Helsinki offers amazing research and development capabilities
BYD Group is a global Chinese company covering IT, auto and new energy industries, with headquarters in Shenzhen, China. BYD has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2007. The company has manufacturing mainly in Asia and Africa, but operations – sales, support as well as research and development – in Asia, the United States and Europe. Helsinki is one of the many dots of the global map.
Business Development Director Robin Zhang has been in Finland for a few years now, and explains their reasons to locate in Helsinki:
– We have a long history in the mobile phone industry. First we were supplying batteries for Motorola, then for Nokia. We have been hand in hand with Nokia for the last ten years providing them with mobile accessories, Mr. Zhang tells.
– Nowadays we are also focusing on new energy: solar farms, energy storage and electric vehicles. We are heavily investing in R&D, which is why Helsinki is such a great location for BYD. The R&D capabilities here are amazing, and also the government is fully aware of this, adding value to it.
Mr. Zhang describes how they have received great help from GHP’s China–Finland Golden Bridge to find the right people and the right timing for operations in Helsinki. BYD has worked with Aalto University, VTT and Tekes, who all have supported the company with talented people.
– I believe that talented people boost the economy, and we hope that BYD can be a part of improving people’s life here in Helsinki – my second home after living here for five years, Mr. Zhang concludes.
