Through a new initiative launched with venture capital firm Innovestor, the Finnish city is opening up its high-tech cluster to external companies working in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, energy, and precision measurement.
The call is part of the city’s High Tech Cluster programme, introduced in 2025, and is being run through the VivaTech Vantaa High Tech Cluster Startup Challenge, with applications open until April 20.
Building on an existing industrial base
Vantaa accounts for over half of Finland’s semiconductor industry revenue, with companies such as Vaisala and Okmetic operating across sensing, measurement, and materials. The cluster has developed around these capabilities, bringing together companies working on environmental and industrial measurement, silicon wafer production, and related manufacturing processes.
The initiative builds on that base, positioning the city as a point of entry into an already active industrial environment rather than a standalone innovation layer.
“We are looking for innovative solutions and partners across the value chain who could be interested in strategic collaboration with Vaisala,” said Kimmo Korpela, Vice President, M&A at Vaisala.
The reference to the value chain reflects how the call is structured. The focus is placed on technologies that can be applied across semiconductor processes, advanced manufacturing systems, energy infrastructure, and precision measurement. This includes solutions that can support production, improve accuracy in measurement, or integrate into existing industrial workflows.
Startups and more established technology companies are both eligible to apply. The initiative is open to companies developing hardware, software, or combined systems that can be deployed in industrial settings.
How companies are brought into the system
Innovestor’s Corporate Venturing team is supporting the process by identifying companies working on relevant technologies and connecting them with corporate partners involved in the Vantaa cluster. The team’s role includes mapping startup solutions to specific industrial use cases and facilitating initial collaboration discussions.
The challenge is also positioned as an entry point into the Finnish market. Companies selected through the process are expected to engage with local partners and explore opportunities for piloting and longer-term collaboration.
Alongside the call, Vantaa is offering soft-landing support for international companies. This includes assistance with establishing a local presence, navigating regulatory and permitting requirements, and connecting with the local startup and industrial ecosystem.
The soft-landing services are part of a broader effort by the city to attract international companies working in high-tech manufacturing and related fields. The programme is designed to support companies through the early stages of market entry, particularly in areas where access to infrastructure and local networks is required.
“Vantaa offers international startups and scale-ups a unique soft-landing environment where innovation meets real industrial collaboration. Our city is committed to fostering open innovation programs with global technology leaders located in Vantaa. Our cooperation with Innovestor and Vaisala is a great example of a public–private partnership that strengthens the future of Vantaa’s high-tech cluster, with a strong focus on precision measurement, semiconductor, and advanced manufacturing industries,” said Sergey Troshkov, Startup Soft Landing Manager at the City of Vantaa.
Benefits for selected companies
The challenge is structured not only as a sourcing mechanism, but also as a gateway into a set of international and industry-facing opportunities.
Selected companies receive access to VivaTech in Paris, alongside the opportunity to pitch at a business and networking event hosted at the Embassy of Finland on June 16, bringing them into direct contact with investors, corporates, and ecosystem partners.
Participants also receive evaluation and feedback from Innovestor, offering an external perspective from a Nordic venture capital firm with experience in early-stage technology investments.
Beyond the initial selection, companies may progress into commercial discussions and pilot opportunities with industrial partners operating within the Vantaa cluster, particularly in semiconductor, manufacturing, and measurement environments.
The challenge also extends into the Nordic ecosystem, with selected companies gaining access to Slush, including participation in a High Tech Cluster side event with a dedicated pitching slot.
The High Tech Cluster programme, launched in 2025, is focused on strengthening Vantaa’s role in critical technology sectors and building closer connections between industrial companies, startups, and international partners.
The VivaTech challenge serves as one of the mechanisms through which the city is sourcing external technologies and bringing them into the cluster. The process is designed to identify companies whose solutions can be applied in existing industrial contexts and to facilitate collaboration with companies already operating in Vantaa.
Applications for the VivaTech Vantaa High Tech Cluster Startup Challenge are open until April 20, 2026.
