WAN-IFRA Launches GAMI Incubator #Finland to Drive Innovation and Collaboration in the Finnish Media Industry
Thursday, March 27, 2025 – WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, has announced the launch of a new programme aimed at fostering collaboration between media organisations and technology companies in Finland. The GAMI Incubator #Finland, a one-year coaching and funding programme, is being implemented in partnership with Finnmedia and Finland’s Media Industry Research Foundation.
The programme, initiated by WAN-IFRA’s Global Alliance for Media Innovation (GAMI), aims to drive positive change in the Finnish media industry and support the future of professional journalism. With the rapidly changing digital landscape, it is crucial for the media industry to embrace new technologies, products, and business models. This requires fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, driving innovation within the sector, and supporting transformation and change in news media organisations.
According to Noora Alanne, Executive Director of the Media Industry Research Foundation and Growth Director of Finnmedia, “The future of media depends on our ability to innovate. This programme is a unique opportunity to connect Finnish media companies with bold, forward-thinking international tech partners—and to experiment, learn and grow together. By fostering collaboration and supporting innovation, we’re laying the foundation for a more resilient, data-driven and globally competitive media industry.”
The GAMI Incubator #Finland programme aims to facilitate collaboration between legacy media and startups/tech companies, support new skills uptake and technology adoption in Finnish newsrooms, create opportunities for promising international startups/tech companies in the Finnish media landscape, and share best practices and lessons learned across the Finnish media industry.
The call for applications, which was published on March 27, 2025, is open to all Finnish media companies eager to solve a challenge in the field of personalisation, data science, data journalism, fact-checking and disinformation, new tech for producing, processing and publishing content, AI and Generative AI, AR/VR immersive technologies, and more. From this call, three Finnish news media organisations will be selected and connected to three carefully selected international startups or tech companies. The six-month collaboration phase will start in September 2025 and will be accompanied by ad-hoc coaching from external industry experts in change management and tech innovation. The programme will culminate in February 2026 with a proof of concept presentation at an open event to the rest of the Finnish news media industry.
Applications are open to Finnish media companies (news or magazine publishers), members of WAN-IFRA or Finnmedia. Eligibility conditions for startups/tech companies will be published during the summer. More information about GAMI Incubator #Finland, including eligibility criteria, focus areas, and timeline, can be found in the programme’s fact sheet.
WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, is the global organisation of the world’s press, comprising 3,000 news publishers and technology companies and 60 national publishers’ associations representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries. The organisation’s mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers around the world to operate independent media. WAN-IFRA provides its members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in society. The World Editors Forum is its network for editors. For more information, visit wan-ifra.org.
The Finnish Media Federation (Finnmedia) is an advocacy organisation for private companies in the media and printing industries. Finnmedia focuses its advocacy on industrial policy and labour market policies while also promoting new growth in the media industry. Its member companies promote freedom of speech, Finnish culture, and democracy by producing quality Finnish media products and services across all channels. Finnmedia and its member associations – Federation of the Printing Industry in Finland, Finnish Magazine Media Association, Finnish Publishers Association, News Media Finland, and RadioMedia – include a total of 600 member companies. To learn more, visit www.medialiitto.fi/finnmedia.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.