Kasvufoorum 2025, which took place in Helsinki in January, brought together smart traffic experts to discuss cooperation, innovations and the way Finland can use its full potential for building a competitive and data-driven future.
Many of those who took the floor highlighted the unique cooperation in the traffic sector:
- ITS Finland´s Chair of the Board of Directors, State Secretary Mika Nykänen:
“In the last few years, cooperation in the traffic sector has developed incredibly. The traffic sector is in the vanguard of creating Finland’s competitive edge – in this, data plays a key role. It is important to see ourselves as a society that can create export circles. One company alone may be too small for the markets, but when companies join forces the offerings created are interesting.”
Director General & CEO Lassi Noponen, Business Finland:
“In Finland, the cooperation between businesses and public administration is unique in the world. Our culture of cooperation is a Finnish strength. The traffic sector is a great example of an industry seeking growth through ecosystems and cooperation. That said, we still need more bravery and the ability to take risks.”
Director General Laura Eiro, Ministry of Transport and Communications:
“We must gain access to more public sector and private sector data while further developing our trust solutions. In the last 5–10 years, giant strides have been taken in the fields of traffic data and logistics. Even so, there is more to utilise in service development. Our close cross-border contact between organisations and sectors is the envy of the world.”
CEO Juha Ala-Laurila, Unikie:
“Success on the global markets requires the right product, big dreams and a razor-sharp focus. It also requires commitment from the owners and the ability to renew. The biggest challenges are increasing your recognition and spreading your focus too wide. Success takes cooperation, a customer-oriented approach and responsibility.”
In addition to Unikie, there were inspiring speeches from business leaders Kimmo Ahvenlampi (Telia), Kaj Pyyhtiä (ICEYE) and Mikko Ampuja (Vapaus).
The panel discussion “Collaboration route to international markets” moderated by Kimmo Ylisiurunen, Fintraffic, and panelists Janne Lautanala, Fintraffic, Grace Wang, Business Finland, and Anders Bengtsson, EIT Urban Mobility gave also many interesting views.
Janne Lautanala highlighted that internationalisation takes:
- Building partnerships at home and in the target markets
- Precisely defining your offering and doing your homework
- Hard work
- Knowing and utilising the regulation
Thank you for all of the inspiring speeches and encounters during breaks! This was a brilliant start to the year. Our mutual efforts to advance the traffic sector continue via the traffic data ecosystem and we will continue to conquer the world in the Traffic Data Service Cluster!
