The aim of the study visit was to learn from Finnish experience in developing the agri-food sector and related ICT technologies (tools, systems, and services for creating, processing, storing, and transmitting information in digital form), as well as to strengthen cooperation between research institutions, business, and local government.
New digital technologies in the food sector, sustainable development initiatives, innovative R&D projects, meetings with representatives of business, institutions, and foreign universities — these inspirations and insights, which can be applied in the academic activity of Bialystok University of Technology, were the result of the visit to Finland held from 15 to 19 September 2025 as part of the project “Regional project for building the region’s potential within the PPO (Entrepreneurial Discovery Process).”
– The study visit to Finland was an extremely inspiring experience for me – says Dr Ewa Zapora from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences of Bialystok University of Technology. – I was able to see how Finnish institutions, including the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the University of Helsinki, combine science, business, and local government in developing innovation, particularly in the agri-food sector and ICT area. The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Helsinki, which ranks very high in international university rankings, currently conducts numerous R&D projects, demonstrating its strong scientific and practical potential. I was particularly impressed by their practical approach to research – project results are quickly implemented in the economy while maintaining the principles of sustainable development.
Establishing international contacts may open the way for cooperation between natureTECH – the Research Centre for Natural Products of Bialystok University of Technology and VTT as well as the University of Helsinki. This creates new opportunities for joint research and development projects that will strengthen the innovative potential of Bialystok University of Technology.
The programme of the visit to Finland included, among others:
- Food Days Seinäjoki 2025 – an international event held on 16–18 September 2025 at Rytmikorjaamo in Seinäjoki. The fair brought together representatives of science, business, and public administration, focusing on topics such as sustainable development, innovations in the food value chain, and digital technologies in the food sector. Participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences and establish international contacts.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland – a visit to one of Europe’s largest and most important research and development centres, where opportunities for cooperation in technological innovation and sustainable development were discussed.
- Enterprise Europe Network and Helsinki Business Partners – meetings with representatives of these organisations, which support business internationalisation and innovation development by providing advisory and brokerage services.
- Foodwest – an innovation centre in the food sector that supports the development of new products and technologies, offering research and consultancy services to food industry companies.
- Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SeAMK) – a visit to the university specialising in education and research in food, agriculture, and technology. The university actively cooperates with industry and research institutions, implementing R&D projects.
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry – a meeting with Prof. Mari Sandell, who presented the Faculty’s research potential in sustainable development in the agricultural and forestry sectors.
Through the exchange of experience and building relationships with Finnish scientific and business institutions, new initiatives can be created that will foster the development of innovative solutions in the agri-food and ICT sectors.
The “Regional project for building the region’s potential within the PPO (Entrepreneurial Discovery Process)” is a comprehensive initiative aimed at fostering the process of entrepreneurial discovery and network cooperation in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Entrepreneurial discovery involves identifying new opportunities, especially in the areas of research and development, experimentation, and learning from the best to gain unique competitive advantages.
The project is financed by the European Funds for Podlaskie 2021–2027.
(mz)
See the photo gallery from Dr Ewa Zapora’s study visit
photo: Ewa Zapora / Bialystok University of Technology
