Keilaranta in Espoo. Photo: Tommi Ista / City of Espoo.
The Greater Helsinki region has numerous business districts, business parks and hubs that offer companies prime location, connections and services. And new ones are popping up continuously.
The cities of Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo form one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in Europe. Its population exceeds one million, and new residential areas, business districts and public transport services are constantly being developed. The region is conveniently located between the East and the West to attract international businesses.
Capital location, Helsinki airport and Aalto University
The City of Helsinki takes into account the needs and wishes of companies in its urban planning. The capital city offers facilities in the center of everything and continues to invest in infrastructure to further develop its roads, parking spaces and public transportation.
Helsinki’s many business districts include Opus Business Park in Herttoniemi, Health Innovation Village in Vallila, Duetto Business Park in Käpylä and Aitio Business Park in Ruskeasuo. New business districts are being built e.g. in Jätkäsaari, Pasila and Kalasatama.
Vantaa has the advantage of being the home city of the Helsinki Airport. It offers business premises located along superb connections. Airports act as regional economic magnets and the Airport City Aviapolis business district is such a magnet in Finland. The area will most likely attract new businesses in the future due to its excellent flight connections and services. Another important business district is Vantaan Akseli in Hakkila.
Like Vantaa, Espoo is located in the heart of the well-connected Helsinki metropolitan area. Espoo’s business districts include the vast Espoo Innovation Garden. Clustered around the information and technology hub of Aalto University, it is home to many Finnish and international companies. Espoo’s business districts also include Alberga Business Park, Polaris Business Park and Stella Business Park in Leppävaara.
We asked the representatives of three interesting business districts in the region what makes their area special.
Health Innovation Village, Helsinki, Project Leader Mikko Kauppinen
How many and what types of companies are there in Health Innovation Village?
We opened in June 2014 and have already 20 startup companies at Health Innovation Village. They are all health tech companies, and many of them operate in the more specific field of digital health. This is natural, as we are located on the GE Healthcare campus in Vallila.
What services and benefits do you offer to companies? What makes you unique?
We provide companies with all-inclusive office premises and comprehensive services. We can offer our startups excellent networking possibilities both with other startups as well as with GE Healthcare. They also have a chance to pitch their products and know-how to GE Healthcare. Alternatively, they can just benefit from the coaching of our top experts. GE can also help them by opening doors to client companies.
Aviapolis, Vantaa, Project Manager Mari Peltomäki
How many and what types of companies are there in Aviapolis?
We have more than 1,700 companies. Because Aviapolis is located around the Helsinki Airport, logistics and international trade are visible business areas, but we also have increasing numbers of hi-tech, pharmaceutical, clothing and electronics companies as well as companies that are part of the automotive supply chain. In the future, more and more international companies will choose Aviapolis as the location of their Finnish headquarters because of our excellent connections.
What services and benefits do you offer to companies? What makes you unique?
From an international point of view, Aviapolis is the most accessible business area in Finland. We are also well connected to other parts of Finland. We offer modern, flexible business premises through partners, as well as excellent services. The new Ring Rail Line railway route will connect us to the Helsinki commuter rail network in 2015 and further improve the region’s accessibility. The quality of life in the area will be unique, as new plans will incorporate housing into the airport city in the future.
Espoo Innovation Garden, Espoo, Communicatons Manager Marjut Gerkman
How many and what types of companies are there in Espoo Innovation Garden?
We have 800 companies, 200 of them non-Finnish. Espoo Innovation Garden is a rather large area, centered around Otaniemi, Keilaniemi and Tapiola. We have a wide range of companies and institutions: international corporations, Finnish publicly traded companies, lots of research and development organizations as well as one of the world’s hottest startup hubs. Espoo Innovation Garden thrives on the cooperation of science, business and culture.
What services and benefits do you offer to companies? What makes you unique?
We offer an inspiring location in the biggest Nordic innovation hub that has a highly educated, international population and excellent collaboration possibilities. According to our recent study, companies also appreciate our positive entrepreneurial atmosphere. Espoo Innovation Garden is a lively center of science and business, enriched by art and cultural experiences. The westward extension of the metro system will soon bring the area even more vitality, new investments and new services.
Text: Anu Jussila
BUSINESS PARKS IN THE HELSINKI REGION:
- Opus Business Park (in Finnish) www.opusbusinesspark.fi
- Duetto Business Park (in Finnish) www.yit.fi/yit_fi/referenssit/toimitilat/single/2012/05/04/business-park-duetto
- Aitio Business Park www.ncc.fi/en/Commercial-spaces/Offices/Helsinki/Aitio
- Aviapolis http://aviapolis.fi/en
- Vantaan Akseli (in Finnish) www.vantaanakseli.fi
- Espoo Innovation Garden www.espoo.fi/en-us/Jobs_and_enterprise/Innovation_Garden
- Otaniemi www.otaniemi.fi/
- Alberga Business Park www.ncc.fi/en/Commercial-spaces/Offices/Espoo/Alberga/
- Polaris Business Park www.ncc.fi/en/Commercial-spaces/Offices/Espoo/Polaris/
- Stella Business Park www.ncc.fi/en/Commercial-spaces/References/Office/Stella/
