Go to Hel: A launchpad for deep tech, AI, and green growth

Finland’s annual tech startup carnival, Slush, turns Helsinki’s November gloom into a global stage for founders, investors, and industry leaders. Over two days of networking, deal-making, and trend-spotting, the event draws the brightest minds in tech and entrepreneurship.

At Business Finland’s Happiness Lounge, the world’s happiest country—ranked number one for the eighth year—showcased why it offers one of the most vibrant environments for startups, R&D, and sustainable business.

Deep tech and semiconductors

Industry leaders such as Applied Materials (a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing equipment) and Finnish scale-up Canatu spotlighted the semiconductor sector’s explosive growth: $670 billion in 2025, projected to hit $1.1 trillion by 2030.

For global companies, this is an opportunity to tap into Finland’s thriving semiconductor ecosystem and access Europe’s fastest-growing deep tech market. Finland is positioning itself as a key player through the EU Chips Act, pilot lines, and the Finnish Chips Competence Centre (FiCCC), creating openings for partnerships in advanced materials, photonics, and quantum technologies.

Applied Ventures, the venture arm of Applied Materials, stressed that deep tech success requires patient capital, strong IP, and global partnerships—and Finland provides the infrastructure and talent to make that happen.

Climate tech and circular economy

The Scale It Up! reverse-pitching event brought major buyers—VINCI Group (global construction and concessions[1] ), Cemex Ventures (innovation arm of Cemex, a top building materials company), KONE (world leader in elevators and escalators), and Ilmarinen (Finland’s largest pension insurance company)—to the stage with challenges in proptech, contech, sustainable renovation, and circularity. Bold solutions from Finnish startups included:

• Spolia Design – Mechanized brick reuse, scaling circular construction.
• Carbon Free Technologies – Patented recycled concrete mix cutting CO₂ emissions by 40%.
• Soletair Power – Captures CO₂ from building ventilation systems and reduces HVAC energy use by up to 75%, saving tens of thousands of euros annually per building.
• Ekotekt – Robotics and hemp-based panels for carbon-negative construction.
• Make a BIM – AI-powered tool to convert building drawings into BIM models for faster retrofits.

 

For investors, these are market-ready solutions with global scaling potential. Finland’s approach combines tech, design, and policy to accelerate the green transition, supported by corporates committed to open innovation.

Finland as a startup powerhouse

The Arctic Ambitions theme focused on how Finland helps global founders and investors succeed, offering benefits such as:

• Transparent, trust-based business culture with low hierarchy and direct communication.
• Government-backed funding: Business Finland grants and loans, plus EU programs.
• Startup permit and soft-landing services for non-EU entrepreneurs.
• A thriving ecosystem in AI, health tech, gaming, and deep tech, supported by hubs like Maria 01 (Nordic’s largest startup campus) and accelerators such as Herizon.io (focused on tech talent diversity). 

 

With over €1.6B in startup funding and world-class R&D infrastructure, Finland offers international companies a platform to innovate and expand faster. The Nordic country is targeting 4% of GDP for R&D by 2030, supported by strong innovation policies and one of Europe’s most sustainable energy profiles—95% fossil-free and among the lowest-cost in the region.

This unique mix makes Finland a strategic entry point for energy-intensive sectors such as AI and semiconductors.

AI, space, and edge computing

Day two kicked off with bold visions for the future as Invest in Finland showcased breakthroughs in edge AI, generative AI, and space technologies.

Alif Semiconductors (a US chipmaker pioneering low-power AI processors) revealed that Finland’s talent and cost efficiency make it the ideal location for European expansion. Meanwhile, ICEYE (global leader in synthetic aperture radar satellites) underscored its exceptional agility—delivering micro satellites in just nine months, a fraction of the usual three-year timeline.

For global firms, Finland offers innovation, speed, precision, and scalability in AI and space tech, creating a competitive edge for companies ready to lead the next frontier.

Collaboration, resilience, and dual-use innovation

Ecosystem-driven growth took center stage as corporates including Nokia, Patria, Bittium, and Kempower shared success stories from Veturi-led ecosystems.

Veturi is a large-scale innovation program funded by Business Finland where leading companies partner with startups, SMEs, and research organizations to accelerate R&D and develop globally scalable solutions in sectors like AI, connectivity, and green transition. For investors, these ecosystems lower risk and accelerate market entry through collaboration with industry leaders.

Why Finland stands out

Across the thematic event, three key focus areas emerged:

• Innovation depth: From quantum computing to AI on edge devices, Finland offers world-class research and industrial capability.
• Ecosystem power: Collaboration is Finland’s superpower—enabling startups and corporates to co-create globally scalable solutions.
• Sustainability & resilience: Climate tech, circular economy, and dual-use innovation are central to Finland’s growth strategy.

 

For founders, investors, and corporates, the message from the Happiness Lounge was clear: Finland is a launchpad for building the future.