Application launch – Press release 22.1.26

PRESS RELEASE – Free for publishing 22.1.2026

EU-funded Finnish–Swedish project launches a mobile app to support migrant integration

A new EU-funded digital solution aims to make migrant integration easier and more accessible across Europe. VINCE – Virtual Integration Home, a three-year project (2023–2026) developed through close cooperation between Finland and Sweden, is launching an AI-powered mobile application that helps migrants access reliable information, language support and safe digital spaces that complement face-to-face services.

Across Europe, migrants often struggle to find trustworthy, up-to-date information about everyday services, rights and local practices. Language barriers, fragmented information sources and limited access to in-person support – especially for people living outside major cities or balancing work, family or health constraints – can slow down integration and increase the risk of social exclusion. VINCE responds to this challenge with a digital, user-centred solution designed for everyday needs.

The application will be launched in Finland on Thursday, 22 January 2026, from 10:00 to 13:00 at the Turku City Theatre, where participants will be able to test the app in practice.

The launch also marks an important milestone for the project. VINCE has been selected as a Strategic Project by the Interreg Central Baltic Programme, recognising its key role in meeting programme goals and showing the tangible impact of EU funding through a solution with strong potential for transfer and scale-up across regions.

The VINCE application combines three core features: Ask AI, AI-powered language services, and virtual rooms. Artificial intelligence is used to collect, sort and filter information from trusted online sources, keeping content up to date without manual maintenance. User data is not stored in any cloud. Initially, the app will be available for test use by customers of the partner organizations through the Google Play store.

Users can type or speak questions and receive answers as text or speech. Built-in translation, speech-to-text and text-to-speech services support communication across languages. Virtual rooms enable counselling sessions, language classes, information events and informal gatherings, while also offering educational environments that help users learn everyday vocabulary and local customs in an immersive way.

“Migration is part of Europe, and integration support must evolve accordingly. VINCE is about empowering people with knowledge and confidence, so they can navigate their new society independently,” says Riina Riihimäki, Project Manager at Turku University of Applied Sciences.

Designed with migrants, for migrants

Inclusive service design is at the heart of the VINCE project. Migrants have been actively involved throughout the three-year development period, with feedback from dozens of end-user testing events directly shaping the application’s content, usability and overall user experience.

The technical development is led by Turku University of Applied Sciences’ Futuristic Interactive Technologies (FIT) research group, combining digital innovation with strong social impact.

“Our goal has been to build technology that truly serves people. By working closely with users, we now have a proof of concept that works – and works well,” says Axel Lindberg, Project Engineer at Turku University of Applied Sciences.

A strong European dimension

VINCE is built in close cooperation between Finnish and Swedish partners: Turku UAS, City of Turku, and Sateenkaari Koto ry in Finland, together with the Refugee Health Center and County Administrative Board of Östergötland in Sweden. This cross-border collaboration has enabled the sharing of expertise in social work, service design and digital innovation.

“Working across borders has shown us how similar our challenges – and values – really are. Together we have created something stronger than any partner could alone,” says Katja Ollikainen, Project Manager at Sateenkaari Koto ry.

With a total budget of €2.2 million, VINCE demonstrates how European funding can translate shared challenges into concrete, scalable solutions. The project partners see VINCE as a foundation for developing future digital integration services across Europe and hope the support for this kind of initiatives continues.

For more information

Riina Riihimäki, project manager, Turku UAS, p. +358 50-475 4726, riina.riihimaki@turkuamk.fi
Axel Lindberg, project engineer, Turku UAS, +358 50 436 4134, axel.lindberg@turkuamk.fi

Project webpage: https://centralbaltic.eu/project/vince/  
Watch video: https://youtu.be/SMjbWzmZR_U?si=6o7m5hv7Hb837ieC