BUSINESS FINLAND

Business Finland offers the internationalization and innovation-funding services of Business Finland as entities which have been customized in accordance with the goals and target groups of each program. Programs provide networks which enable the participants to resolve common challenges and learn from their peers.

Business Finland offers Finnish companies a unified customer journey for innovation activities, internationalization, investments, and tourism promotion. Business Finland is the Finnish government organization for innovation funding and trade, travel and investment promotion. Business Finland's 600 experts work in 40 offices globally and in 16 regional offices around Finland. Business Finland is part of the Team Finland network.

Business Finland is launching programs in areas with significant new market potential for Finnish companies. 

The purpose of Business Finland's program activities is to prompt businesses to benefit from market transitions and to increase understanding of themes affecting the future of business. This enables them to increase international business operations and to renew Finnish society.

Business Finland's programs enable the participants to resolve common challenges and learn from their peers. The programs provide a unique way for bringing together various different operators: companies of different size seeking growth, renewal and internationalization as well as research and other organizations working in cooperation with the companies. The programs mobilize a critical mass of actors and build joint offerings from Finland in strategically selected sectors and markets. They operate persistently: the typical duration of the programs is 4–6 years.

Business Finland can provide funding for SMEs and midcap companies seeking significant growth in export markets by granting aid or a loan for ambitious R&D projects that give companies a competitive edge. If successful, a project's export potential must be at least 20 times higher than the R&D investments made. Funding from Business Finland is discretionary and competed for.

Investment criteria

-Your company is an SME (fewer than 250 employees, turnover up to EUR 50 million or a balance sheet total of up to EUR 43 million) or a midcap company (consolidated turnover up to EUR 300 million), which is truly seeking significant international growth.

-Your company is developing new innovative products or services, production methods or business models that gain a competitive edge in international markets.

-Your company aims to create new competence that gives it a competitive edge in international markets.

Grant can be granted for critical research activities that aim at least to acquire new information in the relevant sector and create capabilities for later development, but that do not yet result in a finished product or service. The grant for SMEs' research projects accounts for at most 50% of total eligible project costs. For midcap companies, grant covers at most 40% of total eligible project costs. We pay aid afterwards based on your reported realized costs.