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 leads the European Union in generative AI adoption, with 66% of companies using tools like ChatGPT, Bard, and Copilot, nearly double the EU average of 37%. It spans the full AI value chain, from research and infrastructure to real-world applications, bringing together startups, scaleups and global tech companies.

Key facts about AI in Finland

• #1 in the European Union for generative AI (GenAI) adoption among companies
• #1 world’s most popular free AI courses, taken by 1M+ people globally: Elements of AI.
• One of the world’s 1st national AI strategies was launched in 2017
• #5 globally in Stanford’s AI Vibrancy Index relative to population
• #7 on the Global Innovation Index as the world’s most innovative nation

Photo Keksi Agency

AI research & innovation leadership 

Helsinki is home to some of Europe’s leading infrastructure and research institutions for AI development.

• ELLIS Institute Finland is an ecosystem that enables companies to collaborate with leading scientists, access fundamental machine learning research, and co-develop next-generation solutions within a highly connected European innovation platform.
• Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI) is a leading AI research and innovation hub that enables companies to collaborate with top researchers, access advanced computing infrastructure, and co-develop applied AI solutions from research to real-world deployment.
• LUMI AI is one of Europe’s most powerful AI supercomputing platforms, enabling EU companies to train large-scale models, process vast datasets, and accelerate the development of advanced AI solutions through high-performance computing infrastructure, free of charge. 
• Aalto University and the University of Helsinki drive world-class research, fueling the creation of startups across AI, health tech, diagnostics, and climate tech, exemplified by globally leading companies such as IQM Quantum Computers, ICEYE, Canatu and many more. 

Photo LUMI AI Factory

High-performance innovation through collaboration

• 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 

From research to commercialisation 

Helsinki offers a fast track from research to commercialisation, powered by public–private collaboration: 

• 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. 
• 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. 
• RELEX Solutions – AI for global retail optimisation 
  From Aalto research to global scale, RELEX Solutions is a Finnish AI unicorn transforming retail and supply chain planning worldwide. The company has raised over €700 million in funding and operates internationally, demonstrating Helsinki’s strength in enterprise AI applications. 
• 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). 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.

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 is located in the 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 an 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 Niki Loppi

“AI researchers in Finland are world-class, with a strong foundation in mathematics and physics, which is essential for developing the next generation of advanced and explainable AI.”

Niki Loppi, AI & HPC Solution Architect, NVIDIA 

AI born in Finland, built for the world

• 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+). The LUMI supercomputer was key to developing Silo AI’s LLM. 
• 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 at decacorn scale
  Oura has reached a valuation exceeding $10 billion, becoming one of Finland’s first decacorns. Headquartered in Finland, the company leverages AI and advanced analytics in its wearable technology platform, serving millions of users globally. Oura demonstrates Helsinki’s ability to build consumer AI products that scale internationally, combining hardware, software and data-driven insights.

Still not convinced, here’s a recap why Helsinki is your next innovation hub 

• World-class AI talent 
  Access top researchers and engineers from Aalto University, University of Helsinki and leading AI centres like FCAI and ELLIS Institute Finland  
• Proven public–private collaboration model 
  Seamless cooperation between companies, universities and research institutes accelerates R&D and reduces risk  
• Cutting-edge infrastructure 
  Leverage Europe’s most advanced computing resources, including the LUMI supercomputer and high-performance AI platforms  
• Fast track from research to market 
  Strong co-innovation frameworks and public funding (e.g. Business Finland) support rapid development and scaling  
• Thriving AI ecosystem 
  Join a growing network of startups, scaleups and global leaders such as Silo AI, ICEYE and IQM  
• Gateway to Europe 
  Operate within the EU single market, the Eurozone and a stable, business-friendly environment  
• Testbed for real-world AI 
  Highly digital society with strong data infrastructure enables piloting AI solutions at scale  
• Sustainable and responsible AI 
  Develop AI with low environmental impact and in line with leading ethical and regulatory standards