AI.
Innovation.
Station.
Helsinki is backed by over 60 years of AI research.
Everyone is talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI). While AI is all the rage today, we Helsinkians have been quietly committed to it for over six decades. In fact, Helsinki is home to one of the most powerful AI ecosystems in Europe.
Why Helsinki for artificial intelligence?
Finland is home to LUMI, one of the fastest supercomputers globally
LUMI is one of the world’s most powerful and greenest supercomputers and an AI platform for science. Up to 20% of LUMI’s resources are available to industry and SMEs, supporting their RDI activities. In addition, LUMI features one of the most mature integrations of quantum processors to high-performance computing via VTT’s HELMI quantum computer.
3% of Finland’s GDP is devoted to R&D
Finland ranks #3 in global innovation, driven by large investments in research and development. With 3% of our GDP devoted to R&D—set to increase to 4% by 2030—passion for technological is backed by the national government. This has fostered tight-knit collaboration between universities and industry. And five of Finland’s top-ranking AI universities are located right here in Helsinki.
Finland was the first country to initiate an AI strategy in Europe
Finland made history as the first country in the world to launch a national AI strategy, setting the stage for a future driven by innovation and ethical development in the field. With a strong focus on education, research, and public-private collaboration, Finland’s AI strategy aims to boost competitiveness, enhance public services, and ensure AI benefits society as a whole.
Finland ranks #1 in digitalisation in Europe
Finland ranks #1 in data science and machine learning
47% of Finland’s digital talent pool lives in the Helsinki region
With a highly skilled workforce, 82% of IT professionals possess advanced programming skills, and 58% hold a Master’s degree or PhD. This deep pool of expertise makes Helsinki an exciting place for AI innovation. So, what are all those talented people doing here? While there’s a lot to explore in AI, we’re particularly known for research in pattern recognition and machine vision, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Generative AI, and large language models (LLM).
World-class AI institutions
Helsinki’s AI institutions, including the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI), rank among the top in the world. Our robust ecosystem of over 400 AI startups ensures access to cutting-edge research and development facilities.
Finland gives companies a 150 % tax deduction for joint R&D projects
Helsinki is a place where government agencies, academic institutions, research organisations, and private companies work together. The Finnish government supports such collaboration by offering a 150%
Free soft-landing services
With unmatched government support, a thriving talent pool, and a global reputation for innovation, Helsinki offers businesses the perfect environment to grow and thrive in AI technology. Discover why so many pioneers call Helsinki home.
Benefits of expanding your company to Helsinki
- R&D Tax Incentives: Substantial benefits for research-driven companies.
- Low Corporate Tax: A flat 20%, one of the lowest in the EU, decreasing to 18% in 2027.
- Pro-Business Climate: Transparent regulations, digital-first services, and minimal bureaucracy.
- Cost-efficient location for R&D capabilities: Helsinki is a Nordic cost-leader for R&D-intensive sectors.
AI success stories from Helsinki
ELLIS Institute Finland
Finland has strengthened its position at the forefront of artificial intelligence research with the establishment of ELLIS Institute Finland, one of only a handful of ELLIS Institutes in Europe. The Institute focuses on world-class research in machine learning and AI, while enabling large-scale RDI collaboration across universities, industry and international partners. By connecting leading researchers, companies and global networks, ELLIS Institute Finland accelerates the development of ethical, trustworthy and high-impact AI and reinforces Helsinki’s role as a European hub for cutting-edge AI research.
AMD Silo AI: Europe’s Largest Private AI Lab
AMD’s acquisition of Silo AI, Europe’s largest AI deal in over a decade, underscores Helsinki’s strength in building world-class AI companies that attract global strategic investors and scale internationally. In 2024, US semiconductor leader AMD acquired Helsinki-founded Silo AI in the largest AI acquisition in Europe in over a decade. The deal highlights Helsinki’s ability to build globally competitive AI companies operating at the forefront of machine learning and applied AI.
Founded in Helsinki, Silo AI grew into Europe’s largest private AI lab before being acquired by AMD in a landmark transaction, demonstrating Helsinki’s capacity to develop high-value AI expertise at global scale.
AI Finland powering Helsinki’s AI momentum
Headquartered in the Helsinki region, AI Finland is the driving force behind the city’s rapidly expanding AI ecosystem. Bringing together over 400 organisations across 20+ industries, it connects companies directly to leading research, executive-level AI programs and cross-industry collaboration.
AI Finland ensures that AI developed in Helsinki doesn’t stay in the lab, it scales into real-world applications, competitive advantage and international growth.
NestAI: accelerating AI at industrial scale
NestAI is part of Finland’s next wave of AI scale-ups, building commercial AI capabilities on the back of strong research and national investment. With strategic backing from major Finnish players, NestAI strengthens Helsinki’s AI ecosystem by accelerating the move from deep tech innovation to market-ready solutions.
Operating from the Helsinki region, NestAI contributes to Finland’s ambition to lead in applied AI by turning cutting-edge research into scalable, industrial-grade solutions. Its growth reflects Helsinki’s broader strength: combining public investment, research excellence and business execution to build globally competitive AI companies.
Verda (formerly DataCrunch): Europe’s emerging AI cloud hyperscaler
Founded in Helsinki in 2020 as DataCrunch, the company began by addressing Europe’s shortage of high-performance AI compute and has since evolved into Verda, aiming to become the first AI cloud hyperscaler from the Nordics. In 2025, it secured €55M in Series A funding to accelerate expansion and strengthen Europe’s sovereign AI infrastructure.
Verda provides AI-optimised GPU clusters and scalable cloud services designed for model training, deployment and enterprise workloads. Operating on 100% renewable energy and built to meet European regulatory standards, Verda reinforces Helsinki’s position at the forefront of AI infrastructure in Europe.
Hei AI Innovators, welcome to Helsinki
Are you looking to expand your business? can help you identify the right opportunities when starting a business in Finland—whether opening a subsidiary, piloting new products or services, establishing an R&D hub, and more. We can introduce you to key people in the city, from government officials to private companies and research institutions. We’ll also help you access tax incentives, understand corporate tax rates, get access to data sharing and funding opportunities, and offer practical advice on expanding into Europe.
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