On the International Day of Happiness, Finland Calls for International Business Cooperation to Solve Major Global Challenges Together
Societal stability, high levels of equality and, among other things, political and civil freedom are frequently highlighted as the key factors contributing to Finland's status as the world’s happiest country in recent years, as reflected in the World Happiness Report. These are the building blocks of the trust and mutual respect that permeate Finnish society, enabling innovative international cooperation and providing an excellent launchpad for business.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250319812998/en/
Photo credits: Svante Gullichsen & Visit Finland
In Finnish society, there are many factors that underscore succeeding together: an education system that emphasizes teamwork and collective problem-solving, flat hierarchies in organizations and a society that encourages participation, a culture that values consensus and cooperation over individual competition, and social safety nets that provide security, allowing for risk-taking. This creates an environment where it is safe to engage in innovation and seize the opportunities life offers.
Collaboration is the power to change the world
The strong collaboration between the public and private sectors forms the backbone of Finland’s innovation economy. Industries, research institutes, universities, and the government together have a unique ability to deliver disruptive technologies and innovative design. Finland consistently ranks among the world’s leading countries in education, innovation, digitalization, sustainability, and good governance, making it one of the world’s hotspots for R&D. To give it a further boost, Finland aims to increase research and development expenditure to 4% of GDP by 2030.
Finland boasts a thriving startup scene with an estimated number of 3 800 startups. The Finnish startup ecosystem has always been about pooling resources, lending a hand, and helping one another. When one business is successful, it benefits the whole network – a rising tide lifts all boats. Finland's startup ecosystem has given birth to more than 10 unicorns, many of which stem from academia.
An example of open-minded cooperation in building R&D is the Leading Companies Program. Here, Business Finland challenges global companies to undertake ambitious research efforts while encouraging companies of different sizes and other players to work together, sharing knowledge and resources, aiming to achieve breakthroughs that solve major global challenges – and do business. So far, the scheme has supported 400 companies in Finland and 400 research projects by universities and other research institutes. The Leading Companies Program is open to international companies that have a subsidiary in Finland.
Finland invites you to innovate in the state of happiness
Collaboration with Finns is defined by sisu – a uniquely Finnish concept of integrity-driven determination and courage under pressure. It means acting with deep resolve while upholding a strong commitment to mutual respect among collaborators. Promises are kept, and things are done well even when no one is watching.
Johanna Jäkälä, Executive Director, Finland Promotion Services from Business Finland says:
“Collaboration, along with sisu, is really in the DNA of Finland. No one creates change alone, and that is why we are committed to bringing people and businesses together to team up, make unexpected connections, solve problems together, and create an impact.”
For the 8th year in a row, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world by the annual United Nations World Happiness Report*, holding the top title since 2018.
ABOUT
Business Finland is the Finnish government organization for innovation funding and trade, travel, and investment promotion. Business Finland’s over 760 experts work in over 40 offices globally and in 16 regional offices around Finland. Business Finland is part of the Team Finland network. www.businessfinland.com
Invest in Finland helps foreign companies identify business opportunities in Finland, produces information on Finland as an investment destination, and enhances and coordinates national efforts to attract investment by actively networking with regional and international entities. Invest in Finland also collects and updates information about foreign-owned companies in Finland. Invest in Finland is part of Business Finland.
Work in Finland attracts talents and startup founders to Finland and help companies to recruit international professionals. www.workinfinland.com is a national website for talent attraction.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250319812998/en/
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Lone Star Funds Announces Purchase of 175-Room Hotel in Yokohama23.4.2025 00:00:00 CEST | Press release
Lone Star Funds (“Lone Star”) announced that an affiliate of Lone Star Real Estate Fund VII, L.P. has successfully completed the purchase of a 175-room hotel in Yokohama, Japan from Singapore based real estate development, investment, capital and property management company, Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd, in a transaction advised by JLL. The hotel opened in November 2020 as part of a 1.8 million square foot mixed-use redevelopment project led by Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd., and occupies floors 46 through 51 in a condominium tower with over 1,176 high-end residential units. It has direct access to a subway station and is located on the waterfront of Yokohama’s Minato-Mirai submarket. Yokohama is Japan’s second largest city with 3.8 million residents and has strong demand drivers including a new central business district focused on research & development, large international meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions facilities, a professional baseball team stadium, concert arenas, a
Debiopharm to Reveal Insights From Their ADC, DDR Inhibitor, and Antibody Conjugation Technology Research at the 2025 AACR Conference in Chicago22.4.2025 20:00:00 CEST | Press release
Debiopharm announces oral and poster presentations on data from their potential first-in-class compound Debio 1562M, a CD37-targeted ADC, and their best-in-class compound Debio 0123, a brain-penetrant WEE1 inhibitor. The company also announces joint poster presentation with new partner on the use of its AbYlink™ technology in preclinical setting. Debiopharm (www.debiopharm.com), a privately-owned, Swiss-based biopharmaceutical company aiming to establish tomorrow’s standard-of-care to cure cancer and infectious diseases and develop new antibody linker technologies, will release promising new data for two of its pipeline products at the 2025 Annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting in Chicago, Illinois. Furthermore, a joint poster presentation with Oncodesign Services (www.oncodesign-services.com) will highlight the applicability of its antibody conjugation technology, AbYlink™, in the preparation of conjugates for use in non-invasive preclinical imaging. Comprehen
3Degrees Appoints Philippe Vedrenne as Chief Executive Officer, Effective May 1, 202522.4.2025 18:00:00 CEST | Press release
3Degrees, a leading global climate solutions provider and certified B Corporation, is pleased to announce the appointment of Philippe Vedrenne as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective May 1, 2025. Vedrenne is moving into the role as 3Degrees’ current CEO and co-founder Steve McDougal steps away from leadership of the company. McDougal informed the Board of Directors last year that he would be retiring as CEO; he will maintain his involvement as a member of the Board. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250422978066/en/ 3Degrees Appoints Philippe Vedrenne as Chief Executive Officer, Effective May 1, 2025 Vedrenne brings over two decades of global energy market experience operating across multiple continents. Most recently, at Engie, he oversaw trading and retail activities in North and South America for electricity and gas. In this position, he led efforts to bring utility-scale renewable energy solutions to the
AIT Worldwide Logistics acquires Miami-based forwarder, GSDMIA, Inc.22.4.2025 17:04:00 CEST | Press release
Strategic deal enhances trade lane support between Asia, Europe, Latin America, United States Global supply chain solutions leader AIT Worldwide Logistics has finalized an agreement to purchase the assets of GSDMIA, Inc. (“GSDMIA”), an international freight forwarder based in Miami. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250422511696/en/ The agreement to purchase GSDMIA's assets boosts AIT's specialized service expertise for the cosmetics, industrial and technology sectors. According to AIT’s Chief Development Officer, Ray Fennelly, who guided the acquisition process, GSDMIA provides deep international experience with air and ocean transportation. The team ships a diverse range of commodities between the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America, including packaging and finished goods for the cosmetics industry, commercial HVAC equipment, and cryptocurrency data servers. “GSDMIA is an extremely dynamic group that
Kuwait’s ‘Visionary Lighthouse’ Pavilion Illuminates Expo 2025 Osaka with Innovative Design and a Future-Driven Vision22.4.2025 16:50:00 CEST | Press release
The Kuwait Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, officially opened its doors today, unveiling a spectacular architectural landmark that embodies the country’s bold vision for the future. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250422295094/en/ The Kuwait Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka (Photo: AETOSWire) Designed as a “Visionary Lighthouse”, the pavilion stands as a dynamic symbol of the ambitious national development plan, New Kuwait 2035, seamlessly integrating the nation’s rich heritage, innovation, and sustainability in a transformative visitor experience that engages audiences from around the world. Located in the “Empowering Lives” district, the pavilion’s design draws inspiration from Kuwait’s maritime and desert landscapes, reflecting the nation’s journey of resilience, progress, and forward-looking spirit. Kuwait’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka highlights the continuation of a long-standing relationship
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom