated with the Kuopio University Hospital students gain invaluable experience by treating real patients under the supervision of experienced faculty members This practical training is essential for developing the skills and confidence necessary to excel in the profession The return of the dental program to Kuopio has been met with optimism by both the academic community and the broader public Local leaders and healthcare professionals see it as a necessary measure to ensure the future availability of dental services in the region The program’s revival is also expected to have a positive economic impact The University of Eastern Finland is also home to a diverse and international student body which enhances the learning environment and fosters a global perspective in dental education With over 2,000 international students from more than 100 countries UEF offers a rich cultural exchange and opportunities for collaboration across borders The Dentistry faculty has also attracted expats and students from all around the world has contributed to the internationalisation of Kuopio shares her journey and experiences that led her to become a figure in the academic community of Kuopio Banafa's path to Finland began in 2017 when she moved to pursue a doctoral degree in Stomatognathic physiology Her connection to the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) was cemented through her main supervisor who was a part of the university's dentistry department she had already begun teaching third-year dentistry students while continuing her PhD Banafa continued her dual role of teaching and conducting research in the field of pain studies at UEF Reflecting on her experience as an expatriate professional in Finland Banafa describes the work environment as pleasant highlighting the healthy work-life balance and respect for personal boundaries it may take some time to fully appreciate and enjoy this balance its manageable size that allows for short commutes the key to truly enjoying life in Kuopio as an expat lies in engaging with the local community she believes that learning Finnish can significantly enhance the experience Banafa is preparing to obtain her practice license which will enable her to begin specialty training She also plans to continue her research in pain studies alongside her teaching responsibilities she sometimes envisions Kuopio as her "forever home," though she remains open to what the future might bring Banafa also shares a light-hearted anecdote that encapsulates her journey to Kuopio Kuopio chose me," adds a touch of humor to her story and reflects her positive outlook on her life in Finland graduated in 2015 and went on to complete a master’s degree and specialisation in orthodontics at São Paulo State University in Brazil Campos participated in a six-month research internship at Tampere University under the guidance of Professor Timo Peltomäki This period marked his first encounter with UEF's Institute of Dentistry where his supervisor also held a professorship This initial internship led to a collaborative research project prompting Campos to embark on a second PhD in dentistry at Tampere University he moved to Tampere to begin this new chapter Campos has balanced his time between working part-time as a researcher at Tampere University Hospital and holding temporary positions at UEF's Institute of Dentistry in Kuopio He successfully defended his PhD in April this year and continues to contribute to the Institute as a substitute lecturer and researcher Reflecting on his experience as an expatriate professional in Finland Campos describes the academic work environment as exceptional especially when compared to his experiences in Brazil He particularly appreciates the non-hierarchical structure within Finnish academia which he believes fosters better communication and collaboration benefits the development of academic activities," Campos explains He also praises the resources provided by Finnish universities which allow academic professionals to focus on the quality of their work without the constant struggle for basic resources The balance between work and personal life is another aspect of Finnish life that Campos values highly Although Campos has been based in Tampere since his move to Finland his position in Kuopio has not yet afforded him the full experience of living in the city Most of his work is conducted remotely or through short visits particularly by the people he has met at the university and the city’s strong connection to nature "Although I haven’t had the experience of living in Kuopio the city has already charmed me through the people I’ve met at the university and its strong connection to nature," he notes Campos plans to continue his academic career in Finland Despite his temporary position in Kuopio coming to an end soon he remains committed to research and other academic activities in the city He is preparing to apply for future positions that may arise with the aim of continuing to contribute to both the Finnish society and academic community Campos has encountered many Finnish customs that he finds both novel and intriguing particularly the tradition of sauna followed by a dip in an icy lake which keeps him energized late into the night one particular incident stood out to him as a clear example of the trust inherent in Finnish society he spotted a glove on a fence that looked strikingly similar to the one he had lost he realized it was indeed his missing glove it’s a common practice to place found items where they can be easily seen so that their owners might come back to retrieve them," he recounts This experience was a small yet profound testament to the integrity and trust within the Finnish community something that deeply impressed him as someone coming from Brazil faces ongoing issues related to staffing and resources has reported critical staff shortages in its dental program leading to concerns about the quality of education and the well-being of faculty members where the increasing demand for dental education has placed additional pressure on the existing infrastructure The reinstatement of the dental program in Kuopio marks a significant milestone in the region’s efforts to combat the ongoing dentist shortage While the first new graduates will not enter the workforce until several years from now the long-term benefits of this program are expected to be substantial By training the next generation of dentists UEF is playing a critical role in ensuring that the people of Eastern Finland—and the broader country—have access to the dental care they need it is likely to attract more students and faculty to Kuopio further strengthening the city’s reputation as a center of excellence in dental education and research the return of the dental program to Kuopio is not just an academic achievement but a vital step toward securing the future health and well-being of the region’s residents Advertisement inquiries and other after-sales issues: info@helsinkitimes.fi Helsinki Times is the first and only English language newspaper providing news about Finland in English A weekly print edition of Helsinki Times was published from March 2007 up until Feb Helsinki Times is an online-only publication and other groups and individuals interested in Finland from all around the world © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy the City of Joensuu and the City of Kuopio have concluded a strategic partnership agreement aimed at deepening and expanding their existing collaboration the parties commit to working together to strengthen the vitality of Eastern Finland and coordinating their activities to advance shared interests The partnership agreement was signed during the 15th anniversary celebration of the University of Eastern Finland The partnership between the university and the campus cities seeks to enhance collaboration in the fields of education and competence development internationalisation and strategic advocacy “Closer tripartite collaboration with our campus cities is an important initiative for the university We want to do our part in ensuring the availability of students and skilled workforce in the region while also enhancing its vitality,” Rector Tapio Määttä notes “As the key cities of their respective regions Joensuu and Kuopio are driving growth across all Eastern Finland the University of Eastern Finland is a thing that unites us This partnership takes our collaboration to an increasingly concrete level the three of us are strong and capable of accelerating the development of the entire region,” says Jere Penttilä the development of the city and the university goes hand in hand:“We need high-level expertise in this region Close collaboration allows us to build global success stories,” Lahti says The partnership is focused on four main areas: developing university-business collaboration promoting internationalisation and fostering a student-friendly environment The partnership agreement seeks to strengthen collaboration in research and education between the university and the cities Key areas include promoting innovation and entrepreneurship and understanding and anticipating the impacts of a changing society In terms of innovation and entrepreneurship the university and the cities will promote national and international RDI collaboration between businesses and researchers the university and the cities will advance collaboration between the three educational levels housed on the Kuopio campus area and the educational institutions in Joensuu The goal is for both cities to leverage the broad expertise of the University of Eastern Finland.  tourism and information and communication technology including educational technology and learning analytics.  the focus areas have been defined as health and well-being the development of education in technology the cities will serve as a test environment for innovations A particular focus is on sustainable urban development The collaboration will be coordinated by a steering group composed of the organisations’ senior management select the key themes for collaboration each year Public transport ticket prices and service charges will increase on 1.1.2025.The price increases are due to the government’s decisions to increase the value added tax on public transport from 10% to 14% and cuts in state aid for public transport The price changes apply to both season and single fares in all zones Examples of new ticket prices (current prices in brackets): service charges at the city’s customer service points for additional loading of travel cards and processing fees for replacing travel cards There will continue to be no service charges for online purchases The new prices are shown below (current prices in brackets): Savilahti sports and events centre Luola opens in August excavated from a former Defence Forces cave deposit multi-purpose facilities for sports and events as well as shelter for around 7,000 residents of the area The aim is to attract between 300 000 and 350 000 visitors to Luola each year Luola can be accessed in a variety of ways Savilahti area promotes smart mobility and easy access to Luola by walking There are 150 bike parking lots in front of Luola, some of which are under a roof – and in August, a new Vilkku city bikes parking station will open in Luola. Buses 31, 32 and 35 will run to Sarastuskaari in Savilahti. Public transport connections and timetables can be found in the route guide: Reittiopas Kuopio (digitransit.fi) Car-sharing is preferred when travelling by car Drop-off and pick-up near Luola is at the end of Loistekatu Street Parking is easy in the parking facilities in the area the preferred locations are the paid parking facilities in the area particularly in the evenings and at weekends at the Novapolis and possibly also at the KYS Hospital car parks you can also park your car under the Market Square or other city centre facilities from where you can easily continue to Savilahti by bus or city bike Temporary parking areas for short-term parking Around 100 temporary parking lots are planned near Luola for short-term use The parking fee can only be paid via a mobile app The temporary parking areas will be removed as the construction of Savilahti progresses See the map of the area Finavia has made significant investments in the development of Kuopio Airport's air traffic areas the project was completed within the original budget and schedule," says Mari Nurminen Finavia's Vice President responsible for Central and Eastern Finland airports The summer 2024 renovation project at Kuopio Airport employed about 80 people in the local area both the approach lighting line and the associated support structures were replaced according to a detailed plan With the help of a drone flying high up in the air up to 12.5 kilometres of new routes were dug for the cables of the lighting systems in order to implement the modern solutions throughout the airport area airports must deice aircraft in winter and prevent the runway from becoming slippery Water management is an important part of Finavia’s environmental work and it ensures that airport operations do not burden the surrounding nature the stormwater sewer network was also renovated to improve the efficiency of stormwater management in the airport area and reduce the environmental impacts of airport operations "We understand that as the owner of the airport Finavia plays an important role in providing energy-efficient solutions for companies operating at the airport our goal is to build infrastructure that enables those operating at the airport to develop sustainable operations," Nurminen says All Finavia airports have been carbon neutral since 2019 Lapland airports were the first to achieve net zero carbon emissions in their own operations in 2023 all Finavia airports will reach net zero by the end of 2025 Finavia is at the forefront of the airport industry in making its operations zero-emission and enabling sustainable operations for the users of its airports Finavia’s goal for the future is to achieve carbon-negative operations at all of its airports flights to Kuopio Airport were paused from 24 June to 6 August 2024 The renovation was timed in such a way that the impact on air travel would be as minor as possible The airport will open to aviators on 6 August and scheduled flights will resume according to the normal schedule on 7 August 2024 finishing work will be carried out in the airport area as part of the third phase of the project FACT BOX: Background information about Kuopio Airport The airport's first terminal building was completed in 1949 The new airport terminal building was completed in 1971 The terminal building was expanded in 1997 approximately 146,000 passengers travelled via Kuopio Kuopio Airport's runway is 2,800 metres long A total of 35 Finavia employees work at Kuopio Airport FACT BOX: Finavia’s main investments in Eastern Finland airports in 2021–2022 Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Do not skip dessert when in Kuopio © Damien Gabet / Lonely Planet You’ve heard of the European Capital of Culture, but how about its tastier cousin? The European Gastronomic Region for 2020 is Kuopio, the capital of Finland’s beautiful lakeland region Finnish foodies know all about the superlative Nordic produce grown The squeaky clean elements combine to offer treats spanning sustainable game and fish through to the wild herbs berries and mushrooms found in the area’s enchanting forests Locals here love food so much they fill the fleeting warmer months (May to August) with foodie festivals If your tummy helps you decide where to travel It doesn’t get much more mindful than walking through a misty Savonian forest getting on your knees to find a girthy chanterelle or porcini between the lichen Make sure to wear wellies if you’re after the cranberries, cloudberries and blueberries that bejewel the swampy ground around lakes. All work wonderfully as a garnish in a Finnish G&T; your spirit of choice? Locally made Gustav Metsä ‘Nordic Forest’ gin While most of Finland’s forests are privately owned ‘everyman’s rights’ entitle the general public to roam forage and fish with a line and rod in nature But only experienced foragers will know where to go and which of nature’s bounty is edible so make sure to head out with an experienced guide Foraging is at its best around Jyrkkä; once an ironworks, it's now a charming lakeside village, dotted with smart Scandi cabins for rent. Local hero Henri Jauhiainen and his two black labradors will look after you He might even shoot a wild duck to pop on an open-fire grill that same evening You might also like: Search for your supper: where to go foraging in Europe You’ll return from a day of forest frolicking with a healthy appetite; time to hole up in a traditional Finnish grill house for dinner octagonal cosies have windows all the way round for a panoramic vista and a central open-fire grill where the Nordic magic happens super-lean duck ‘ceviche’ (imagine ruby-red strips of filet-mignon) delicately cleaved from the bone and served on a waxed tranche of aspen Heavily salted duck breasts are then thrown on the sweet-smelling birch-wood grill They’re accompanied by imposing porcini mushrooms; stewed A real ‘game’ changer – if you’ll pardon the pun Punctuating things with a cloudberry and whitecurrant liqueur will give you pause to contemplate the bucket-list meal you’ve just had Some traditional blueberry crumble pie might just fill it it’s a sort of rye pain pavé (square-shaped serving) hollowed then filled with vendace fish and pork but make up your own mind at one of the many independent vendors permanently stationed in Kuopio’s Market Hall Its art nouveau curves are easy to spot in middle of the city’s central market square If you ask with a smile – and maybe buy a cup of fresh sweet-meadow tea – one of the neighbouring cafes will give you a knife and plate to sit and enjoy it properly Sit down to the likes of local poached pike perch with browned butter sautéed carrots and whipped celeriac purée and enjoy an ever-changing vista – the whole restaurant takes one hour to do a 360° rotation guests might see the Northern Lights; in mid-summer you’re guaranteed magic evenings of midnight sun Back on the ground, there’s Restaurant Urban where chef and owner Anssi Kantelinen – winner of Finland’s Top Chef Suomi TV competition Twelve euro gets you an elegant plate of Finnish fare – slow-cooked red deer pasta the restaurant will be open all summer for lunch for the first time If you’re travelling as a couple, you could book into Kuappi found lakeside in the small town of Iisalmi measures a teeny 8 sq metres and is only licensed for two people Keep things Finnish when choosing from the menu: crispy rye-breaded vendace with pickled cucumber (the Finns love to pickle) Pre-booking – which must be done two days in advance – is obligatory and can done through neighbouring restaurant Olutmestari A series of themed foodie weeks will take place from June throughout the summer. The focus will change each week – wild berries and freshwater fish to name a few – and guests can expect expert-led workshops and secret dining experiences hosted by top chefs. A full programme will be released in January 2020 8-13 September: The festival’s theme for 2020 will be ‘food & gastronomy’ The Fish Market Weekend is on at the same time with workshops and picnics for all7 2-20 December: One of the best-known in the country it focuses on local produce with experts on hand to guide you through tastings Damien travelled to Kuopio with the support of Visit Finland. Lonely Planet contributors do not accept freebies in exchange for positive coverage. City of Kuopio is organising a public event on the use of small nuclear reactors in district heat production Steady Energy and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) will open the discussion and answer questions The event will take place on Thursday 5 September 2024 at 17-19.30 at the Council House Valtuustotalo (valtuustosali Council Hall) The aim of the event is to show the residents what small nuclear reactors are and how they can be used in district heat production control and land use planning as part of the design of small nuclear reactors Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the topic with the experts involved motivation and alternatives for small nuclear reactor optionsCEO Esa Lindholm Benefits and opportunities of LRD district heating reactorLauri Muranen Communications and Public Relations Director Waste management of small nuclear reactorsPaula Keto A small nuclear power plant close to residential areas – how does STUK monitor safety?Senior Expert Minna Tuomainen STUK- Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority Planning and participationPlanning Engineer Roope Ruhanen The experts’ presentations will be recorded The recording will be available for viewing on the City of Kuopio website during the autumn In addition to traditional baroque music and period instruments BarokkiKuopio will feature the brightest in electroacoustic music – improvisations premieres and the debut of a new electric piano chord BarokkiKuopio will take place on 17-21 July with the theme Electric / Spark offering audiences baroque music’s melodious sounds electrifying improvisations and lightning-fast reactions The programme will culminate on Sunday 21 July with a concert by Ensemble Nylandia starring Canadian soprano Rachel Fenlon and conducted by Matias Häkkinen which will plunge into the glorious world of Rameau and Handel’s baroque operas Fenlon will also perform as a solo artist on Friday 19 July with the Finnish premiere of the song cycle Sing nature alive from my insides piano music and live electronics in a unique way we will hear an electric piano chord designed by top acoustics expert Jonte Knif The world’s most advanced electro-acoustic clavichord will be heard in Kuopio for the first time in the world For more information and to see the programme of the event, click here.