Helka Kalliomäki is an Associate Professor in Regional Studies and Head of the Administrative Sciences Performance Unit at the University of Vaasa. She is an urban and regional studies scholar with broad expertise in science and innovation policy and in collaborative research with stakeholders. Helka’s current research focuses on changing science–society relations, urban and regional sustainability transitions, and the spatial dimensions of innovation policy. She is the Principal Investigator of the STRAIND project, working closely with the project team across all work packages and ensuring the project’s broad societal impact. View Helka’s university profile here.

Assistant Professor Antti Mäenpää has a focus on studying sustainability transitions and regional development. Antti has also studied regional innovation policies, particularly Smart Specialisation policies since their early implementation in 2013 and across various European regions. One of these focus areas has been the local energy cluster in Vaasa. Antti also has worked as external expert of the European Commission (JRC), conducting case study analysis. In the STRAIND project Antti will lead WP2 which focuses on case studies. View Antti’s university profile here.

Jari Kaivo-oja is Research Director at the Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Economics, and at the University of Turku. He is Adjunct Professor at the University of Helsinki (futures-oriented planning sciences of human geography), the University of Vaasa (technology foresight, knowledge management, and applied digitalisation research), and the University of Lapland (foresight and innovation research). Jari has participated in research projects of the European Commission, the Academy of Finland, the European Foundation, the European Parliament, the Nordic Innovation Centre, Eurostat, and NATO. He has collaborated with numerous SMEs and corporations and has served as a reviewer for 16 academic journals. He is also Professor at Kazimieras Simonavičius University (KSU) in Vilnius, Lithuania. Jari is the Senior Researcher of the STRAIND project, working closely with the project team across all work packages, with a particular focus on WP3, ensuring the project’s broad societal impact. View Jari’s university profile here.

Yrjö Myllylä is a visionary research leader and strategic architect specializing in foresight-driven innovation. He is Adjunct Professor at the University of Eastern Finland, specializing in regional development and foresight. He has applied and developed foresight methodologies in cluster-based regional development projects, also as an entrepreneur—examples include Arctic maritime technology and, more recently, semiconductor industry foresight. Currently, he works as a Senior Researcher at the Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Economics, University of Turku. Myllylä is an expert in the Delphi method and hybrid foresight approaches, focusing on designing methodologically sound options for decision-making. In the STRAIND project, he plays a key role in planning and implementing Work Package 3, which integrates the Delphi method with the Boston Consulting Group’s product portfolio matrix and the Six-Stage Model for Profitable Growth. View Yrjö’s university profile here.

Johanna Kalliokoski (M.Sc., Admin.) is a final-year doctoral student in Regional Studies at the School of Management, University of Vaasa. Her doctoral dissertation investigates inclusive innovation policies and urban development in an international context. Johanna brings to STRAIND her versatile experience in coordinating and working in multidisciplinary research projects, along with her expertise in innovation policies and urban development. She has previously contributed to research projects focused on, for example, mission-oriented innovation policies and suburban development through innovative activities. In STRAIND, Johanna serves as Project Manager, overseeing its overall progress and implementing the project’s communications plan. Additionally, she leads Work Package 5, which focuses on co-creating policy messages and impact pathways, utilizing the Participatory Systems Mapping (PSM) methodology.