Helsinki Think Company – the city and the university’s new entrepreneurial meeting place

Mayor Jussi Pajunen emphasises the fact that Helsinki Think Company is a significant milestone in the cooperation between the city and the university. “This space facilitates all kinds of meetings and the collision of different ideas, which can lead to completely new avenues.”

Helsinki provides an excellent environment for the operations and growth of companies from different sectors. In fact, Helsinki is currently the city of choice for growth companies and start-ups. “Cooperation promotes the commercialisation of innovations,” says Pajunen.

Entrepreneurship as part of the everyday life of students

”This new entrepreneurial space differentiates itself from other similar projects by the fact that here the wide range of sciences practised in the University of Helsinki provides the basis for entrepreneurship. When strong expertise in the natural sciences is combined with deep understanding of the humanities and social sciences in this entrepreneurial environment, the result is the creation of completely new ideas” says Thomas Wilhelmsson, Rector of the University of Helsinki.

University-based entrepreneurship ties together academic knowledge, societal problems and profitable business operations. This leads to value-based business, steered by the desire to create a more ethically, ecologically and financially sustainable society and environment.

Entrepreneurial cooperation provides benefits to both parties

”The University of Helsinki plays an important role in the heart of the innovation centre and as a cradle of innovative business and growth. With the help of the university, we can better utilise top international expertise. The university also plays a vital role in attracting foreign experts,” Jussi Pajunen reminds us.

As an example of a new kind of business, Pajunen mentions open data. Helsinki Region Infoshare is a pioneer in making the Helsinki metropolitan area’s information resources available for companies, who can refine the information and at the same time provide new opportunities for researchers and communities. “The Nordic social model is known for its openness, and we have all the makings of a leading centre of expertise in this field. The only limit is our imagination.”

The Helsinki region is growing stronger

The cooperation between the university and the city promotes the metropolitan area’s competitive potential and the creation of a more international and attractive Helsinki. At the same time, it creates new jobs, strengthens the region's competitiveness and encourages entrepreneurship in new sectors as well.

Helsinki Think Company is open on weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00 at Vuorikatu 5. For more information, please visit www.helsinkithinkcompany.fi.

Additional information

City of Helsinki:

Director of Economic Development Marja-Leena Rinkineva, tel. 09 310 36141, marja-leena.rinkineva@hel.fi

CEO Timo Onnela, EnterpriseHelsinki, tel. 09 310 36623, timo.onnela@hel.fi

University of Helsinki:

Communications Manager Ira Leväaho, 050 5058152, ira.levaaho@helsinki.fi

 Yours sincerely,

Karin Hannukainen

Media and Communications Officer
University of Helsinki
Communications and Community Relations
P.O.Box 33 ( Yliopistonkatu 4)
00014 University of Helsinki
e-mail: karin.hannukainen@helsinki.fi
tel.+ 358 9 191 228 75, GSM +358 50 415 03 28

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