The agreement, in force since 1 January 2026, aims to strengthen Jyväskylä’s position as a hub for the gaming industry, digital technology and related fields. Key focus areas include student employment, education development, R&D, international visibility and new company creation.

According to Expa Chair Valtteri “Wanda” Lahti, Jyväskylä has long had all the ingredients for growth – education, talent, companies and a strong community – and the agreement now brings them together under shared goals. Lahti was recently awarded Power Player of the Year by the Finnish game industry and recognised for advancing the agreement.

Expa supports educational institutions in tracking industry trends, identifying skills needs, finding experts and building students’ connections to working life. An annual matchmaking event brings together students, companies, internships, job opportunities and entrepreneurship support.

Students will also have access to Expa’s international #XmasJKL game business seminar.

According to Professor Raine Koskimaa, gaming education is a strategic strength for Jyväskylä, with strong potential to build a full talent pipeline from early interest to employment, entrepreneurship or international careers.

The cooperation will also produce joint publications, industry insights and visibility, while strengthening the Digi & Game Center as a hub for gaming and digital technology. The aim is to create an ecosystem where education, research, companies, startups, students and international networks support each other and generate growth.

According to Programme Manager Sanna Laakso, the gaming sector is part of a broader digital and creative economy, and with close collaboration between the city, educational institutions and companies, Jyväskylä has strong potential to become one of Finland’s leading gaming hubs – a place where talent can study, find work, start businesses and grow internationally. 

Expa is a Jyväskylä-based game cooperative founded in 2012 and the local IGDA Finland hub lead. It operates as an open community, network and development platform for Central Finland’s gaming sector. EduJyväskylä brings together Jamk, the University of Jyväskylä and Gradia in cooperation with the city.

While Jyväskylä has had an active gaming ecosystem for over a decade, it has lacked a permanent, unified structure. The new agreement makes Expa’s ecosystem work a shared, resourced and measurable development programme, with impact tracked through indicators such as student employment, internships, events, new companies, investments, international visibility, projects, funding and publications.