Data bank

Why Signals of Change publication?

The brief describes the role of lead markets in innovation policy, particularly from the perspective of the green transition and international competitiveness.

In 2020, Business Finland introduced its new Strategy 2025, which also determined that it would be worthwhile to launch thematic missions.

Biochemical company Origin by Ocean seeks international growth with a novel innovation that transforms seaweed into ingredients for industries such as cosmetics, textiles and food. Its sustainability goal is ambitious: remove from the sea excess nutrients caused by human activity. The seaweed collection process has been developed together with local partners in the Caribbean, from where the algal biomass is transported to Finland for further processing.

Global companies KONE and Konecranes are developing their innovation activities in India in collaboration with Demola Global and other smaller Finnish companies. Tampere University coordinates and Business Finland funds the Co‑Innovation project that generates novel market and customer understanding and enhances competitive innovations.

Geyser Batteries develops high-power, environmentally sustainable batteries with Business Finland's support, achieving international pilots and breakthroughs in the energy market.

Every Finnish company generates data, and using and sharing it in the right way creates broad business opportunities. Four years of monitoring by Business Finland's Data Economy program shows that Finnish companies have become increasingly skilled at using data, but there is still room for development.

How to combine innovation with sustainability and emerging growth opportunities in developing markets? International innovation collaboration can bring diverse business and sustainability benefits for companies, showcase examples from Developing Markets Platform. 

Business Finland's Sprint Funding Call opens March 2, 2026, supporting small companies with innovations aiming for rapid international growth and strategic shifts.