Helsinki-Uusimaa Region Competence and Creativity

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HELSINKI-UUSIMAA REGION COMPETENCE AND CREATIVITY. SECURITY AND URBAN RENEWAL. WELCOME TO THE MODERN METROPOLIS BY THE SEA.

HELSINKI-UUSIMAA REGIONAL COUNCIL HELSINKI-UUSIMAA REGION AT THE HEART OF NORTHERN EUROPE

• CAPITAL REGION of Finland • 26 MUNICIPALITIES, the largest demographic and consumption centre in Finland • EXCELLENT environmental conditions - 300 km of coastline - two national parks • QUALIFIED HUMAN CAPITAL and scientific resources • INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT • four large INTERNATIONAL PORTS • concentration of CENTRAL FUNCTIONS: economy, administration, leisure, culture • privileged GEO-STRATEGIC LOCATION

Helsinki-Uusimaa Region AT THE HEART OF POPULATION • 1,6 MILLION inhabitants • 30 % of the population of Finland • POPULATION GROWTH 18,000 inhabitants in 2016 • OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Finnish mother tongue 80.5 %, Swedish mother tongue 8.2 % • other WIDELY SPOKEN LANGUAGES: Russian, Estonian, Somali, English, Arabic, Chinese • share of total FINNISH LABOUR FORCE: 32 % • 110,000 business establishments • share of Finland’s GDP: 38.2 % • DISTRIBUTION OF LABOUR: services 82.5 %, processing 15.9 %, primary production 0.6 %

FINLAND

• republic with 5,5 MILLION inhabitants • member of the EUROPEAN UNION • 1,8 MILLION SAUNAS, 500 of them traditional smoke saunas • 188 000 LAKES (10 % of the total area) • 180 000 ISLANDS • 475 000 SUMMER HOUSES • 203 000 REINDEER • 39 NATIONAL PARKS HELSINKI-UUSIMAA

SECURITY AND URBAN RENEWAL. WELCOME TO THE MODERN METROPOLIS BY THE SEA.

ISBN 978-952-448-370-4 (publication) ISBN 978-952-448-369-8 (pdf)

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Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council Helsinki 2017 1

3 A METROPOLIS BY THE BALTIC SEA 5 DIVERSE REGION 6 FULL OF POSSIBILITIES 9 SMART REGION 11 INTERNATIONAL ACTOR 14 HELSINKI-UUSIMAA REGIONAL COUNCIL 2 Good infrastructure, as well as a stable social system and security, are values that we embrace.” 3

The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is at the heart of northern Europe. Located on the south coast of Finland, it is home to around 1.6 million people – more than a quarter of the country’s total population.

The region consists of 26 municipalities, including the Finnish capital city Helsinki. The Baltic Sea is playing a major role in the region’s life.

More than one third of Finland’s GDP is generated in this metropolitan region. The region serves an engine for economic growth in the whole country as well as a logistic hub with regard to the international market.

The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is vibrant and pulsating. It is an excellent location to live, work and succeed in. We wish you warmly welcome to Helsinki- Uusimaa! A METROPOLIS BY A METROPOLIS BY SEA THE BALTIC 4 5 DIVERSE REGION

Helsinki-Uusimaa is international, multicultural, modern and tolerant. We are also proud of our nature: it is diverse, offering both recreation and tranquillity. Nature, clean water, good infrastructure, as well as a stabile social system and security, are all values that we embrace.

The future for the region looks good. The population is growing: the birth rate is high and people are moving to the region, both from within and from outside of Finland. The population is young and the share of the working population is high.

The educational level in the region is high and the educational system is effective all the way through: from basic education to top-class universities, research institutes and innovation clusters. 6

FULL OF POSSIBILITIES

Helsinki-Uusimaa offers a variety of possibilities enabled by highly educated work force and top-quality research. Supporting various research projects as well as building up global networks with other innovation clusters is the region’s trump card.

The growing market in Russia and in the Baltic countries is close at hand. Those planning to start a business in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region benefit from a close cooperation between companies and an open market for new, innovative products. 7 8 9

SMART REGION

Solutions for the digitalizing industry, human health tech and urban cleantech, as well as smart solutions for the benefit of the citizens and regions – these are the themes Helsinki-Uusimaa focuses on in its smart specialization strategy.

A smart region is a place that leverages the power of IT to improve the life-quality for its inhabitants, economic development and sustainable use of natural resources. By showcasing the most innovative and interesting projects, companies and ideas, Helsinki region wants to attract new investors, project partners and companies to the region.

Read more on www.helsinkismart.fi. 10 11

INTERNATIONAL ACTOR

One of the strengths and keys to success in the Helsinki- Uusimaa region is its international competitiveness.

The international cooperation of Helsinki-Uusimaa focuses on the Baltic Sea Region, which is where the majority of its partners also come from. We are an active partner in the Baltic Sea States Subregional Co- operation (BSSSC), one of the most important political networks for decentralized authorities in the Baltic Sea Region. The region is actively involved in various EU projects. 12

The region’s special asset is a good co-operation between companies, educational institutes and the public sector.” 13 14

HELSINKI-UUSIMAA REGIONAL COUNCIL – A REGIONAL DEVELOPER 15

Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council is one of the 18 regional councils in Finland. The tasks of Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council include regional development and regional planning and the promotion of local and regional interests in general.

The Council co-ordinates and implements a number of national and EU projects. Helsinki- Uusimaa Regional Council has a representative office in Brussels, the Helsinki EU Office.

The Council emphasizes the interests of people, businesses and municipalities in the region and collaborate with different regional actors.

The regional councils are statutory authorities. The officials are politicians elected by the member municipalities for a mandate of four years. 16

Welcome to the harmonic metropolis by the sea! WHERE TO FIND US: OFFICE IN LÄNSI-PASILA, HELSINKI

Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council Esterinportti 2 B, FI-00240 Helsinki, Finland

Tel +358 9 4767 411 Fax: +358 9 4767 4300 [email protected] [email protected]

Regional Mayor Mr Ossi Savolainen

www.uudenmaanliitto.fi/en www.facebook.com/uudenmaanliitto Twitter: @Uudenmaanliitto

Helsinki Smart Region www.helsinkismart.fi Twitter: @HelsinkiSmart

HELSINKI EU OFFICE Rue Guimard 7, B-1040 Brussels Tel + 32 2 551 1340 [email protected] www.helsinki.eu

Head of Office Ms Krista Taipale LAHTI

RIIHIMÄKI

LAPINJÄRVI HYVINKÄÄ PUKKILA MYRSKYLÄ MÄNTSÄLÄ KARKKILA ASKOLA

JÄRVENPÄÄ PORNAINEN NURMIJÄRVI SALO TUUSULA LOVIISA KERAVA

PORVOO VIHTI SIPOO LOHJA

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KAUNIAINEN

SIUNTIO ESPOO HELSINKI

KIRKKO NUMMI INGÅ RASEBORG HELSINKI-UUSIMAA REGION

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NORWAY

Helsinki SWEDEN RUSSIA Baltic Sea ESTONIA

North Sea NORTHERN LATVIA IRELAND DENMARK

IRELAND LITHUANIA UNITED RUSSIA KINGDOM NETHERLANDS POLAND BELARUS GERMANY BELGIUM

LUXEMBOURG CZECH UKRAINE Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council 2017 REPUBLIC

SLOVAKIA FRANCE

SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA HUNGARY MOLDOVA SLOVENIA ROMANIA CROATIA ITALY ANDORRA MONACO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA SPAIN SERBIA PORTUGAL BULGARIA MONTENEGRO MACEDONIA

ALBANIA

TURKEY GREECE LAHTI