Helsinki’s ambitious goal is to be Europe’s leading platform for experimentation and innovative business. Achieving this goal also requires success in attracting international experts, companies and investments.
At the end of August, a number of Japanese companies arrived in the city to learn more about Helsinki’s innovation and experimentation platform activities. The startup cooperation is part of the City of Helsinki’s broader cooperation with the City of Tokyo.
“Helsinki’s reputation as a startup city that is larger than its size has spread all over the world. It is always an honour to introduce Helsinki and attract foreign companies and investments to our city. It is great that the close cooperation between Helsinki and Tokyo also benefits startups operating in our cities. Helsinki and Tokyo both want to work with startups to solve global challenges. This offers new business opportunities for companies,” says Mayor Juhana Vartiainen.
Helsinki wants to be a city that plays an active role in solving global meaningful and extremely difficult challenges. The City of Tokyo has the same goal, and the cities have significantly intensified their cooperation over the past few years. Among others, Helsinki has been part of the Global City Network for Sustainability (G-NETS), founded by the City of Tokyo, since its introduction in 2022. GNETS is a global network of cities that serves as a forum for cities to meet and discuss how to tackle the common challenges they face.
An innovation platform the size of a city
Japanese companies are interested in Helsinki’s active innovation cooperation with companies, research, development and innovation operators as well as end users. During the visit, ArchiTwin, Cluster, Informetis, inQs and SOINN networked with startup operators in Helsinki and presented their solutions to those responsible for Testbed Helsinki. The common goal is to find interesting solutions to be piloted in Helsinki that would support the expansion of companies to Helsinki.
Testbed Helsinki is the city’s testing platform, offering a unique opportunity to test and develop new products and services in a genuine urban environment in Helsinki. Japanese companies presented solutions related to artificial intelligence, the built environment and energy efficiency, for example.
“It is great that Testbed Helsinki is of interest to international companies. We will continue discussion with companies about the possibility to pilot their innovative solutions in Helsinki,” says Team Manager Kimmo Heinonen from Business Helsinki.
