Finland’s Arctic business and expertise

The strong expertise of Finland in Artic questions is based on first-hand knowledge of the circumstances in the region. The best-known examples of Finland’s Arctic expertise include Arctic marine technology and related business opportunities, solutions and services. Finland wants to promote growth and competitiveness in Arctic matters for example in cleantech and bioeconomy, always respecting the Arctic environment. Know-how and testing in the Arctic conditions are an important part of Finland’s Arctic expertise. Sustainable and responsible tourism is also seen as an evolving opportunity for Finland. A more recent and growing field of Arctic expertise is Arctic design.

”Because of the challenges facing the global economy and the great significance of exports and economic relations to Finland, it is extremely important for Finnish business and industry to seek growth in all areas where the prospects are favourable, and where Finnish companies have a chance of success. Such prospects are offered by the Arctic region.”

Finland’s Strategy for the Arctic Region

Fields of Arctic expertise in Finland

Bioeconomy

The special features of Finnish Arctic nature are large forest reserves and other diverse and clean natural raw materials. The sustainable use of renewable natural resources includes various small-scale and large-scale methods from forest industry to collecting and exploiting natural resources, to entrepreneurship in the nature sector and to bioenergy production.

Technology

Finland has a long tradition in providing technological solutions that take into account the challenges of our Arctic operating environment. High-tech icebreakers and special vessels are built for Arctic conditions in Finland, and Finland wants to be one of the global leaders in research and development and education in marine technology and sea transport. In addition to marine technology Finland also has specialized expertise in other fields of cold climate engineering.

Tourism

Lapland is a leading tourism region in the Arctic. The keys of success are the unique nature and the experiences it can offer, and also high-quality services and infrastructure as well as tourism research and education.

Design

Arctic design refers to design that has the Arctic environment and understanding the Arctic conditions as starting points, and also takes into account human adaptation to Arctic circumstances.

Transport and logistics

The growth prospects of mining, the needs of tourism, the growing energy industry in the Barents region, the opening of the Northeast Passage have brought up development needs for transport and logistics, and the question of new connections in the north. Many potential investment and transport needs have also a cross-border dimension.

Expertise of Arctic circumstances

The Arctic is a challenging operational environment, but the location provides ample business opportunities. Lapland has become an important area for international vehicle industry for carrying out winter testing. The expertise and experience of Finnish shipping industries in challenging weather and ice conditions are valuable also internationally.