"Southwest Finland: The best place to start your business?" by Jonathon Murphy
Just between us, I had never even heard of Turku before I moved here seven years ago; my British impression of Finland was basically just Helsinki and Lapland, with a giant forest in-between.
But I am here to spread the good news - that Turku and Southwest Finland is the proud home of a flourishing business community. Our regional strengths are the cleantech, life sciences and maritime industries, but all sorts of companies succeed here. Leading the way are start-ups and SMEs, which comprise over 90% of companies in Finland. Strong regional networks, a secure operating environment and superior logistical location allow businesses here to thrive across the Nordics and beyond.
Of course, even the ‘happiest country in the world’ has its difficulties. Geopolitical events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have taken their toll on the Finnish economy in recent years. And that is before we consider the (occasionally true) stereotypes of the harsh winters and the even harsher Finnish bureaucracy. Fortunately, entrepreneurs here do not have to suffer through these hardships alone.
Over the next few months, I’ll be using this column as a place to explore entrepreneurship in Southwest Finland, through the lens of the City of Turku’s Business Development Services. As a Project Coordinator at International House Turku, I meet with entrepreneurs on a weekly basis, and I hope to highlight some of the region’s success stories, as well as how our team is addressing some of the main challenges facing our clients. Of course, if you have any questions of your own you would like me to cover, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or reach out to me via LinkedIn.
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We know that entrepreneurship is currently a hot topic for our target group - our business-themed networking events are some of our most popular, and our Business Advisor service is consistently fully booked. In addition to the fertile local business environment described above, the entry to entrepreneurship here in Finland is perhaps lower than in other EU countries, making it a serious option for many internationals who would never have considered it in their home country (myself included).
The Invest in Turku website describes the region as "an ideal environment for game-changers and disruptors", and there is a long tradition here of pushing boundaries and doing things slightly differently to the rest of Finland, as well as total reinvention where necessary (I mean this literally, as well as metaphorically; the City has burnt down and been rebuilt several times).
Turku was the original capital of Finland (a fact that every local will tell you if you spend more than five minutes here) due to its geographical position and capacity as a market town. Trade and commerce are written into its history, and, as the city approaches its 800th anniversary in 2029, its future. With our support, we would be delighted if you would be a part of it too.
