Europe’s leading hub for AI innovation and R&D

Why Helsinki for AI companies?

Helsinki sits at the heart of Finland’s AI ecosystem, which includes 66% of Finnish companies are already using generative AI, nearly double the EU average of 37% and the highest adoption rate in Europe. The ecosystem spans the full AI value chain – from foundational research and data infrastructure to commercial applications – and brings together startups, scaleups and global technology companies. 

Finland performs strongly in international comparisons of artificial intelligence ecosystems, reflecting the strength of its research institutions, talent base and advanced computing infrastructure. In the Global AI Index by Tortoise Media, Finland ranks among the world’s leading AI ecosystems. The country also performs strongly in the Global AI Vibrancy Ranking by Stanford University, particularly in areas such as AI research output and computing capacity. 

AI in Helsinki: 

• Home to LUMI AI Factory 
• Over 400 AI companies and world-class research institutions  
• Top-tier AI engineering talent pool 
• Strategic access to EU and Nordic markets 

AI research & innovation leadership 

Helsinki is home to some of Europe’s leading artificial intelligence research institutions that are internationally recognised for cutting-edge research in machine learning, generative AI, human-computer interaction and robotics. These focus areas are supported by strong academic foundations and close collaboration with industry, enabling rapid translation into commercialised applications through startups, scaleups and corporate R&D. 

• ELLIS Institute Finland
  ELLIS Institute Finland is one of only a few ELLIS Institutes in Europe, positioning Helsinki at the forefront of global machine learning research. It attracts top international talent and enables large-scale collaboration between academia, industry and European AI networks. 
• Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI)
  FCAI is one of Europe’s leading AI research centres, bringing together over 70 professors and hundreds of researchers from Aalto University, the University of Helsinki and VTT. It focuses on trustworthy, data-efficient and explainable AI, working closely with industry partners to translate research into real-world impact. 
• Lumi AI Factory
  Operated by CSC – IT Center for Science, The LUMI AI Factory is one of the European Union’s first AI factories and is considered the largest of the European Union’s 19 AI Factories, integrating computing power, high-value datasets and AI expertise into a single platform. As part of the EuroHPC network, the AI Factory enables companies, researchers and public sector organisations to develop, test and scale AI solutions using advanced computing resources, data and expert support. At its core is LUMI, one of the world’s most powerful and energy-efficient supercomputers. Eligible EU-based entities can access this infrastructure free of charge, including academic institutions and selected SMEs and startups engaged in AI development. The platform will be further strengthened by LUMI-AI, a next-generation AI supercomputer, that allows users to access IQM Quantum Computers’ processors through an integration. Moreover, LUMI-IQ is an experimental environment combining AI, high-performance computing and quantum technologies. At the LUMI AI Factory Hub at the Kumpula Campus of the University of Helsinki, companies, researchers and startups can collaborate on AI innovation, training and development. LUMI users include pioneer companies such as ICEYE.
• Aalto University & University of Helsinki 
  Aalto University and the University of Helsinki are globally recognised for AI, data science and engineering education. Together, they produce thousands of highly skilled graduates annually and form the backbone of Finland’s AI talent pipeline and research excellence. 
  

Photo LUMI AI Factory

Industry collaboration 

Close collaboration between startups, industry and research organisations has enabled the growth of globally recognised AI companies and a vibrant community of emerging AI startups and scaleups in the Helsinki region. 

The Helsinki AI ecosystem is supported by organisations such as AI Finland, which connects companies with leading research, executive AI programmes and cross-industry collaboration. This strong network of over 400 organisations across more than 20 industries accelerates the adoption of AI across industries and supports companies in turning research into scalable business solutions. 

The Finnish AI ecosystem is also gaining strong commercial momentum. Startup funding exceeded €1.5 billion in 2025, supported by major investment rounds and international partnerships that continue to accelerate AI development. Recent examples include Nokia’s €1 billion collaboration with NVIDIA to advance AI infrastructure, as well as Oura’s €777 million funding round supporting the global expansion of its AI-driven health technology platform. 

Developing AI solutions in Helsinki works efficiently thanks to: 

• High-performance AI infrastructure, including supercomputing, cloud and data platforms 
• Strong public-private collaboration  
• Co-innovation platforms and research partnerships  
• Dedicated organisations accelerating AI adoption and commercialisation 
• Active startup and scaleup ecosystem 

Examples of industry collaboration for AI development in Helsinki includes: 

• AI with telecommunications (5G/6G), robotics and autonomous systems  
• Health AI and industrial AI leadership  
• Integration with quantum computing and high-performance computing 

Helsinki supports sustainable and responsible AI development 

• Energy-efficient AI infrastructure. Finland is home to some of the world’s most energy-efficient computing infrastructure, including the LUMI supercomputer powered by renewable energy. This enables companies to run large-scale AI workloads with significantly lower environmental impact. 
• Strong commitment to ethical and trustworthy AI. Finland is a global leader in ethical AI development, aligning closely with EU frameworks and guidelines. Strong emphasis on transparency, trust and data protection supports responsible AI deployment across industries. 
  

Access a highly skilled AI talent pool

Helsinki offers access to one of Europe’s most highly skilled digital workforces. Finland ranks #1 globally in data science and machine learning proficiency and #2 in Europe for AI expertise per capita. The tech workforce is also predominantly English-speaking, making it easy for international companies to recruit and scale teams. 

Key points about AI talent in Helsinki: 

• Close to 50% of Finland’s digital talent located in Helsinki region  
• Over 80% of IT professionals with advanced programming skills  
• Strong expertise in machine learning, data science and AI engineering  
• English-speaking tech talent and internationally experienced workforce  

Why AI talent in Helsinki stands out 

Finland’s education system emphasises problem-solving and creativity, helping produce highly capable technology professionals. A significant share of the AI talent in Helsinki hold Master’s or doctoral degrees. 

• High-quality education system and top universities focusing on AI 
• Strong talent retention and quality of life  
• Competitive hiring costs compared to major European hubs 

Photo ICEYE

AI innovation across industries 

• Silo AI (AMD) – Europe’s largest AI exit in over a decade
  Founded in Helsinki, Silo AI grew into Europe’s largest private AI lab before being acquired by AMD in 2024 in the biggest AI transaction in Europe in over a decade (reported €600M+). With hundreds of AI experts and enterprise clients across industries, the company exemplifies Helsinki’s ability to build globally competitive AI companies that attract major international strategic investors. The LUMI supercomputer was key to developing Silo AI’s LLM. 
• Verda (formerly DataCrunch) – building Europe’s AI cloud hyperscaler 
  Founded in Helsinki in 2020, Verda is developing sovereign AI cloud infrastructure for Europe. In 2025, the company secured €55 million in Series A funding to scale its GPU-based compute platform for AI training and deployment. Focused on high-performance computing and operating on 100% renewable energy, Verda strengthens Helsinki’s position in next-generation AI infrastructure. 
• NestAI – advancing industrial-scale AI deployment 
  NestAI represents Finland’s next wave of AI scale-ups, focusing on industrial and enterprise AI applications. Backed by strong national and industrial investment, the company is building scalable AI solutions for real-world deployment, reinforcing Helsinki’s strength in applied AI and deep tech commercialisation. 
• NVIDIA – global AI research collaboration 
  NVIDIA AI Technology Center (NVAITC) is a joint research center of the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence FCAI, NVIDIA, and the Finnish IT Centre for Science (CSC). Nvidia is collaborating closely with Aalto University and University of Helsinki. The centre provides access to advanced GPU infrastructure and supports research in machine learning and high-performance computing, strengthening Helsinki’s role within global AI research networks. 
• Nokia & NVIDIA – AI-driven connectivity at global scale 
  Nokia, headquartered in Finland, integrates AI across its global telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G and emerging 6G technologies. Through collaboration with partners such as NVIDIA, Nokia applies AI to network automation, edge computing and intelligent connectivity, serving global telecom operators and enterprises. 
• Oura – AI-powered health technology with global reach 
  Oura, headquartered in Finland, leverages AI and advanced analytics in its wearable technology platform. With millions of users globally and strong international growth, Oura demonstrates Helsinki’s ability to build consumer AI products that scale internationally and combine hardware, software and data-driven insights. 
• ICEYE – AI-powered satellite intelligence at scale 
  ICEYE is an Aalto University spin-off that operates the world’s largest commercial SAR satellite constellation, with dozens of satellites in orbit. The company has raised over $400 million in funding and delivers real-time Earth observation data powered by AI to governments and enterprises globally. 
• RELEX Solutions – AI for global retail optimisation 
  Founded in Finland, RELEX Solutions provides AI-driven supply chain and retail planning software to major global retailers. The company has raised over €700 million in funding and operates internationally, demonstrating Helsinki’s strength in enterprise AI applications. 
• Aiforia – AI in medical diagnostics and research 
  Aiforia is a spin-off from the University of Helsinki, developing AI-powered image analysis software for pathology and medical research. Listed on Nasdaq Helsinki, the company supports healthcare and life sciences organisations globally, reinforcing Helsinki’s leadership in AI-driven medical innovation.