Joensuu

Joensuu is the the lively capital of the North Karelia Region in Finland. It is located next to the Russian border and about 400 km North-East from the capital of the country, Helsinki. Joensuu is a vital city with a growing and relatively young population. Of the total population of 73,000 almost 20,000 are pupils and students. Joensuu is also growing area-wise: From the 1.1.2009 the neighbouring municipalities of Eno and Pyhäselkä merged with Joensuu and increased the population up to 72,000.

Currently, the most important business areas include metal industry, wood and forestry sector, as well as expertise related to the border region and cross-border collaboration. Joensuu Regional Development company JOSEK Ltd in collaboration with other stakeholders foster the development of business activities in the area. Joensuu is also the forestry capital of Europe with a stronghold in research, inclusive the European Forest Institute and Joensuu Science Park. The population within the economic region of Joensuu totals up to 123,000.

Joensuu hosts as many as three higher education institutions, North Karelia University of Applies Sciences, University of Eastern Finland and HUMAK University of Applied Sciences and a number of vacational colleges and upper secondary schools.

Besides the higher education institutions, science and business scene, Joensuu is also a city where a number of recent Finnish films have been made, where you can find the Karelian folk (the most talkative ones in Finland) and where the summer rock festival (Ilosaarirock) is sold out every year months before the event. When going out of the city centre you can find silence, peace and nature like nowhere else in Europe.

Joensuu believes in regional and international cooperation as one of the motors for the development. This cooperation is materialised in numerous projects in different areas of expertise, within various networks and between different players. One of the strengths of Joensuu is the excellent and lively collaboration between the different stakeholders in the city.