Cleantech Forum Europe kicks off in Helsinki as opportunities in Finland’s energy sector emerge

Finland, with its hubbub of cleantech activity, is the main venue for Europe’s number one cleantech event, 2017 Cleantech Forum Europe, in Helsinki on May 16–18. The annual Cleantech Forum Europe offers a three-day program filled with opportunities, networking and discussions. Cleantech Forums have been held since 2005 in Europe by US-based cleantech advisory and service provider Cleantech Group.

The Nordic country blessed with energy intensive industries, cold climate and lack of domestic fossil fuel resources has emerged as one of the global leaders in clean technologies. As the 2017 Cleantech Forum Europe is just around the corner, Finland boasts a large number of new cleantech opportunities.

Finland has huge demand in biofuels, resulting from its government’s policy to increase the share of biofuel use in transportation to 30 percent. Similarly, Finland booming bioeconomy creates a need for additional competences for further refinement, product formulation and production of high value-added products. The current value of bioeconomy projects in Finland, both in operation and being planned, is more than 4 billion euros.

“The future of energy lives in Finland. Over 40 percent of our energy comes from renewables, and our energy prices are one of the lowest in Europe. Furthermore, we offer an advanced electricity system that is suitable for smart grid development. The cherry on top is the largest energy cluster in the Nordic countries, which is located in the city of Vaasa,” says Jyri Arponen, Program Manager at Tekes.

2017 Cleantech Forum Europe lands in Helsinki

Consequently, Finland is a natural location for the 2017 Cleantech Forum Europe. The event brings together key specialists, influencers, investors and technology providers of the global cleantech industry.

This year, the theme of the event is Early Signs of the Next 100 Years: Charting the great, smart industrial transition. The theme stems both from the digital transformation we live in as well as from Finland’s centennial celebrations. The main partners of the event are the Finnish funding agency for innovation Tekes and the Finnish trade promotion organization Finpro, which helps Finnish SMEs go international, encourages foreign direct investment in Finland and promotes tourism.

For foreign visitors, the event provides a window of opportunity to learn more about the booming cleantech sector in Finland.

“Finland welcomes everyone who is interested in our energy and cleantech sectors. For instance, foreign investors already own a third of the Finnish wind capacity. Meanwhile, foreign companies are either working on or have plans for large bioeconomy projects in Finland,” says Vesa Koivisto, Head of Industry, Cleantech and Bioeconomy at Finpro’s Invest in Finland unit.

More information:

Vesa Koivisto, Head of Industry, Cleantech and Bioeconomy, Finpro, Invest in Finland, +358 29 46951, e-mail: vesa.koivisto@finpro.fi

Jyri Arponen, Program Manager, Tekes, +358 50 5577874, e-mail: jyri.arponen@tekes.fi

Hetta Huittinen, Communications Manager, Finpro, +358 40 033 9597, e-mail: hetta.huittinen@finpro.fi

Finpro helps Finnish SMEs go international, encourages foreign direct investment in Finland and promotes travel to Finland. Finpro is a public organization consisting of Export Finland, Visit Finland and Invest in Finland. Our 240 professionals work in 37 offices in 31 countries abroad and 6 offices in Finland. Finpro is part of the Team Finland network. www.finpro.fi Finpro – Growth for Finland

Working as a unit of Finpro, Invest in Finland assists international companies in finding business opportunities in Finland, produces information about Finland as an investment location, and develops and coordinates the national FDI promotion work, networking actively with regional and international actors. Invest in Finland also compiles information about foreign-owned companies in Finland. www.investinfinland.fi