Welcome to the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region innovation ecosystem map
The map provides an overview of key actors, hubs, and networks driving research, development and innovation (RDI) in the region. Its purpose is to introduce key actors within the ecosystem, support collaboration, and help identify relevant partners and opportunities.
You can explore the map either by thematic priorities or by organisation type. The content is organised into two main groups:
Smart Specialisation Priorities
Creative Industries
Disruptive Technologies
Health and Wellbeing Solutions
Regenerative Food System
Sustainability Solutions
Actor Categories
Higher Education
Innovation Centers and Networks
Municipal Services and Development
National Organisations
Research Institutions
Suggest new content
The map is continuously updated to reflect the evolving innovation landscape of the Helsinki-Uusimaa region. You can suggest updates and organisations to existing entries.
Innovation Centers and Networks, Sustainability Solutions
4R Ecosystem
4R is an innovation ecosystem operated by CLIC Innovation that strives to build new solutions for circular packaging, technical plastics, and textiles. The ecosystem is open for organisations interested in finding new business or building new competences in circular plastics solutions and bio‑based alternatives. Image: CLIC Innovation
Health and Wellbeing Solutions, Innovation Centers and Networks
CleverHealth Network
CleverHealth Network is a health technology ecosystem established in 2017, where companies and healthcare professionals co-develop better care for Finnish citizens while also creating successful health technology export products for businesses. The product and service innovations are based on the extensive and high-quality health data of HUS Helsinki University Hospital and the top-level clinical expertise of its professionals. Image: CleverHealth Network
Innovation Centers and Networks, Sustainability Solutions
CLIC Innovation
CLIC Innovation is an open innovation cluster with the mission of facilitating creation of breakthrough solutions in bioeconomy, circular economy and future energy systems. CLIC Innovation designs, coordinates, and manages R&D&I projects and innovation ecosystems that deliver measurable results. Image: CLIC Innovation
Creative Industries, Innovation Centers and Networks
Creative Dimension (Luova Dimensio)
Led by Metropolia UAS, Creative Dimension is an open collaboration platform for companies and organisations that want to develop new ideas, concepts, and services together with students and experts. The collaboration platform brings together expertise in the creative industries, design, media, culture, and technology, helping to turn ideas into practical solutions. Through projects and initiatives, companies can pilot new solutions, discover creative perspectives on business, and contribute to the training of future professionals. Image: Metropolia
Disruptive Technologies, Innovation Centers and Networks
Finnish AI Region (FAIR EDIH)
Finnish AI Region offers businesses accessible expertise in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, high-performance computing, and cyber security. FAIR promotes AI adoption as one of the four European Digital Innovation Hubs' (EDIH) in Finland and part of a European innovation hub network. Image: FAIR EDIH
Innovation Centers and Networks, Regenerative Food System
Food Data Finland
The Food Data Finland network drives the systemic development of data throughout the food chain. The program develops common practices, more efficient operating models and new products and services for the use of data throughout the food chain. One of the priorities is to develop a food sustainability information model. Image: GS1 Finland
Innovation Centers and Networks, Sustainability Solutions
Green Net Finland (GNF)
Green Net Finland is a cleantech cluster developing smart and low-carbon urban environment. GNF is committed to preparing and implementing high-quality cleantech development projects and offering expert services related to project development and management, European funding instruments, networking and match-making services and internalisation services. Image: GNF
Health and Wellbeing Solutions, Innovation Centers and Networks
Health Capital Helsinki
Health Capital Helsinki is an innovation alliance of two cities, two universities, two universities of applied sciences, and a university hospital. It's core mission is to build joint research and innovation projects that bring together expertise from both public and private sectors. Image: Health Capital Helsinki
Health and Wellbeing Solutions, Innovation Centers and Networks
Health Incubator Helsinki
Health Incubator Helsinki is a three-year comprehensive incubator program for research based startups operating in the health sector in Finland and abroad. The program was initiated in 2019 by the City of Helsinki and the University of Helsinki to drive the transformation of health innovation, research findings and expertise into international business, and to attract new talent and companies to Helsinki, Finland. Image: Health Incubator Helsinki
Helsinki Think Company is a non-profit that supports students and researchers in developing innovative solutions to societal challenges through collaboration, workshops, and events. They provide co-working spaces and funding opportunities for selected projects. Image: Helsinki Think Company / Jonas Simberg
Creative Industries, Innovation Centers and Networks
Helsinki XR Center (HXRC)
Helsinki XR Center is a leading European RDI and innovation hub for emerging technologies — especially XR and AI — supporting startups, entrepreneurs, companies, and innovators through co-creation, real-world experimentation, collaborative RDI projects, and community building. Image: Helsinki XR Center
Innovation Centers and Networks, Sustainability Solutions
Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub is a regional initiative striving for a carbon neutral Helsinki-Uusimaa region by 2030. The Hub is a community of experts, municipalities, companies, organisations and research institutes that form an innovation ecosystem. It acts as an accelerator for innovative solutions and pilots in areas like construction, food chains, textiles, plastics, and electronics. As a regional ecosystem, the Hub facilitates new business opportunities while building a good living environment for our citizens. Image: Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub
Innovation Centers and Networks, Sustainability Solutions
HEVi (2021-2027)
HEVi is a government program in Finland that aims to strategically allocate public and private funding for research, development, and innovation. The program focuses on the three cities of Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa and seeks to create a large project portfolio for urban development and innovation activities from 2021 to 2027. Image: HEVi
Innovation Centers and Networks, Sustainability Solutions
KIRAHub
KIRAHub is a real estate and construction industry innovation ecosystem operating in the form of a non-profit association. It's vision is to position Finland as a pioneer in sustainable digitalisation of the built environment. Their mission is to accelerate the seamless digitalisation development of the industry. Image: KIRAHub
Kumpula Business Labs (KBL) is an entrepreneurship hub that supports the creation and growth of startup companies. Located in the largest campus of natural sciences in the Nordic countries, it provides a diverse and extensive range of research equipment as well as competent staff. KBL is a joint initiative of Aalto University, the University of Helsinki, and the City of Helsinki, with the aim of combining academic research with business development. Image: KBL
Innovation Centers and Networks, Sustainability Solutions
LIMOWA Logistics Cluster
The LIMOWA Logistics Cluster is a Finnish network association to develop and support intelligent logistics solutions and boost the competitiveness of Finnish companies. LIMOWA works close to its member organizations supporting their business and export activities. Image: LIMOWA
A center of expertise in location data and technology offering no-cost services to SME businesses and public sector organisations. LIH supports business development and the adoption of new technologies, and provides information on funding opportunities. With the start of the new funding period, LIH will continue its work in the built environment, agriculture and forestry, and transportation and logistics sectors. New priorities include defense and space technology. In addition, the hub is investing in artificial intelligence and digital twins. Image: LIH
Maria 01 is one of the leading startup ecosystems in Europe. It provides a thriving environment for ambitious early-stage startups, renowned investors and VCs, large enterprises and other ecosystem organisations – all with the common goal of helping each other succeed. Today, Maria 01 serves as the home to almost 200 startups from various industries, close to 30 local and international VC firms, as well as over 20 corporations. Image: Tapio Auvinen
The Foundation’s mission is to create more entrepreneurs, new companies, growth and internationalisation, as well as supporting and promoting the startup mentality. This mission is supported by initiatives by the foundation. Externally, the Foundation supports both not-for-profit initiatives advancing the mission of the foundation as well as individuals wishing to start their entrepreneurial journeys. The goal is simple and concrete: 100 Finnish startups that each grow to €100M in annual revenue. Image: Startup Foundation
Health and Wellbeing Solutions, Innovation Centers and Networks
Terkko Health Hub
Terkko Health Hub is a community, a co-working space and an event venue focusing on health and life sciences. The Hub is located in the Helsinki’s medical campus and it provides various services, events and initiatives in collaboration with local and global partners. Image: Terkko Health Hub
Helsinki is a testbed for new innovations. The City of Helsinki provides companies and RDI actors a wide variety of development and testing opportunities for new innovations, products and services. The key content areas of the testing platform activities are EdTech, Smart Mobility, Built Environment, Circular Economy and Health & Wellbeing. Image: City of Helsinki / Maija Astikainen
Creative Industries, Innovation Centers and Networks
Uniarts Hub
The Uniarts Hub pre-incubator program offers a comprehensive overview of entrepreneurship in the arts and creative industries and provides support for developing your own business idea. The pre-incubator is a free 12-week program featuring lectures, workshops, mentoring, and peer support. Uniarts Hub is best suited for arts professionals who are already working in the field or nearing the end of their studies. Image: Uniarts Hub
Innovation Centers and Networks, Regenerative Food System
UrbanFarmLab
UrbanFarmLab is an urban indoor farming development platform and one of the four collaboration platforms of the Clean and Sustainable Solutions Innovation Hub at Metropolia. UrbanFarmLab is functioning as urban indoor farming development platform and a separate co-learning livinglab space for experts, companies and students.
Innovation Centers and Networks, Regenerative Food System
Viikki Food Design Factory
Viikki Food Design Factory is a sustainable and healthy food innovation center, created by the collaboration of University of Helsinki and Aalto University. It's a hub for startups, researchers, and industry professionals, offering a pre-incubator program for transformative food system innovators.