A new initiative launched to make Finland a fintech forerunner

Fintech Finland and Helsinki Business Hub launched a new program to boost the financial technology industry in Finland, and to promote the country’s capabilities in becoming an international hub for fintech development and innovation. The program aims to bring together all the key players into a tight ecosystem, and invite foreign companies to discover new business opportunities.

“Greater Helsinki is known as a European hi-tech hub and its strengths are in the key technologies used in fintech: digitalization, AI and cyber security. When this is topped with one of the most talented workforces in the world, the region offers foreign companies a multitude of growth and partnership opportunities”, tells Miska Hakala, Director at Helsinki Business Hub.

The goal of the two-year program is to create an internationally renowned fintech ecosystem, support the establishment of new fintech companies, increase the profitability and number of jobs of the fintech industry and attract foreign companies and their centers of expertise and innovation to Finland.

“Finland has all the prerequisites to become a technological hub for the financial sector. We have strong expertise, a safe business environment and a large number of financial companies relative to population”, explains Olli Kiuru, Chairman of the Board of Fintech Finland.

The program commences by creating a growth strategy for the Finnish fintech industry. Awareness of the Finnish fintech expertise will be promoted through organizing global and local events and sharing topical information through a new digital fintech portal.

The overall implementation and coordination of the project is led by Fintech Finland, a non-profit organization founded in 2018 to boost the growth and internationalization of Finnish fintech companies. The organization will work closely with Helsinki Business Hub, who will be responsible for attracting foreign companies to the Greater Helsinki region and enhancing the cooperation between Finnish and foreign companies.

The project is funded by Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the City of Helsinki and private investors, including Finance Finland and Technology Industries of Finland. It is still possible for a few selected value-adding partners to join this forerunner project.

For more information, contact

• Miska Hakala, Director, Helsinki Business Hub, +358 40 737 4697, miska.hakala©hbh.fi
• Olli Kiuru, Chairman of the Board, Fintech Finland, +358 40 7168 020, olli.kiuru@lexia.fi
• Kirsi Suopelto, CEO, Fintech Finland, +358 50 5602 349, kirsi.suopelto@fintechfinland.fi

Helsinki Business Hub is the international trade and investment promotion agency for the Finnish capital region. We help foreign companies to set-up their business, grow and develop in Greater Helsinki. We do this by providing the right information and contacts and by identifying growth opportunities for our clients, free of charge. Our work results in economic growth and new jobs in the area. Helsinki Business Hub is owned by the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen as well as the Uusimaa Regional Council. www.helsinkibusinesshub.fi

Fintech Finland is a neutral, non-profit organization created to boost Fintech services in Finland and help Fintech companies grow internationally. We arrange network events and mentoring. We co-operate with Fintech, Banks and Insurance companies as well as regulators to create a leading Fintech Hub in Finland. www.fintechfinland.fi