Smart Work 2027: The OpinEKO Model to Support the Green Transition
The Smart Work page presents everyday innovations and success stories developed by the employees of the City of Hämeenlinna.
OpinEKO was born from the idea of combining three needs: making use of the expertise of international sustainability professionals already living in the region, supporting SMEs in meeting the requirements of the green transition, and promoting the employment and integration of international professionals. The model creates a new channel for matching expertise with business needs. At the same time, it supports the objectives of the City of Hämeenlinna’s strategy.
OpinEKO is a sustainability training programme in which international professionals carry out short-term green transition projects in local SMEs, such as developing ISO 14001 environmental management systems, calculating greenhouse gas emissions, and completing tasks related to CSRD and ESRS reporting. The model was piloted in spring 2026 together with PUHI Oy.
Results from the spring OpinEKO programme:
- six participants
- six industry placements
- three completed sustainability projects
- continued business collaboration and new development projects
The model received recognition at the University of Jyväskylä’s JYU Wisdom Days 2026 conference, where I presented a summary.
OpinEKO is a scalable operating model that can be expanded across the entire Kanta-Häme region. The next steps include establishing the model as part of the municipality’s operations, expanding it to new SMEs and industries, finding new work placement opportunities, and deepening cooperation with HAMK.
Developer
Galagama Ralalage Aruna Sampath, Project Planner, International Residents’ Services