What if staying active felt like play, not a chore? That’s exactly what CSE Entertainment, a Finnish innovator based in Kainuu, is making possible with its exergaming technology. At the heart of CSE’s mission is a belief that movement should be accessible, joyful, and integrated into everyday spaces, from schools to airports. For the series “SMEs in the Spotlight”, we spoke with Kaisa Ottavainen-Nurkkala, CFO of CSE Entertainment, to understand how the company is combining gaming, wellbeing, and innovation while an active part of the European I3-INSHAPE project.

Kaisa, can you introduce CSE Entertainment?

CSE designs and manufactures world-class interactive active gaming solutions that inspire movement, connection, and fun for people of all ages and abilities. 

What kind of solutions does CSE Entertainment offer? How do you stand out in the market?

CSE provides active gaming solutions that seamlessly combine movement, fun, and social interaction in a wide range of public spaces. Our products are designed to make exercise feel like entertainment. Users often don’t even realise how effective their workout is while they’re gaming. Our solutions stand out thanks to their intuitive, user-friendly design: they are easy to operate and require no wearables or prior experience. This makes them ideal for diverse environments such as schools, sports facilities, indoor activity parks, hotels, airports, and more. By lowering the barrier to physical activity, CSE empowers people of all ages and abilities to move more, have fun, and connect with others. Our mission is to make movement engaging and accessible, anywhere people gather. 

Could you share a success story where CSE Entertainment has made a significant impact in the sports field?

Since 2012, we’ve been creating world-class active gaming attractions that inspire movement and fun. Today, our solutions reach over 5 million people every month across more than 60 countries. We believe that joy and movement are rights for every person, regardless of age, gender, or ability. That’s why we’ve dedicated ourselves to creating products that promote well-being, maintain health, and help people learn new skills.  

What is your contribution or role in the I3-INSHAPE project?

We have expertise in utilising virtuality and gamification in physical activity. We understand how exergaming can enhance well-being and reduce inactivity. We also have ex

perience in exporting to multiple geographic regions (65 countries) and customer segments. 

What is, according to you, the importance of a project like I3-INSHAPE and the broader INSHAPE European Network of Innovation Hubs?

A healthy lifestyle cannot be achieved through commands or obligations: it requires inspiration, accessibility, and collaboration. To effectively increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour, we must develop diverse and engaging solutions that meet people where they are. By bringing together stakeholders across the sports and wellness ecosystem, we can co-create new and innovative ways to support healthier living. From technology providers to educators, municipalities to private sector actors, everyone has a role to play. 

What are your expectations for the future of CSE Entertainment within the I3-INSHAPE project? 

It is important for us to increase physical activity, social interaction, and active engagement through our company’s exergaming products. Using our company’s own data, we can 

track the number of exercise sessions and the amount of physical activity. Through the INSHAPE project, we aim to explore new ways and methods, for example, through coll

aboration with universities, to measure the impact more comprehensively in the future. This data will help us analyse and monitor physical activity performed with our products more accurately and in greater detail. 

What’s one key takeaway you’d like people to remember about INSHAPE?

In the future, CSE aims to reach customer groups and partners for whom the individual and societal well-being i

mpacts are important. Research-based approach is a key competitive advantag

e in international markets, and collaboration with universities enables, for example, the development of new products based on scientific evidence. 

Learn more about CSE Entertainment on 🌐www.cse.is