The EriCa Green Chemistry Park groundbreaking ceremony was held in Finnoo, Espoo
Press release, Kemira Oyj, October 4, 2023 at 15.30 EEST
The groundbreaking ceremony at the green chemistry park was held in Finnoo, Espoo on Tuesday, October 3. The project is scheduled to be finished in the autumn of 2025 when Kemira’s R&D center will also move into the new building. Kemira’s Research center has been situated in Finnoo since 1972.
Espoo mayor Jukka Mäkelä brought the city’s greetings and also initiated the ceremony together with Kemira’s CEO Petri Castrén, A.Ahlström CEO Lasse Heinonen and NIB CEO André Küüsvek.
“Espoo Research center has been in the Finnoo area already more than 50 years and is and will remain a key backbone of our R&D operations in the future. This is a significant strategic investment for us and it is great that the construction has now started.”, says Kemira’s interim President & CEO Petri Castrén.
”We are happy that this unique industry- ja science park building works have been initiated. Together with Kemira and our partners, we can build a better world for future generations.”, says CEO of A. Ahlström Lasse Heinonen.
The cylinder that was laid in the cornerstone included among other things construction plans, day’s newspapers, Kemira’s, A. Ahström’s, Church Pensionfund’s, Aktia Life insurance company’s and NIB’s latest annual reports, Kemira’s personnel message to the future staff, a test tube and pipette and coins currently in use in Finland.
This unique chemistry innovation center is situated in the Finnoo area accessed by the new subway line and Länsiväylä motorway. EriCa forms together with Otaniemi and Kiviruukki a strong professional competence center in Espoo.
Finnoo will develop in the future into an urban and energy-efficient suburb with 17 000 inhabitants. The Green Chemistry Park facility concept includes a state-of-the-art modern laboratory and office space for Kemira’s R&D center and many other chemistry sector operators. There will in addition be residential houses and a park in the developed area.
For more information, please contact:
Kemira Oyj, Jari Tolvanen, Real Estate Director
Tel. +358 50 573 2526
A. Ahlström Oy, Pia Lindborg, Real Estate Director
Tel. +358 050 328 8579
Kemira is a global leader in sustainable chemical solutions for water-intensive industries. We provide the best-suited products and services to improve our customers’ product quality, process, and resource efficiency. Our focus is on pulp & paper, water treatment, and energy sectors. In 2022, Kemira had annual revenue of around 3.6 billion and around 5,000 employees. Kemira shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. www.kemira.com
A. Ahlström Oy governs A. Ahlström’s real estate and forest properties including the historic industrial site in Noormarkku. The value of these properties is around EUR 400 million. A. Ahlström Oy is looking for new investment targets where it is possible to create value through active ownership and real estate development and conversion projects. The company invests in facilities in central locations in metropolitan area, Tampere and Turku. www.ahlstromcapital.com