Women’s Health: How Finland is Leading Change

Although women represent 51% of the global population, only about 1% of healthcare research and innovation addresses conditions unique to them outside of oncology. Women’s Health Hub Finland (WHH Finland) aims to correct this imbalance by driving research and treatment across all life stages – from prevention and diagnosis to effective care.

Launched in May 2025, WHH Finland is a national initiative coordinated by Business Turku and supported by Business Finland, created to position the country as a global leader in women’s health innovation. The hub offers a single entry point for international partners seeking collaboration, investment, and export opportunities in health technology.

A Global Opportunity For Leadership

Turku, a coastal city in Southwest Finland, provides an ideal foundation for this initiative. Recognized as the country’s pharmaceutical R&D hub, it hosts about half of all pharma and diagnostics activity, more than 100 life science companies, and four universities. Global leaders such as Bayer, Orion, Revvity, and Roche Diagnostics are already established in this thriving cluster.

The women’s health market represents a €100 billion opportunity, and global economic impact could reach €1 trillion annually by 2040.

Leading the initiative is Jyrki Lehtimäki, Account Manager at Business Turku and head of the WHH ecosystem. With nearly 30 years of pharmaceutical experience, including senior roles at one of Finland’s largest pharma companies, he brings deep industry insight to the mission. “Even I was surprised when I saw the numbers on gender bias,” he admits. “It’s an eye-opener.”

The city’s infrastructure features the Finnish national drug discovery center, robust clinical networks, and close partnerships between academia and industry, allowing for quick translation of research into real healthcare solutions. As Lehtimäki explains, “We saw a real opportunity for collaboration across sectors, and a strong business case for focusing on women’s health.”

The hub’s launch marked an important step in establishing its role as a driver for collaboration, showing strong interest from global stakeholders and strengthening its international goals. To meet that goal, the initiative adopted a new way of working, specifically an ecosystem approach.

Outlook, Opportunities, and Success

WHH Finland is expanding Nordic collaboration while building partnerships with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to address unmet needs in developing markets. International engagement includes policy dialogues such as the “Healthy Women, Healthier Societies” session at the Europe Forum, which highlights the link between gender health equity and broader societal well-being.

The women’s health market represents a €100 billion opportunity, and global economic impact could reach €1 trillion annually by 2040 if health-equity investments are made at scale. WHH Finland sees no contradiction between ethical imperatives and commercial potential – resources from industry are essential to drive meaningful change.

The City of Turku's infrastructure features the Finnish national drug discovery center, robust clinical networks, and close partnerships between academia and industry, allowing for quick translation of research into real healthcare solutions.

“Commitment must be matched with resources to accelerate progress,” Lehtimäki stresses. “That’s why companies are involved: to bring resources and attract more funding for research.” Building on that principle, the hub offers international partners a clear pathway to engage and contribute.

By joining, they gain access to co-creation opportunities, global networks, and Finland’s unique strengths in health innovation. Benefits include:

• Collaboration with leading pharma, diagnostics, and digital health companies.
• Connections to UNFPA programs.
• Support from Business Finland for internationalization and investment strategies.

 

WHH Finland is also structuring metrics that matter clinically, socially, and economically:

• Clinical impact: reductions in maternal mortality and cervical cancer rates.
• Population health: more healthy life days and fewer absences linked to post-menopausal conditions.
• Innovation & investment: increased funding, startups, and translational projects focused on women-specific conditions.

 

From Silos to an Ecosystem

Historically, women’s health research has been fragmented, with male physiology dominating clinical trials and funding decisions. WHH Finland is changing that by creating an integrated ecosystem that connects industry, academia, and healthcare providers. Its approach includes:

• Mapping unmet needs and aligning them with solution providers.
• Establishing a steering group linking universities and companies.
• Building public–private partnerships to accelerate innovation.
• Advocating for policy changes and increased funding for women-specific health conditions.

 

"Women are at the core, but men must also be part of the discussion – this is a societal issue,” says Lehtimäki, emphasizing the inclusive approach that defines the hub. That principle of collaboration now drives international efforts, as WHH Finland partners with companies, academia, and healthcare providers to increase visibility, introduce innovations, and secure funding for research.

Ready to make an impact?

Finland provides a world-class environment for health and life sciences companies, with extensive expertise in diagnostics, therapeutics, digital health, and care innovation. Our vibrant ecosystems, such as Women’s Health Hub Finland, offer opportunities to co-create scalable, clinically relevant solutions across prevention, early detection, treatment, and follow-up.