Vibrant Southwest Finland
Southwest Finland is growing, renewing, and networking. The region’s vitality stems from strong entrepreneurship, expertise, and collaboration that extends across sectors and borders. Sustainable growth, transformative technologies, and responsible food and resource economy strengthen the region’s position internationally. Southwest Finland is building a future where economy, environment, and well-being go hand in hand.
Pharmaceutical and Health Technology
Southwest Finland is Finland’s leading region in the development of pharmaceutical and health technology. The region is home to over one hundred companies in the sector, accounting for one-fifth of the region’s industrial turnover and employing a significant portion of the industrial workforce. Pharmaceutical and health technology is one of Southwest Finland’s smart specialization priorities within the field of demanding health solutions.
The strength of health technology is based on multidisciplinary research, skilled workforce, and a high-quality innovation ecosystem. As many as 21 of the 23 medicines brought to market in Finland have originated here. In addition to pharmaceuticals, the region develops advanced diagnostic tools, AI-based imaging solutions, and information systems that support clinical decision-making, treatment effectiveness, and patient safety. Development work is carried out in close collaboration with universities, research institutes, companies, and healthcare providers, aiming for internationally competitive solutions that meet regulatory requirements.
Future priorities include synthetic health data, multidisciplinary image analysis, immunology, women’s health, and health equity. Pharmaceutical and health technology expertise is also combined with other fields such as nutrition, well-being, and biotechnology.
Data Economy, Smart Solutions, and Security Technologies
Southwest Finland is strengthening its position as a developer of data economy, digital services, and smart solutions. The utilization of artificial intelligence, automation, data analytics, and smart infrastructure supports the renewal of industries, green transition, and more efficient use of resources. Digitalization is also a key enabler in optimizing energy production, streamlining logistics, circular economy solutions, and innovations in sustainable mobility and regional development.
The region has a growing ecosystem of expertise in defense industry, security technologies, and dual-use innovations. These sectors strengthen security of supply, crisis resilience, and technological competitiveness while creating new business and high-level expertise. Collaboration between companies, research, and the public sector promotes the development of solutions that serve both societal security and civilian applications.
Maritime Industry and Vehicle Manufacturing
Southwest Finland is Finland’s maritime industry hub and one of Europe’s most significant maritime cluster regions. A strong network of design, technology, and subcontracting companies has been built around the Turku shipyard, employing thousands of people and accounting for a significant portion of the region’s exports. The maritime industry is renewing itself by developing energy-efficient and low-emission vessels, solutions utilizing alternative fuels, and autonomous maritime traffic systems. Maritime solutions thus support the green transition and strengthen Southwest Finland’s international competitiveness.
Vehicle manufacturing has been a cornerstone of Southwest Finland’s industry for decades. The expertise of the Uusikaupunki plant is internationally recognized, and the industry is now seeking new directions in a changing market. Alongside contract manufacturing, new products are emerging, such as armored vehicles, as well as solutions in electric mobility, battery technology, and circular economy, where the region has strong expertise.
The maritime industry and vehicle manufacturing are developed in close collaboration with companies, shipyards, plants, research institutes, and educational organizations. Southwest Finland Strategy 2040+ and the smart specialization priority of maritime solutions guide development toward high-value-added, internationally competitive, and sustainable industry that supports the vitality of the entire region.
Food, Security of Supply, and Well-being
Southwest Finland is Finland’s most important food production region and the country’s most food self-sufficient region. Fertile agriculture, diverse crop and livestock production, and strong fisheries form the foundation of the region’s vitality. The food chain employs over 16,000 people and accounts for one-fifth of the region’s business activity—food is one of the cornerstones of Southwest Finland’s economy and security of supply.
Southwest Finland is building the food of the future. Development work aims for sustainable and profitable production that utilizes regenerative agriculture, new crops and cultivation methods, and circular economy solutions. New plant proteins, innovations in fisheries and cellular agriculture, and locally processed products create growth, open export opportunities to the Nordic countries and Europe, and strengthen the region’s competitiveness.
The strengths of Southwest Finland’s food chain are high quality, responsibility, and close collaboration. Partnerships between companies, research institutes, and education develop solutions that support consumer well-being, healthy nutrition, and environmental responsibility. At the same time, a food system is being built that creates sustainable growth, strengthens security of supply, and puts Southwest Finland’s food expertise and flavors on the world map.
Climate Change and Circular Economy
Southwest Finland aims for a carbon-neutral future where economy, environment, and well-being reinforce each other. Climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation are at the core of the regional strategy. The region is developing solutions that reduce emissions and support sustainable energy production—wind, solar, and bioenergy, as well as new applications of the hydrogen economy.
The circular economy is a tool for renewing the economy and everyday life in Southwest Finland. The goal is to decouple economic growth from natural resource consumption and promote resource-wise construction, recycling, material reuse, and nutrient cycling. This reduces environmental impact, strengthens security of supply, and supports the climate and sustainability goals of municipalities and companies.
Southwest Finland’s strength is collaboration. Companies, research organizations, municipalities, and communities jointly develop green transition solutions that create new business, jobs, and expertise. This builds a Southwest Finland of sustainable partnerships that is a pioneer in climate action and circular economy in Finland and internationally.
Tourism is an important part of Southwest Finland’s economic structure and a growth engine for the region. It creates jobs, strengthens regional services, and brings new business to cities, rural areas, and the archipelago. The region’s diverse nature, cultural heritage, and history form a strong foundation for tourism development—together with companies, municipalities, and communities, we are building a Southwest Finland of sustainable partnerships.
Promoting sustainable tourism supports the region’s strategic climate and vitality goals. Companies are developing their services to be year-round and responsible, utilizing digitalization, circular economy, and accessibility. New investments in tourism infrastructure, services, and expertise strengthen Varsinais-Suomi’s competitiveness and create a sustainably vibrant region.
Tourism is also a key part of Southwest Finland’s attractiveness and retention capacity. It strengthens local identity and increases the region’s visibility in the eyes of companies, students, residents, and visitors. When industries, municipalities, organizations, and other stakeholders collaborate, tourism grows into a resource broader than the service sector, supporting a uniquely attractive Southwest Finland.
Culture is a significant source of business activity and employment in Southwest Finland. Creative industries, events, and cultural services generate business activity, jobs, and regional economic benefits in both cities and smaller municipalities. Culture is closely linked to tourism, services, and other industries and strengthens regional vitality.
Strengthening the operating conditions of the cultural sector supports business development, new business models, and attracting skilled professionals. Culture increases Southwest Finland’s appeal and visibility internationally as well. At the same time, it strengthens regional identity and supports demand for local services.
The economic impacts of culture arise from collaboration. Municipalities, companies, educational institutions, and cultural sector actors jointly build conditions for the growth and employment of the creative sector throughout the region. Collaboration enables knowledge sharing, more efficient use of resources, and long-term development.
