Entrepreneurship service ecosystem for immigrants

What

The Entrepreneurship Service Ecosystem for Immigrants is a project funded by the European Union and launched in spring 2026. The project aims to improve the employment of immigrants through entrepreneurship. The project is implemented by the City of Riihimäki's International House Riihimäki, the South Häme Employment Area (EHTA), Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) and Hyria.

In addition to the implementing organizations, the project will be implemented in close cooperation with the regional development companies Business Riihimäki and Janakkalan Yrityskehitys Oy, as well as the other municipalities in the region, Janakkala, Hausjärvi and Loppi. Regional entrepreneur organizations, existing immigrant companies in the region, and the third sector will also be represented in a diverse way in the project development work.

The project will develop a joint, permanent service model for the region's municipalities and other entities promoting entrepreneurship to support entrepreneurship among people with an immigrant background. The service model includes an easily accessible and comprehensive information and training package that encourages and prepares for entrepreneurship, as well as two alternative service paths to entrepreneurship.

Three core needs on which the project is based

1) The aim is to reduce unemployment among foreign speakers by offering entrepreneurship as a means of livelihood and employment.

2) Entrepreneurship support services are often seen as fragmented and difficult to access for immigrants, so a common service model for supporting immigrant entrepreneurship through close cooperation between different actors is the answer to this.

3) Immigrants do not have enough information about the opportunities and conditions for entrepreneurship in Finland, so the project will create an easily accessible information and training package on entrepreneurship, especially for all studying and unemployed immigrants.

Key objectives of the project

1) Increasing employment among immigrants by providing clear information and services related to entrepreneurship and by marketing entrepreneurship as a source of livelihood.

2) Develop a joint, permanent service model for the municipalities of South Häme and other entities promoting entrepreneurship, which can be extended to other employment areas, to support entrepreneurship among people with an immigrant background.

3) Clarify the roles and cooperation of municipalities, educational institutions and municipal development companies to promote entrepreneurship in the region.

When

The development program will be implemented between May 1, 2026 and April 30, 2028.

Funding

The total amount of support granted for the group project is 370,185 euros. Of this, the share of the Riihimäki sub-implementation is 118,683 euros. The development project is co-financed by the European Union and the support share is a maximum of 75% of the total costs.

About the project

You can find all project-related information, current events and news on this page.