Future shaper Markku Markkula was awarded the Uusimaa Medal of Merit for his contributions to the region
Markku Markkula was awarded the very first Uusimaa Medal of Merit at the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council’s 30th anniversary reception on Friday, October 10th. The medal recognises outstanding contributions to the wellbeing of the region.
For many years, Markkula has worked to promote Helsinki-Uusimaa’s interests locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. He has taken Helsinki-Uusimaa to Europe and brought new insights from Europe to the region. Markkula has served as President of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Board from 2018 to 2025.
– For me, the Medal of Merit is above all an encouragement for the future. It is also an enormous thank-you for the way I work: doing things together and making use of the very best and latest knowledge in our region. We have tremendous opportunities and resources here in Helsinki-Uusimaa, Markkula says.
Markkula says he is working to build the foundations for the future of both Helsinki-Uusimaa and Finland. He believes we need people with the courage to commit to the future.
– I’ve learned that it’s a good idea to step into the future a little ahead of the curve. It takes both imagination and knowledge. When the future becomes reality and we move towards it together, you already know what’s coming. That makes it easier to make innovative decisions, Markkula explains.
A strong foundation paves the way for solutions
– At the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, we’ve done a lot of good work for both Helsinki-Uusimaa and Finland as a whole, Markkula says.
Markkula points out that we are now facing bigger and more difficult challenges than we have in a long time. For example, Helsinki-Uusimaa’s position as an innovation region has declined at the European level. According to Markkula, Helsinki-Uusimaa needs to attract and bring together the region’s strengths to reach the Regional Assembly’s goals to become carbon neutral by 2030 and to raise research and development investments to 5 per cent of the region’s gross domestic product by 2030.
– We have a strong foundation for the future. Our expertise is solid, but we need to bring especially companies and young people along on our shared journey towards Europe’s future. We have so much to offer the rest of the EU. This will also help drive Helsinki-Uusimaa’s success, Markkula says.
The Medal of Merit recognises people who have worked for the good of Helsinki-Uusimaa
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Medal of Merit is awarded in recognition of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to strengthening the region’s visibility, attractiveness, vitality, wellbeing, community spirit, sustainability or development. The medal can be awarded to someone who actively works for the good of Helsinki-Uusimaa.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Board established the Helsinki-Uusimaa Medal of Merit at its meeting on 6 October 2025. The medal was designed by Tuomas Hyrsky Oy.
For more information, please contact:
Markku Markkula, tel. 040 554 2455, markku.markkula@aalto.fi
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