🇫🇮 President Stubb grants internationalization awards for the first time: Award-winners are Unikie, Konecranes, ABB and Forest Joensuu

The President of the Republic has granted the annual internationalization awards to three companies and one community. Unikie, which develops intelligent smart production solutions, was awarded as the 2024 Newcomer Company. Konecranes, which produces material handling solutions, received the Growth Company award, and the technology company ABB was recognised as the Long-term International Investor. The year’s Community Award was granted to the forest industry cluster Forest Joensuu.

The Internationalization Awards of the President of the Republic of Finland are bestowed annually in recognition of internationally successful Finnish companies or communities. The evaluation emphasises competitiveness, the international nature of business operations, and profitability. Other criteria include responsible operations, impacts on Finnish expertise and employment, foreign investments in Finland and making Finland’s innovation environment known abroad.

Various business sector experts, operators and organisations made nominations for the awards. The final proposal for the awards was presented to the President of the Republic by the Team Finland network, Business Finland, Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Finland’s export credit agency Finnvera and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Unikie creates intelligent solutions

Unikie CEO Juha Ala-Laurila, Unikie founder Esko Mertsalmi and Business Director Vesa Kiviranta.

Unikie, which was awarded as the Newcomer Company, is a software company founded in Tampere in 2015. It employs nearly 600 people, 450 of them in Finland. Unikie’s software solutions infuse intelligence into machines, vehicles and industrial solutions. The company’s software engineering services and automated driving solutions create a competitive advantage for the company’s clients and enable them to become digital leaders within their industries. Unikie’s international expansion has been fast, and it cooperates with large technology companies around the world.

“From the beginning, Unikie has boldly aimed to become a global top company by harnessing world-class software experts and technology innovations. International client relationships have boosted our growth, and exports already account for more than 50 per cent of the company turnover,” says Unikie’s CEO Juha Ala-Laurila.

Konecranes is shaping next generation materials handling

Paper Mill

Konecranes Plc., which received the Growth Company award, has grown into a significant player in materials handling. The company is known primary for its lifting equipment and maintenance services. In 2023, the company’s turnover was approximately EUR 4 billion, and it has business operations in over 50 countries. Konecranes employs more than 2,000 people in Finland and over 16,500 people globally.

“The award coincides with our anniversary of 30 years as an independent company. Our success is based on international expansion and close customer relationships, which is vital for our sustainable solutions and for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Diversity and support for communities play a key role in our global activities,” says  Anders Svensson, Konecranes’ President and CEO.

ABB brings impactful investments to Finnish industry

Synchronous motor assembly fitters at work at ABB’s Helsinki Machine Plant, where motors and generators are developed and manufactured for all industries and applications worldwide.

ABB was recognized as the Long-term International Investor. ABB Oy is part of the global ABB Group, which is a leader in electrification and automation technologies. In Finland, ABB currently employs approximately 5,500 people and operates in some 20 locations. The company is one of Finland’s largest corporation tax payers and industrial employers. Over the past ten years, ABB has invested annually over EUR 55 million on average in production capacity in Finland.

“ABB has become international by helping its customers in different industries to succeed globally. At the heart of our success are our competent personnel and substantial RDI investments in cutting-edge technology. We have created many international success stories in Finland,” says Pekka Tiitinen, Country Managing Director Finland.

Forest Joensuu connects forest sector operators in Joensuu and North Karelia

Forest Joensuu operators and companies from the Joensuu area visited the DEMO International fair in Canada in September 2024. In the photo, from left: Suvi Hassinen, Silja Suomalainen, Lauri Sikanen, Ville Kortelainen, Vesa Leppänen, Jere Nuutinen and Seppo Tossavainen.

Forest Joensuu, which received the Community Award, promotes the development of the forest sector, accelerating the emergence of planet-restoring solutions that play a crucial role in combatting climate change, forest fires and loss of biodiversity. The forest industry cluster has business activities covering the forest and wood product industry, machinery and equipment manufacturing and technology, and it is also a research and education hub. The cluster includes a total of 600 companies, which employ approximately 6,000 people. The combined turnover of the companies was EUR 2 billion.

“The forest and photonics solutions developed in the city of Joensuu, the European Forest Capital, are exported all the way to the Americas and Asia, and dozens of international delegations have admired Forest Joensuu’s spirit of togetherness. This award belongs to everyone from machine drivers to doctors,” says Jere Penttilä, Chief Executive of the City of Joensuu.

Photos of the companies
The photo account of the Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

Inquiries

Team Finland
Risto Huhta-Koivisto, Senior Advisor
Business Finland
risto.huhta-koivisto (at) businessfinland.fi
+358 40 343 3347

Unikie
Elina Mansner, CMO
elina.mansner (at) unikie.com
+358 44 044 7767

Konecranes
Brett Young, Head of External Communications
brett.young (at) konecranes.com
+358 40 140 5801

ABB Oy
Satu Perälampi, Country Communications Manager Finland
satu.peralampi (at) fi.abb.com
+358 50 332 3850

Forest Joensuu
Jere Penttilä, Chief Executive, City of Joensuu
jere.penttila (at) joensuu.fi
+358 50 432 7600

The Team Finland network promotes the international success of Finland and Finnish enterprises. The publicly funded services provided by the network are designed to foster the internationalisation of Finnish companies, attract investment in Finland, and promote Finland’s country brand globally. Read more about Team Finland and its services at www.team-finland.fi.

Originally published on 22 November by Business Finland.

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