The Finnish economy is knowledge-based; it lives and breathes research and innovation. If you’re looking to establish an R&D centre, pilot your concept or find collaboration partners, Helsinki Metropolitan has what it takes.
Finland is constantly rated as the country with one of the best education systems, and its universities are among the highest performing in the world. The availability of a skilled workforce, including scientists and engineers, is high. In particular, Finland has a wealth of experienced talent for creating new health tech solutions, and a variety of advisors, subcontractors and manufacturers to build up complete systems and get regulatory approval.
The Helsinki Metropolitan region is home to Finland’s most important innovation players – University of Helsinki, Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre. Long-term investments in education have resulted in cutting-edge research and medical care in specialist areas such as oncology, immunology, neurology, virology and genetics. The area’s health ecosystem boasts world-class science and scientists, collaborative networks and cross-discipline knowhow, such as CleverHealth Network, iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine platform, Cancer IO research and innovation project, and neuroscience network Helsinki Brain & Mind.
A renowned pioneer in mobile networks and technology, Finland is among the leaders in key technologies, such as 5G, VR/XR and AI, driving opportunities for novel digital health innovations. Nokia’s exit from Finland released vast know-how in radio technology and mobile apps, and much of it was transferred to digital health innovations.
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The Finns’ unique genetic heritage and the breadth and depth of electronic health data records make Finland an exceptional research goldmine. Welcome to Helsinki Metropolitan to join the well-connected development environment and dig into the data!
Geographic isolation has given Finns a unique, interesting genetic heritage. The entire population is covered with longitudinal electronic health and social care records and a personal identification code that is used in all healthcare and social services. The citizens have access to their records and can view and amend them with additional well-being data if they wish.
Electronic health data can be combined with biological samples and phenotype data stored in the Finnish biobanks. Fingenious Service helps researchers, both from acedemia and industry, with access to the data in Finnish biobanks. Permits for the secondary use of social and health data are granted by national agency Findata.
A great example of combining the longitudinal digital health data with genome information is the nationwide FinnGen research project, unique at its scale globally. The project, generating up to 500,000 (every 10th Finn) biobank samples by 2023, aims at identifying new therapeutic targets and diagnostics for treating numerous diseases. The study brings together Finnish universities, hospitals, biobanks, and international pharmaceutical companies, and is coordinated by the University of Helsinki (Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, FIMM).
Helsinki Metropolitan area’s main hospital – and one of the largest hospitals in Europe – HUS Helsinki University Hospital has the world’s most advanced and largest public data lake for research use. The hospital collaborates actively with companies in R&D projects on data, analytics and AI in the CleverHealth Network ecosystem.
In case you’re interested in preclinical testing or research in primary or specialist care, turn to Health Proof Helsinki. Health Proof Helsinki is Helsinki region’s new RDI test environment for health tech and medtech companies, run by Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, City of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital.
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Helsinki launches a new RDI environment for health sector companies
Helsinki Metropolitan is an excellent location for developing new, innovative health tech solutions. Measured per capita, Finland has more R&D professionals and healthcare startups than any other country. If you’re looking to co-create with the world’s most innovative health startups or seeking to invest, you’ve come to the right place.
Health technology is one of the fastest growing high-tech export sectors in Finland, accounting already for more than half of the country’s high-tech exports.
And there’s more to come. You will have heard of the Finnish startup miracle, Slush, The Nordics’ leading startup campus Maria 01, and unicorns like Supercell and Rovio. Finland has one of the largest startup ecosystems in the world. In the health space alone, there are about 400 startups, of which about 100 are located in the Helsinki Metropolitan region. The digital health startup scene is one of the strongest and most innovative in the world.
Health startups are supported by the local health ecosystem with hubs like Health Capital Helsinki, Terkko Health Hub and Upgraded strengthening the connections, accelerating innovation and attracting foreign investments and companies to partner. Health Incubator Helsinki offers a tailored, long-term incubator program for early-stage startups, with more than 20 promising startups in the program. A key feature of the local ecosystem is collaboration: universities, research institutions and companies consistently work together in pursuit of exciting new innovation. Most of the largest medtech and pharmaceutical companies in the world are located in the Helsinki Metropolitan.
Here are some of Helsinki Metropolitan’s most interesting health startups to follow: Aiforia, Buddy Healthcare, GlucoModicum, Klinik Healthcare Solutions, Mvision AI, Nightingale Health, Osgenic, Rappta Therapeutics, Surgify Medical, Uute Scientific, Valo Therapeutics, VEIL.AI
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