The broadening of fiber materials and technology is led by Spinnova and Metsä in Central Finland. Jyväskylä has a long tradition of developing fiber industry and technology, dating back to the paper technology pioneered by Valmet in the 1950s and later strongly supported by VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland).

The new opportunities in the fiber sector require investments and collaborative projects. Spinnova's technology already enables the conversion of various waste streams, such as leather and agricultural waste, into textile fibers. This is expected to increase textile customers' interest in participating in fiber-related development work to minimize environmental impact.

Fiber technologies are not limited to the textile industry but can also be widely applicable in other fields. An example is Aisti, originating from Jyväskylä, which produces wood fiber-based acoustic panels.

The war in Ukraine triggered an energy crisis in Europe, which is likely to accelerate the ongoing energy transition. The energy transition plays a central role in the strategy of the city of Jyväskylä.

The previous government's decision to gradually phase out the use of peat as an energy source is speeding up the energy transition in Central Finland, which is being financed by the JTF funding from the EU in spring 2023.

Digital solutions also create significant opportunities for optimizing energy usage and developing new solutions in the circular economy sector.

The city of Jyväskylä actively strives to promote and accelerate its carbon neutrality goals, particularly in the Eteläportti industrial area. The adoption of energy flexibility, along with other energy-efficient applications and digital tools, provides a competitive advantage for both Jyväskylä and businesses.

The advancement of coating technology encourages the replacement of plastics with various biomaterials. This creates opportunities and the need for developing various new and robust coating solutions. In Central Finland, leading companies in advanced coating include Valmet and Metsä.

The broadening use of various biomaterials, the development of coating and nanotechnology, and expertise in biomaterial handling have become essential themes in different industries due to the demand for alternative and sustainable materials, requiring innovative solutions.

Jyväskylä possesses strong expertise in the digitalization of industrial manufacturing, both among leading companies in the region such as Valmet, Valtra, Moventas, Tana, and DB Santasalo, as well as in top-level research and development competence in the area within the local universities. This expertise spans across fields such as information systems, scientific computing, data analytics, cybersecurity, well-being technologies, game technologies, and learning.

Key areas of expertise that drive the digitalization of manufacturing include 3D technologies, human and behavioral sciences, human-machine interface technologies, simulation, robotics and automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT).