SMEs and Data Economy: Is the leading position of large companies decreasing?
Do companies understand the significance of the data economy for Finland's economy and business operations? Business Finland's Data Economy program, in collaboration with VTT, conducted a data economy survey to better understand the data capabilities of Finnish companies. Positive insights can be found, especially in data sharing and utilization.
Business Finland and VTT conducted a survey in the spring of 2025 for startups, SMEs, and large companies regarding their readiness to data utilization. We received insights from over 100 entities across various industries, with the largest being in industry, production and expert fields.
The survey has now been conducted for three years in a row, and we have identified several changes that may have significant implications for business development.
The data utilization survey examined companies' data capabilities and readiness through personnel, strategy, business management, data utilization, and sharing. Additionally, we aimed to understand how much business benefit is believed to be derived from data usage. We also wanted to know whether data utilization has led to new business ideas for companies.
From results to actions – companies share and utilize data more
According to the survey, the number of companies sharing data outside their company has increased and is now almost 50 percent. In previous years, it was the third of the respondents.
The number of companies using data from outside has also increased steadily and is now over 80 percent of them.
Compared to previous years, 2023 and 2024, we can see that the value and benefit from utilizing data has been acknowledged in companies: around 66 percent of respondents agree that data utilization has business value even over 10 percent of turnover.
In addition to overall comparison, we also recognized changes in different company sizes. In 2025’s survey, almost half of startups and small companies as well as over 60 percent of medium-sized companies have increased their actions towards sharing data. The majority, at least 85 percent of these companies, are also utilizing data from outside the company. The differences compared to previous years are several percentage points. Moreover, medium-sized companies experienced growth of up to 20 percent in the planning of data personnel.
Additionally, we can see positive development in strategic planning performed using data in medium-sized companies, as well as in identifying new data-driven business ideas. Among the company sizes, the development of large companies appeared to be the slowest compared to previous years and other company sizes.
Data itself does not create value
In order to truly leverage the value of data in business, it must be processed, analyzed, and refined into a usable form. Data sharing is essential for business development, innovation, and global competitiveness. By sharing and combining data, new valuable opportunities can be discovered through collaboration.
Our survey reveals that large companies are already widely utilizing data in their business, and at the moment, SMEs are reaching these development stages as well.
Could the slowdown in the development of large companies be related, for example, to rigidity and slowness in operations, or is it that SMEs have woken up to the opportunities of the data economy?
It would be important for all Finnish companies to continue developing business with data, because we still have a lot of potential for business changes even at a global level.
The Data Economy program and VTT are supporting this development journey.
Read also the results of previous surveys (2024 and 2023):
2024: Light at the End of the Tunnel – Are Finnish Companies Realizing the Importance of Data?
2023: Data economy benefits not yet fully understood in companies
Data Economy Program has also conducted a playbook which aims to support and help especially SMEs to build growth business by utilizing data economy and EU regulation. Read more
Further information
Kari Klossner
Head of Data Economy program
Business Finland
kari.klossner (at) businessfinland.fi
Read more about Business Finland's Data Economy program and funding services.
Jutta Suksi
Senior Specialist
VTT
jutta.suksi (at) vtt.fi
VTT has extensive international networks and diverse experience in digitalization, data utilization, and data business in various industries. VTT's experts help companies with data sharing, business models, data productization and data markets, among other things.
P.s. Business Finland and VTT are a part of Data Spaces Alliance Finland network where the aim is to promote the utilization of data economy in Finnish companies and build data ecosystems to Finland. We have published ‘Datasta pk-yritysten kasvualusta’ guidebook (in Finnish), from where you will get tips for how to utilize data in your company and how to get guidance and funding for it. We are also introducing several growth stories of companies from various industries, that have been possible by utilizing and sharing data. Could your company be the next success case? Read more about the Data Spaces Alliance