Turku University of Applied Sciences
Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS) is a multidisciplinary institution of higher education that offers competitive qualifications in seven educational fields. The main aims of TUAS are the development of higher professional education and expertise in Southwest Finland as well as regional development in close interaction with the operational environment. Future-oriented education and RDI measures contribute to prosperity and well-being based on ecologically and ethically sustainable development. TUAS produces versatile applied research and development services for enterprises and working communities. Applied research and development co-operation speeds up implementation of new knowledge into business. In DefenceArch project TUAS act as a lead partner providing expertise in the field of e.g. tourism, marketing, media, sustainable development and accessibility for the pilot destinations.
Parks & Wildlife Finland
Parks & Wildlife Finland (P&WF) is a public organization that belongs to the state-run enterprise Metsähallitus. P&WF manages Finnish National Parks, a total of 39 parks (www.outdoors.fi). The Archipelago National Park expanded in the beginning of 2015 when a former fortress island of Örö was included in the park. P&WF accounts for infrastructure, long term investments and the sustainability of tourism. The Central Baltic Programme funding of this project will be used to develop the heavily fortified southern tip of the island into a unique sight of coastal defence history. Accessibility, renovation and guidance are the keys in bringing old monuments back to life in a sustainable way.
Visit Åland
Visit Åland (VÅ) is a destination management company with the tasks of marketing and destination development of Åland tourism. VÅ is funded by the Government ofÅland and thus has very good contacts with politicians and the public sector. Visit Åland’s msion is to promote Åland outside Åland, thus the organization has strong knowledge of the Nordic and European tourism. In this project VÅ collaborates with Bomarsund Society which is a local non-profit association that wants to preserve and disseminate knowledge about Bomarsund. The Society will be an important player during and after project.
The Stockholm Archipelago Foundation
The Stockholm Archipelago Foundation owns and manages 40 nature reserves, approximately 12% of the archipelago area in Stockholm. The purpose of the foundation, which was founded 1959, is to ensure that the public can visit the nature reserves for recreational activities. The Archipelago Foundation has a deep experience and competence in conservation and care of the archipelagos natural and cultural heritage. The Foundation cares for the natural environment through grazing and forest clearing. 90 combined toilets, waste and recycling facilities, help saving the environment. The Foundation owns and preserves more than 3 000 buildings, many of them with high cultural values. Hostels, tourist cabins, restaurants and guest harbours cater for the visitors needs. The organisation has for many years worked with destination development and marketing. In this project the Foundation will open for visitors the Gålö seal farm. During World War II, the military had a seal station in Galö where seals were trained to spot foreign submarines, a project that was kept secret for many years. E.g. the rundown buildings in Gålö will be renovated and story-rich digital outputs created.
The Åboland Archipelago Foundation
The Åboland Archipelago Foundation was established to support activities which make it possible to live year-round in the archipelago and to encourage the arrival of new residents to the islands. The foundation seeks to promote sustainable economic, ecological and sociocultural development in the Åboland Archipelago. The foundation is a mayor share holder of the Korpoström Archipelago Centre – a place where science, culture and nature meet and coexist in the past, present and future. The Centre is the gate to the Archipelago National Park and the Centre provides an ample space for different changing exhibitions, comfortable accommodation, a guest harbour and a restaurant. The Center provides a unique venue for meetings and conferences. A separate Program Committee works with the Center and provides additional expertise in planning activities and exhibits at the Korpoström Archipelago Center. There is an abundance of military history in the Åboland Archipelago, of which some legends date as far back as to the days of the Swedish king Gustavus Vasa and e.g. the current site of the Korpoström Center was once the scene of one of the largest sea-battles between Sweden and Russia.