DIGILE Launches New Initiatives for Finnish Companies in China

DIGILE broadens its offerings to the Finnish companies and organisations that are interested in business opportunities in China. DIGILE and Beijing Zhongguancun Software Park (ZPark) have signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to create the next global breakthroughs in areas where China and Finland together can provide unique core partnership for the global market. This is achieved by leveraging the joint expertise, networks, and capabilities of the parties torenew existing industries and, in particular, to boost the creation of new emerging industries.

ZPark serves as the platform for Chinese and Finnish ICT and digital services companies to scout suitable and competent partners for both parties and to facilitate research, development and innovation (R&D&I) cooperation.

“ZPark is the most important and dynamic among the science parks in China. This joint operation will bring huge business opportunities to the Finnish organisations. Also the Chinese companies will benefit from the cooperation as DIGILE serves them as a gateway to the European market. Finland is open, trusted and transparent digital services hub linking East, West and South”, says Matti Hämäläinen, Director of China cooperation at DIGILE. “We believe that this cooperation will promote business-oriented R&D&I activities between companies on both sides. We expect that more and more Finnish high-tech companies will establish cooperation with ZPark companies and also consider setting up operations in ZPark.”

In China cooperation DIGILE is focused on facilitating joint R&D&I in ICT, digital services and digital business that combine the complementary expertise and capabilities in China and in Finland. To effectively carry out this mission DIGILE is given the position to coordinate the China-Finland Strategic ICT Alliance  (as appointed by Tekes) and represent the Finnish industry, universities and research centers with a mandate form the government.

“China is the rising star in the field of Internet economy and digital services. China has managed to create huge growth; for example, mobile internet users in China reached 820 million already in July 2013. However, international companies without partnerships have only limited access to the fast growing, uniform market of 1.3 billion users. So, this is a unique opportunity for Finland to benefit from the extensive pools of technology expertise and resources”, says Reijo Paajanen, CEO of DIGILE.

Golden Bridge will join as a third party to this cooperation to provide practical support and assistance in its areas of expertise and brings its company and public and private investor networks into play as appropriate.

DIGILE, ZPark – Beijing Zhongguancun Software Parkand Golden Bridge signed the memorandum of understanding in a ceremony held at the first China-Finland Technology Communication and Cooperation Conference in Otaniemi, Finland, on June 5th 2014. The conference was co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of People’s Republic of China and Ministry of Employment and the Economy of Finland.