November 13, 2009
Finnish cleantech companies need courage to grow
Clean technologies, also known as cleantech, are slated to become the new foundation of the Finnish economy. Companies, investors and market analysts all agree that the sector has an enormous growth potential. Finland has a top-level expertise, but it needs courage and investments in order to internationalize and grow.
On Wednesday 4 November, Cleantech Finland held an info event where top environmental technology experts discussed the prospects for clean technologies. Finland has every opportunity to be an integral part of the growing cleantech market.
“According to a study published by the Financial Times, the state stimulus measures aimed at the cleantech sector will already be worth more than EUR 500 billion. Legislation and state measures support growth in the sector, but the most important driver is the competitive edge gained through cost effectiveness. Finns are especially strong in energy efficiency, clean industrial processes and bioenergy,” explains Santtu Hulkkonen, Executive Director of Cleantech Finland.
Harri Ollila is a partner at VNT Management, a capital investment company that specializes in cleantech companies. He emphasizes that during the next few years investors will be particularly interested in growth companies focusing on renewable energy, energy efficiency and smart electricity networks.
“Finland has outstanding expertise in electricity distribution and ICT, and this can be exploited in the development of smart electricity networks. However, new companies need more support. For example, the relative number of cleantech start-ups in Germany is double that in Finland. Finland needs effective political and economic policy measures,” stresses Ollila.
Savings and legislation drive growth
The leaders of the cleantech companies participating in the panel discussion at the event encouraged companies to boldly invest in international growth. Legislation lays the groundwork for business, but people buy the technologies because they save money and resources in addition to producing environmental benefits.
“Along with savings, environmental factors have an increasing impact on purchase decisions. For example, when the Chinese buy clean technology, we’re not competing with price but with unique clean expertise,” explains Tapani Järvinen, CEO of Outotec Oyj, one of the panelists.
The panelists stressed that Finns have a good global reputation and unique technology. They also called for companies to take a bolder approach and increase marketing of their own know-how. Clean nature combined with a strong industrial history is considered to be a Finnish advantage on the global market.
The other panelists were Janne Hietaniemi, Head of Finpro’s Energy and Environment Industry Team, Veikko Kantero, Chairman of the Board at Preseco Oy, Vesa Laisi, CEO and President of Vacon Oyj, and Kari Suominen, Sales Director at Renewa Oy. The panel was chaired by Journalist Juhana Rossi from Helsingin Sanomat newspaper.
At the end of the event, prizes were presented to the winners of Cleantech Finland’s story competition: Vocational Institute Novida from Uusikaupunki, Aalto Entrepreneurship Society, Elina Saarinen and Wärtsilä, Mateve and Sarlin.
Photos of the event and the awards ceremony are available at ftp://kuvat.pohjoisranta.fi/cleantech/mediainfo.zip
