LAB Focus Blogs
The blogs of LAB's four focus areas bring forth each focus area’s RDI and education activities.
Publication series
The LAB publication series publishes reports, monographs and compilations based on the RDI and higher education teaching activities at LAB.
All publications in the series are available online via Theseus.
About publishing in LAB
You can read more about LAB’s publishing activities from the LAB Guide to publishing and open science. The guide also offers information about open science, how to evaluate scholarly publications, and how to promote your research.
For any additional information or questions, please contact julkaisut
lab [dot] fi (julkaisut[at]lab[dot]fi)
Latest articles
LAB Open
How Migrants’ Cultural Values Could Strengthen Finland’s Future Economy
Finland is at a crossroads. With a declining birth rate, an ageing population, and increasing pressure on the welfare system, the country faces long-term demographic and economic challenges. Yet, hidden within these challenges lies an opportunity: the cultural values and economic potential of Finland’s migrant communities. Source
Upskilling social and health care professionals to innovate digital solutions for Wellbeing Services Counties in Finland
Since the reform of the Wellbeing Services Counties in Finland in 2023, the primary goals have been to ensure equal access to services, reduce inequalities, and manage the rising costs of service provision. Achieving these goals requires competencies, such as multiprofessional teamwork, utilization of technological solutions, service system expertise, and advanced problem-solving skills. A specialization education programme was developed collaboratively by 14 Finnish universities of applied sciences to support Counties’ needs. This qualitative study explores the digital solutions the participants in the programme developed. They applied service design methods in their development projects, resulting in concrete, digital-related solutions tailored to organizational needs. The findings indicate that the specialization training effectively promoted digitalization objectives and contributed new competencies and meaningful innovations to the social and healthcare sector. Source
Use of NIR technologies in agro-biomass quality monitoring
Development of new digital technologies for quality verification could promote utilisation of field biomasses in bioeconomy. In BioCarbonValue project, LAB conducted a weathering test in laboratory to monitor the possible decay in straw quality during storage by using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) and by analysing microbiological and chemical properties. This article introduces NIR as a possible solution for quality monitoring and describes how storing conditions may impact to the straw quality. Source
LAB Focus
Fungal growth on spruce samples treated with birch bark extracts
This article is a follow-up on the bachelor’s thesis by De Meester (2025, 30–32) researching birch bark extracts, such as betulin and pyrolysis distillates, as a potential sustainable alternative for current commercial wood preservatives. The bachelor’s thesis is part of the KOIVUA project at LAB University of Applied Sciences (LAB University of Applied Sciences 2024). […] The post Fungal growth on spruce samples treated with birch bark extracts appeared first on LAB Focus.
AI, Offices, and Sustainability
Workspace design is guided by the goal of efficiency. The open-plan office promised continuous conversations, faster decision-making, and stronger teamwork, with no physical barriers blocking interaction between colleagues (BHIVE Workspace 2024). Yet, while open layouts may increase informal encounters, they often reduce genuine collaboration. While intended to boost interaction and innovation, shifts from rooms with […] The post AI, Offices, and Sustainability appeared first on LAB Focus.
Commercialization of educational activities – considerations and benefits
Innovation management is a key factor in an organization’s success and maintaining its competitiveness. Innovation management encompasses both the processes and strategies that enable the development and commercialization of new ideas, products, and services. Commercialization is the process of turning an innovation into commercial products or services. Innovation management includes product development and its management […] The post Commercialization of educational activities – considerations and benefits appeared first on LAB Focus.