Updated 19.05.2026
Anita Ahlstrand

Staff

Anita Ahlstrand

Innovation Director

Doctoral researcher at Tampere University, Doctoral Program in Health Sciences (MSc)

Future Proof Health and Wellbeing Innovation Hub

Together we create opportunities for an equal, good and healthy life.

Responsibilities and tasks

Development Manager

  • Strategy-driven process development in the Innovation Hub
  • Debuty Innovation Director
  • U!REKA SHIFT; Leading the Center of Expertise - Innovative Governance Models & Citizen Engagement
  • national and international ecosystem, project work and networking
  • Strategic Steering Group Work in the Southern Finland Cooperation Area 

Projects

  • U!REKA SHIFT
  • Metropolia Smart Care -collaboration platform co-creation
  • NEST Co-Creating a New Form of Governance in Societal Transition for Healthy Living (Erasmus+)

Language skills

Swedish: Excellent English: Excellent

Publications

  • Ahlstrand 2026. Tulos syntyy tiimityössä -merkityksellisyyden ja arvostuksen voima tutkimus-, kehittämis- ja innovaatiotoiminnassa. Julkaistu 24.2.2026 Metrospektiivi Pro. https://urn:nbn:fi:muas-issn-2984-4134-235
  • Ahlstrand Anita & Virtanen Mari 2025. Sote-digitalisaation ytimessä 3/3: Yhdessä kohti tulevaisuuskestävää terveydenhuoltoa. Julkaistu 2.10.2025. Metrospektiivi Pro. https://urn:nbn:fi:muas-issn-2984-4134-166

  • Ahlstrand, A., Virtanen, M. & Sinisalo, S. 2025. Sote-dig…

Networks

  • International alliance U!Reka
  • Steering group in Southern Finland for the preparation of Research, Education, Development, Innovation program 
  • National SOTE-AI ecosystem
  • National Social innovations Centre of Excellence (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare) 
  • National DigiHealth network

Mandates

  • Member of the Innokylä Strategic Steering Group
  • Member of the Keusote Steering Group
  • Member of the Strategic Steering Group in the Southern Finland Cooperation Area (Research, Education, Development, Innovation program)

Interests

  • multidisciplinary and people-centered co-creation and innovations
  • Digital transformation in healthcare
  • Emerging technologies (such as robotics) in future healthcare
  • development in partnership
  • boundary-breaking and creative co-development
  • strengthenin the involvement of stakeholders in co-creation and innovation
  • national and international collaboration in ecosystems
  • RDI-integrated learning
  • regional development