Innovations boost competiveness in Finland and Helsinki

Strategically located between East and West, competitive and innovative Finland is the ideal place to meet and do business. The Nordic nation’s high level of education, scientific expertise, flourishing start-up culture, unrivalled safety and social stability combine to offer the ideal conditions for meetings and organising world-class congresses.

The December 2015 issue of Forbes magazine ranked Finland as the world’s 6^th best country for business, while in January 2016 the US-based ITF Foundation named Finland the most innovative country in the world. In these and other global listings, Finland consistently scores highly for its innovativeness and business-friendly environment, which are supported by its economic and trade policies, high level of education, tax system, individual freedoms and lack of corruption.

Helsinki ranks among the world’s top 20 most popular congress cities (UIA)

The atmosphere of innovation is nurtured by extremely active cooperation between universities and companies. Finland benefits from a tight-knit network of public and private sector support services. In Helsinki, the business-friendly atmosphere is further backed up by activities that promote the creation of new start-ups.

Helsinki – the dynamic centre for research and business

The nation’s capital is also the leading region in Finland for research and development, as well as for innovation investments, a highly skilled workforce, leading research institutions and universities.

Helsinki has one of the most highly educated workforces in the world: more than a quarter of the workforce has a tertiary higher education qualification (18% have a Master’s or PhD). The region is home to seven universities and seven universities of applied sciences teaching more than 95,000 students (The Times Higher Education University Rankings in March 2016 listed six Finnish universities among Europe’s 200 best universities).

The start-up conference Slush has played a big role in stimulating the booming start-up scene in Helsinki.

International companies appreciate Helsinki’s prime location, the ease of doing business here, the culture of fresh thinking and the overall quality of life. With its diverse and strong business ecosystem, Helsinki has been identified as one of the top ten most attractive investment locations in Europe. This is backed up by the over 2100 foreign-owned companies in the region.

Growth programmes boost competitiveness

The innovative environment for scientific research and business in Helsinki and Finland is further nourished by numerous initiatives and growth programmes. Cleantech, healthtech and life sciences, ICT and digitalisation, the creative industries and design, and travel and tourism are all on the agenda when it comes to investing in growth and being a global leader in innovation.

In recent decades Finland has invested heavily in R&D, especially in the fields of biotechnology and life sciences. Close collaboration between companies, universities and research institutes has created fertile ground for business and research.

Healthtech too is a dynamic field in Finland, and a lot of this expertise and knowledge capital can be found in Helsinki. For example, the “Health Capital Helsinki” initiative is driving growth within the region by inviting companies, investors, scientists and students to cooperate.

Similarly, the “Smart & Clean Helsinki Capital Region” initiative is creating a global reference area for intelligent and ecologically sustainable solutions.

Safe and organized, happy and green

Finland is a safe country where the high level of social stability and overall functionality creates a positive business environment and offers the ideal conditions also for organising major international congresses.

In the 2016 World Happiness Report, which looks at social support, healthy life expectancy, generosity, corruption and freedom to make life choices, Finland was ranked in 5^th position.

Finland is also a country of wide open spaces and beautiful nature. According to the annual Environmental Performance Index (EPI), Finland claimed the number one spot out of 180 countries.

Its central location, world-class expertise and scientific research, unrivalled safety and social stability combined with solid experience in organising congresses make Finland and Helsinki the ideal location for your next meeting!

www.visitfinland.com

www.meethelsinki.fi