Finland’s local ecosystems are transforming global industries

One of the ways Business Finland nurtures local innovation is through our Leading Company funding mechanism.

The initiative is designed to encourage large Finnish companies, or international companies with a subsidiary in Finland, to take the lead in developing an ecosystem for their specific area of industry. We currently support 22 such ecosystems.

These lead companies receive up to EUR 20 million in funding, which they allocate to startups and R&D activities in their field. Business Finland also allocates funds to support the other ecosystem participants. 

By enabling local subsidiaries to be ecosystem leaders, we aim to foster international collaboration and generate new opportunities to support Finland’s growth. Here we look at the work done by five such local subsidiaries: ABB, Borealis Polymers, Meyer Turku, Picosun and Sandvik.

ABB: Advancing clean electricity solutions

Launched in 2021, the ABB-led Green Electrification 2035 program aims to create solutions for a secure energy system based on renewable electricity. The initiative supports Finland’s goal of becoming carbon-neutral by that same year.

Business and research ecosystems are working together on solutions for climate-neutral industry and transportation, sustainable cities, the integration of hydrogen and more. ABB is opening its technology platforms and power-grid solutions to the program’s partners, aiming to encourage co-innovation and generate new opportunities.

In addition to securing Finland’s sustainable energy future, the program aims to develop scalable solutions for export. The vision is to see Finnish innovations at the forefront of the global energy transition.

Borealis Polymers: Developing a sustainable plastics industry

The SPIRIT (Sustainable Plastics Industry Transformation) program is a comprehensive roadmap to make the entire plastics value chain more sustainable. Led by the local subsidiary of Austrian plastics company Borealis AG, the program aims to shift from fossil-based to renewable materials and advance large-scale recycling systems. Carbon-neutral production is in focus too.

SPIRIT is developing new furnace concepts that use electrification and hydrogen to achieve significant CO2 reductions. The initiative is also fostering partnerships and building advocacy. By proving the viability of a circular plastics economy, SPIRIT is demonstrating that plastics can continue to fulfil their essential role in modern society.

Meyer Turku: Leading the way in sustainable cruise liners

Ship-building giant Meyer Turku leads NEcOLEAP, an R&D project aimed at building a climate-neutral cruise ship and transforming the Finnish shipbuilding industry. 

With approximately 15% of the global market for cruise liners, Meyer Turku is driving the industry’s green transition in the face of growing sustainability demands.

The initiative has a total budget of EUR 160 million, including EUR 20 million from Business Finland and EUR 40 million from Meyer Turku. Business Finland has also allocated EUR 50 million for other parties involved in the ecosystem. 

NEcOLEAP focuses on design efficiency, sustainable shipbuilding, smart technologies and future industry drivers. The program aims to develop its concept for a climate-neutral cruise ship by 2025, and to have achieved carbon-neutral shipbuilding by 2030.

Picosun: Building a zero-emission semiconductor sector

Chip Zero is an initiative to create Finland’s first semiconductor ecosystem, with chips that have net-zero carbon emissions over their lifetime. Led by Picosun – a global specialist in Atomic Layer Deposition – the ecosystem has set the intention of halving the semiconductor industry’s deposition emissions. It also aims to increase the environmental handprint of chips.

To achieve these goals, Chip Zero focuses on optimizing manufacturing processes and enabling closed-loop resourcing. Collaboration with the broader semiconductor industry ensures best practices are shared and helps to establish Finland as a challenger in this space.

Sandvik: Pioneering in sustainable mining

The Sandvik SHIFT’25 ecosystem is exploring the roles of digitalization and electrification in creating sustainable solutions for the mining industry. The project also aims to enhance productivity and safety through the development of sensing technologies, autonomous equipment and machine-learning solutions.

The collaboration brings together a network of industrial partners, research institutes and universities. Sandvik’s state-of-the-art test mine facility provides a real-world environment for applied research. The ultimate goal of SHIFT’25 is to make Finland a global leader in electrified and digitized mining machinery.