Location Innovation Hub (LIH) has successfully operated for three years. Coordinated by the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI) of the National Land Survey of Finland, the hub has established itself as a national accelerator for location information and technology development while also expanding its network across Europe. With new EU funding secured, LIH will continue its activities for the next three years.

"We have carried out successful networking with our partners. One example is a discussion event organised with our forestry network on better management of species data among sector stakeholders. This is an example of a complex challenge where collaboration between different stakeholders is essential and where location data can play a key role," says Antti Jakobsson, Location Innovation Hub Project Manager.

Three Years of Impactful Development Work

Together with its partners, LIH has provided free services to over 700 clients, ranging from startups and SMEs to public sector organisations. A large proportion of these clients are based in Finland. Services offered include technical and funding consultations, support for test-before-invest environments, and various training opportunities.

LIH has also published guides to support business development and organised events to introduce location data to diverse audiences. New concepts have been developed under the hub to foster closer collaboration between research, business, and the public sector.

"During its first phase, LIH has contributed to over €12 million in funding obtained by various actors. Another significant achievement is the launch of ESA Phi-Lab Finland, which supports the commercialisation of space technology research," Jakobsson adds.

A Unique Position in the European Network

Location Innovation Hub is part of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) network under the EU’s Digital Europe Programme. A recent report highlights Finland as one of the leading countries in EDIH activities. Finnish hubs have excelled particularly in supporting SMEs and fostering networks, reflected in a high participation rate relative to the population. Compared to larger member states, Finnish EDIHs operate with smaller resources, yet service impact and customer satisfaction exceed the EU average. Finland’s strength lies in the synergy between research and practical applications.

Location Innovation Hub is Europe’s only EDIH focused specifically on location data, and Finnish expertise is in demand internationally. The hub’s next project phase will build on these strengths:

"The Finnish public sector is progressive, investing in data sharing and collaboration. We also have close dialogue with the business community, and sector actors are motivated to drive initiatives together. Research in this field in Finland is also of top quality," Jakobsson notes.

Continuing Operations – New Focus Areas: Defence, Space, and AI Models Based on Digital Twins

With the new funding period, Location Innovation Hub will continue its work across built environment, agriculture, forestry, transport, and logistics sectors. New focus areas include defence and space technology, where strong growth is expected. LIH is also placing a strong focus on artificial intelligence and digital twin-based models, which can offer solutions beyond what current language models can achieve. Additionally, the hub participates in the DataStep project, funded by the Regional Council of Uusimaa, which helps companies leverage opportunities in the data economy and Europe’s emerging data spaces.

The long-term goal is to establish a sustainable model in Finland that supports innovation development, testing services, and funding applications both nationally and across Europe. Ensuring national funding and collaboration with other Finnish EDIHs will be key for continued success.

More information:

Antti Jakobsson, Project Manager, Location Innovation Hub, firstname.lastname@nls.fi

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