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Business Finland

Helsinki, Finland

businessfinland.fi

Business Finland is Finland’s public innovation funding and growth organization. This profile represents the Innovation Funding Agency Business Finland (Innovaatiorahoituskeskus Business Finland), business ID 0512696-4, a government agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. It is recorded as a Company because the available organization model does not have a government-agency type; it is not a private venture firm. The Business Finland brand began in 2018, with the funding agency continuing Tekes’s innovation-funding functions. The agency and the distinct state-owned service company Business Finland Oy, business ID 2725690-3, operate under shared Business Finland leadership. Their legal identities and employment relationships must not be conflated. Its public funding instruments include research and development grants and loans and research commercialization support. Its relevant technology areas include artificial intelligence, quantum computing, industrial deep technology and health innovation. Generative AI and Health 360 Finland ran as programs and ended in June 2026; continuing innovation funding services do not imply that these programs remain active. The 2026–2030 strategy and organization came into force in January 2026, and international export-promotion functions transferred to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at the end of 2025. Business Finland Venture Capital Ltd was integrated into Tesi in March 2025 and is not the grant agency represented here. The current shared organization publishes seven leaders and an agency governance board appointed for March 23, 2026 to March 22, 2028. Public program and media contacts are separately qualified, rather than presumed to be agency employees. A primary issuer-quoted December 2019 announcement identifies a EUR250,000 Business Finland grant to neuroscience-device company Sooma, separate from its EUR1 million equity financing. Government appropriations, program targets and grant awards are not private fund closes; award dates do not by themselves establish recipient cash disbursement dates. Its open funding database distinguishes funding granted from funding paid. Headquarters are at Porkkalankatu 1 in Helsinki.

Founded 2018

Team

Greta NefflingCoordinator; former Generative AI campaign coordinator
Hannu KemppainenHannu KemppainenBusiness Finland shared leadership: Executive Director, Insight and Finance
Heidi ElviläBusiness Finland shared leadership: Executive Director, Talent, Legal and Administration
Heli HemgårdBusiness Finland public contact: Head of Communications, PR and Media; Visit Finland and Work in Finland
Heli SaariBusiness Finland public contact: Area Manager, Visit Finland
Jarno SyrjäläGovernance Board Member
Jenni SantaloJenni SantaloBusiness Finland shared leadership: Executive Director, Marketing, Communications and Digital Solutions
Joonas HallaBusiness Finland public contact: Manager, Business Development, Work in Finland
Juuso HeiniläJuuso HeiniläGovernance Board Member
Karin WikmanBusiness Finland public contact: Leading Innovation Expert
Lassi NoponenLassi NoponenDirector General
Maria ArrudaBusiness Finland public contact: Head of Communications, PR and Media
Maria WasastjernaMaria WasastjernaGovernance Board Member
Outi VaaralaOuti VaaralaGovernance Board Member
Paula EerolaPaula EerolaGovernance Board Member
Risto VuohelainenRisto VuohelainenBusiness Finland shared leadership: Executive Director, Growth Services
Salla SalovaaraBusiness Finland public contact: Head of International PR and Media; Invest in Finland
Sini UuttuSini UuttuBusiness Finland public contact: Project Manager, Climate-neutral Economy and Renewable Energy
Susanna LehtoBusiness Finland public contact: Marketing Coordinator
Tarja EnalaTarja EnalaProgram Director; former Health 360 Finland program head
Teija Lahti-NuuttilaBusiness Finland shared leadership: Executive Director, Director General’s Office
Teppo RantanenGovernance Board Chair
Tiina KorhonenGovernance Board Vice Chair
Timo Metsä-TokilaTimo Metsä-TokilaBusiness Finland shared leadership: Executive Director, Funding Services
Timo SorsaTimo SorsaHead of Program; former Generative AI campaign head
Ulf-Erik WiddBusiness Finland public contact: Leading Expert, Smart Machines and Shipping

Investments