Prosperous metropolis. Competitiveness Strategy for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area

Transcription

1 Prosperous metropolis Competitiveness Strategy for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area 1

2 Hyvinkää Mäntsälä Karkkila Uusimaa Region Helsinki Metropolitan Area Nummi-Pusula Vihti Nurmijärvi Pornainen Järvenpää Tuusula Kerava Karjalohja Lohja Espoo Vantaa Helsinki Siuntio Kirkkonummi Kauniainen Raasepori Inkoo 2 Hanko Graphic design: Jumping Cat Studio Printing: Redfina Oy, Espoo, 2009

3 Foreword Global competition between city regions over talented people, thriving businesses and international investments is tightening. The Helsinki Metropolitan Area has ranked well in a number of international competitiveness comparisons, but staying on top requires continuous, sustained development and actions. These were the bases on which the metropolitan cities set out to create a common strategy focusing on themes that the cities could promote with their actions in order to enhance competitiveness. The work was started based on the implementation of a cooperation agreement concluded between the cities in the metropolitan area 2007, the metropolitan cities Economic Development Working Group being the responsible body. The completion of the Competitiveness Strategy for the Metropolitan Area is excellent proof of the good functioning of the cooperation between the metropolitan cities. Once the city councils had approved the priorities and action lines towards the end of 2008, the cities committed themselves to strengthening the competitiveness in the area. The drafting of the competitiveness strategy was begun in a completely different situation than today, but even faced with major economic challenges we must head towards an increasingly competitive metropolitan area. The importance of developing the metropolitan area for Finnish competitiveness as a whole has been generally recognised. Upon the completion of the Competitiveness Strategy for the Metropolitan Area the central government and the metropolitan cities entered into negotiations on a letter of intent regarding the central government s participation in the implementation of strategy s nationally important action proposals as part of the governmental Metropolitan Policy. In our view, the competitiveness strategy is brilliantly carrying out the vision for the metropolitan area, according to which The Helsinki Metropolitan Area is a dynamic world-class centre for business and innovation. Its high-quality services, art and science, creativity and adaptability promote the prosperity of its citizens and bring benefits to all of Finland. The Metropolitan Area is being developed as a unified region close to nature where it is good to live, learn, work and do business. The Competitiveness Strategy for the Metropolitan Area was drafted with the support of the European Regional Development Fund. Jussi Pajunen Mayor City of Helsinki Marketta Kokkonen Mayor City of Espoo Juhani Paajanen Mayor City of Vantaa Torsten Widén Mayor City of Kauniainen 1

4 Contents Introduction 2 Competitiveness in the metropolitan area 3 Background to the strategy 3 Implementation of the strategy 4 Priority 1: Improving top-quality education and know-how 5 Priority 2: Building good quality of life as well as a pleasant and secure living environment 11 Priority 3: Strengthening user-driven innovation environments and developing public procurements 17 Priority 4: Internationalisation of the metropolitan area and its connection to global networks 25 1

5 Introduction The Competitiveness Strategy for the Metropolitan Area defines the priorities for developing international competitiveness in the area and the actions needed to achieve them. The strategy aims to considerably increase important foreign investments based on high competence, international businesses and new jobs in the metropolitan area. The strategy focuses on actions with which the cities can improve competitiveness in the metropolitan area. The strategy crystallises the vision for the metropolitan area according to which the area is a dynamic world-class centre for business and innovation. Its high-quality services, art and science, creativity and adaptability promote the prosperity of its citizens and bring benefits to all of Finland. The Metropolitan Area is being developed as a unified region close to nature where it is good to live, learn, work and do business. The priorities selected for the competitiveness strategy are themes and actions that produce added value and are not sufficiently integrated into other existing strategies and programmes. The four priorities of the competitiveness strategy are: Improving top-quality education and know-how Building good quality of life as well as a pleasant and secure living environment Strengthening user-driven innovation environments and developing public procurements Internationalisation of the metropolitan area and its connection to global networks Kirnu - Shanghai EXPO

6 Helsinki-Vantaa International Terminal Parviainen Arkkitehdit Competitiveness in the metropolitan area Competitiveness in the metropolitan area refers to the capability and expertise of the cities to sustainedly build together innovative development and operating environments. These attract new competitive businesses, investments and talented people to the metropolitan area and make them committed to the area. Background to the strategy On 26 April 2007, the city mayors in the metropolitan area gave an assignment to the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Economic Development Working Group on drafting of a Competitiveness Strategy for the Metropolitan Area. JKMM Arkkitehdit The group was composed of the economic and business development directors of the cities and other experts. Culminatum Innovation coordinated the practical strategy work and it has acted as the secretary and technical adviser to the Economic Development Working Group. Moreover, representatives of the cities various sectors, universities, research institutions and the business community as well as other experts have taken part in the drafting of the strategy. The Helsinki Metropolitan Area Advisory Board and the city councils of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen approved the priorities and action lines for the strategy in November December The strategy is connected with the Metropolitan Policy outlined in Prime Minister Vanhanen s Government Programme. The programme outlines that to address the special issues affecting the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, a metropolitan policy will be launched to identify solutions to the problems associated with land use, housing and traffic, promote business and internationalisation and prevent social exclusion. The competitiveness strategy is one of the government s spearhead projects in its metropolitan policy. 3

7 The strategy is also connected with the national innovation policy, improvement of know-how and international marketing of the metropolitan area. The competitiveness strategy supports the objectives of the national innovation strategy. The metropolitan area mainly refers to the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen. The strategy forms an entity that is complemented by the Innovation Strategy for the Helsinki Region and the cities own competitiveness programmes. Many of the development needs defined in the strategy apply to a larger metropolitan area and some of the actions will be performed together with the other municipalities in Uusimaa. Implementing the strategy also contributes to economic development of the other municipalities in the Helsinki region and increases the cooperation of the region s municipalities with the metropolitan area. Implementation of the strategy An important objective in the strategy work is to make the key players, especially the cities, committed to implementing the competitiveness strategy. A plan on the implementation of the strategy was drafted along with the strategy document itself. The strategy work involves ensuring that the implementation of the strategy is monitored and assessed. It aims to determine concrete actions and clear-cut numerical and qualitative indicators for the strategy follow-up and assessment of the success of the actions. 4

8 Know-how Improving top-quality education and know-how 5

9 Priority 1 Improving top-quality education and know-how The metropolitan area is profiled as the international hub of universities, universities of applied sciences and other educational establishments and students. In relation to its size, the area is an internationally important centre of expertise and education. The metropolitan area comprises about 90,000 1 students at universities and universities of applied sciences as well as 48,000 2 students receiving upper secondary vocational education and training. The approximate number of teaching and research staff at universities and universities of applied sciences is 8, The overwhelming majority of the national research institutions are also located in the metropolitan area. Thousands of top experts work at these institutions. Due to the disadvantageous age development of the population, the area also needs more and more foreign employees, students and experts. In 2007 a total of some 8,000 4 foreign graduate or exchange students studied at the universities and universities of applied sciences in the metropolitan area. The number of foreign students has risen steadily in the 21 st century. The Finnish education system, particularly the basic education, has obtained an excellent position in international comparison. The high level of the education system must, however, be maintained so that it will produce highly skilled professionals on all educational levels, including vocational and universitylevel education. This requires close cooperation with the cities, educational establishments and trade and industry. All the closer cooperation is also needed between various sectors within the cities. The population in the metropolitan area is clearly more highly educated on average compared to the population in the rest of Finland or in the EU area. Of the residents in the Helsinki Region, 43 per cent hold an academic degree, while the average in the whole country is 34 per cent and that in the EU 24 per cent 5. The metropolitan area heads the European regions also when measured with the proportion of the science and research personnel of the population, the GDP share of research and development investments and the share of patents. The cities play a key role in improving education and know-how. They have direct effect on the policy outlines and resources of the basic and upper secondary level education and universities of applied sciences. They can also provide opportunities and preconditions for the functioning of universities and research institutions. Universities, universities of applied sciences and establishments providing vocational education and research institutions are also important partners for the cities in different kinds of development projects. 6

10 Suurpelto Suurpellon Markkinointi Suurpelto Oy / Adactive Oy Students and the research and teaching staff at the universities and universities of applied sciences in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area University students in the metropolitan area in ,760 6 Students at the universities of applied sciences in the metropolitan area in ,096 7 Students receiving upper secondary vocational education and training in the metropolitan area in ,969 8 Members of the teaching and research staff at the universities in the metropolitan area in ,598 9 Members of the teaching staff at the universities of applied sciences in the metropolitan area in , Foreign students at the universities in the metropolitan area in , Foreign students at the universities of applied sciences in the metropolitan area in , References on page 32 7

11 Priority 1 Improving top-quality education and know-how The metropolitan area aims to be profiled as the international hub of universities, universities of applied sciences and students. The education system must be of high level on the international scale so as to produce highly skilled professionals on all educational levels, from vocational training to universities and universities of applied sciences. This requires close cooperation between the cities, educational establishments and economic and industrial life as well as within the cities between the fields of education and economic development. Action line 1: Cooperation with the universities and universities of applied sciences will be made closer to make them participate in the implementation of the competitiveness strategy Action line 2: The cities speed up the public transport connections between the campuses and enhance the students housing conditions with the aim to set up an integrated campus area network between the universities Action line 3: The cities support the activities and internationalisation of the Aalto University by providing foreign students and visiting researchers with flats 8 Aalto University 13 The Aalto University is a new university composed of the Helsinki School of Economics, the University of Art and Design Helsinki and the Helsinki University of Technology, which will start operations on 1 January The Aalto University will create a new science and art community from the universities engaged in technical sciences, economics & business administration and art & design. Combining the three universities will bring new opportunities for multidisciplinary and dynamic teaching and research. The ambitious goal of the new university is to develop in its various sectors and to position itself as a unique establishment among the world s leading universities.

12 Action line 4: The campus structure and supply of education of the Metropolia and Laurea Universities of Applied Sciences and upper secondary vocational education and training will be designed so as to strengthen their international competitiveness and appeal as study environments in the metropolitan area Metropolia 14 Metropolia University of Applied Sciences operates in the metropolitan area. It began operations in August 2008, when the Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia and the EVTEK University of Applied Sciences merged into the new university of applied sciences. Metropolia has the following fields of study: technology and transport, health care and social services, business administration, and culture. In 2008 Metropolia had approximately 14,500 students. Laurea 15 Laurea University of Applied Sciences is a multidisciplinary university of applied sciences operating in several localities in Uusimaa. Laurea s fields of study are natural sciences, hospitality management, social services, health and sports, social sciences and business administration. In 2008 a total of some 7,700 students studied in Laurea. Action line 5: The cities determine the sufficient number, location and type of international schools and agree on the variety of the language selection of comprehensive schools and upper secondary schools in the metropolitan area Teaching in the Chinese language in Helsinki 16 Since the autumn of 2008 it has been possible to learn Chinese either as the first foreign language or as the third foreign language or the teaching has been fully bilingual. The teaching is given in Mandarin. In the bilingual Finnish-Chinese teaching the Finnish curriculum for comprehensive schools is followed. The students study the main subjects both in Finnish and in Chinese. The aim is that the children s Chinese and Finnish would develop as equally strong languages. The teaching is intended for those speaking Chinese as their mother tongue or for children and young people already possessing sufficient Chinese skills. 9

13 Helsinki Music Hall LPR-arkkitehdit 10

14 Quality of life Building good quality of life as well as a pleasant and secure living environment 11

15 Priority 2 Building good quality of life as well as a pleasant and secure living environment The metropolitan area aims to be profiled as a region providing good quality of life as well as a pleasant and secure living environment. The importance of life quality factors is on the increase as they affect the decision-making of people and companies when they are choosing their domicile. They do not only attract new residents, but also bind those already residing in the area. Along with the ageing of the population the metropolitan area must be capable of attracting quite a lot of new labour. In 2008 the population in the metropolitan area numbered a little over one million, and according to the forecast by Statistics Finland it will amount to about 1,125,000 in Of the population today, a little less than 13 per cent have turned 65 years, and this proportion is estimated to be nearly 20 per cent of the population in To have appeal, the metropolitan area must be capable of offering diversified and sufficient well-being services to its residents. Besides well-organised social and health care services, culture-related services and the possibility of spending leisure time are important factors increasing the area s attractiveness and the residents commitment. High-quality living conditions meeting the residents needs, an ecologically sustained community structure and a transport system based on efficient public transport services are the prerequisites for a competitive metropolitan area. The cities can enhance the appeal of the metropolitan area by developing and marketing the area s top-quality residential environments, for example, as hubs of culture and active leisure-time services, model areas of ecological construction or as attractive world-class areas of waterfront construction. An urban environment must also be diversified and vital in order to appeal to the top professionals of the future sectors. A competitive metropolitan area has an attractive and living city centre where it is easy for people to move around and which provides enough meeting places. Urban environments are suitable for both scientific and artistic creative activities which emerge from human interaction. For instance, the cultural sectors are concentrated in the metropolitan area. Of the entire country s culture-related jobs 43 per cent are located in the metropolitan area. 18 The cities can also ensure that the metropolitan area is appealing as regards tourism and events. Tourist flows to the metropolitan area have increased significantly in recent years. In 2007 nearly 3.9 million overnights were registered in the metropolitan area. The proportion of the area of the overnights of foreign travellers in Finland was 41 per cent. 19 A high number of the visitors are business travellers. The measures promoting the cities tourism and events must complement each other, and the metropolitan area must develop tourism utilising the cities own strengths. The goal is to promote competitiveness in the metropolitan area by joint actions such as increasing tourism-related attractions, improving the efficiency of marketing cooperation, developing advisory services, increasing the availability of services and promoting tourismrelated entrepreneurship. 12

16 Finlandia Park Arkkitehtityöhuone Artto Palo Rossi Tikka Population and age structure in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area December 2008 Forecast 2030 Population in the metropolitan area 1,022,139 1,125,549 Population by age % 16.8% % 63.8% % 19.4% Population in the Uusimaa Region 1,405,481 1,589,281 References on page 32 13

17 Priority 2 Building good quality of life as well as a pleasant and secure living environment Elements related to quality of life attract new residents to the metropolitan area and make those already residing there committed to the area. The elements include satisfaction with the residential, working and living environments, security, high-standard services, such as educational, cultural, sports and leisure-time services, as well as an attractive city centre. Action line 6: Helsinki develops Jätkäsaari, Kalasatama, Kruunuvuorenranta and Östersundom as areas of world-class waterfront construction Waterfront construction in Helsinki 21 A new residential area for 16,000 inhabitants has been planned in Jätkäsaari, which will also accommodate 6,000 jobs. The area continues the tradition of urban construction. The aim is to retain the roughness of the former shipping port in the general look of the new area. The presence of the open sea, felt by all the senses, creates an atmosphere characteristic of Jätkäsaari. A city quarter with parks is planned in Kalasatama, the Sörnäinen port and its surroundings. It is to house 18,000 inhabitants and 10,000 jobs. The marine quarter is planned as part of the inner city. A new residential area will be planned and built at Kruunuvuorenranta in the area of the former Laajasalo oil port and its surroundings. As regards its urban structure, it will be connected with Laajasalo. Kruunuvuorenranta will house approximately 10,000 inhabitants and 1,000 jobs. Wooden Urban village of Myllypuro Arkkitehtityöhuone Artto Palo Rossi Tikka 14

18 Action line 7: Helsinki enables the extension and partial roofing of a pedestrian zone and invests in the development of the Finlandia Park and the surroundings of the Eteläsatama South Harbour Eteläsatama and Finlandia Park 22 Helsinki aims to make its historical centre livelier. One important area is the Eteläsatama South Harbour which is to be developed into an interesting forum for urban life. Helsinki s urban phases are crystallised in the surroundings of Eteläsatama where, for example, the Market Square, Old Market Hall, Pakkahuone (Customs and Warehouse) and the Olympic Terminal are located. The outstanding urban view offers great development potential for the area. Finlandia Park will be developed into an urban oasis for all citizens and travellers where culture, politics, tourism, transport and the media world meet. In addition to various thematic parks and markets, Finlandia Park will comprise the future Helsinki Concert Hall, the concert and congress centre Finlandia Hall, the National Opera, the Helsinki City Museum and the Museum of Modern Art Kiasma. Action line 8: Espoo develops the area formed by Tapiola, Otaniemi and Keilaniemi as a diversified centre for culture, work, studies and active leisure time and as a garden city -like residential area Tapiola-Otaniemi-Keilaniemi district Otaniemi, Tapiola and Keilaniemi, which can be characterised by the words science, art and economy (T3), form a globally unique innovation environment as they operate interactively together. In Tapiola the strengthening and diversifying of the supply of art and culture play a central role. For instance, EMMA, the Espoo Museum of Modern Art, and the Espoo City Museum are already located in Tapiola. Furthermore, a number of new museums and cultural events are being planned. Tapiola is closely connected with the scientific hub in Otaniemi and Keilaniemi, the latter known as the location for multinational companies. 15

19 Action line 9: Vantaa builds Marja-Vantaa into a model district for national ecological construction Marja-Vantaa 23 Marja-Vantaa is an important new residential and business area in the metropolitan area, providing future housing for 30,000 inhabitants. At the same time, the preconditions will be created for 26,000 new jobs. Marja-Vantaa s special strengths are its good location and transport connections. Urban ecological construction is highlighted in the planning of Marja-Vantaa. The Ring Rail Line will run via Marja-Vantaa. The line is an important horizontal rail connection included in the transport arrangements in the metropolitan area. It also provides a rail connection to the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. The construction of the Ring Rail Line will be started in the spring of 2009, and the rail line will be operational in mid Action line 10: The cities agree annually on cooperation in organising, providing and marketing cultural and other events, as well as on cooperation in developing cultural services and tourism Tapiola Center Arkkitehtitoimisto HKP 16

20 Renewal Strengthening user-driven innovation environments and developing public procurements 17

21 Priority 3 Strengthening user-driven innovation environments and developing public procurements Leading businesses all over the world have started to make consumers and customers involved more and more closely in product development. Actors in the public sector, too, pay more attention to the needs of the customers and citizens when developing their services. Demand- and user-driven innovation activities are dynamically emerging to figure side by side the conventional supply-based (eg. technologybased) development work. It is important that innovation and development environments exist for innovation activities based on the users needs in which novel or existing services and products can be developed and tested. The brainstorming, development and piloting take place together with the suppliers, developers and end-users. Innovation environments are most often specialised in a certain area, eg. a city quarter, or in a certain theme. The cities in the metropolitan area want to be in the van of development by developing and strengthening their regional and thematic innovation environments. In these environments, where businesses, research and education institutions and various development organisations are present in addition to the cities, the cities can develop their services and support the innovation activities of other actors as well. Moreover, the cities in the metropolitan area wish to promote cooperation between the innovation environments across the municipal borders and agree on the allocation of work in the thematic development environments. In developing services and launching new services, the cities have a strong instrument: public procurements. The cities can open public service markets and allocate their procurements so as to systematically support the development and take-up of innovations. The volume of the public procurements in the metropolitan area amounted to over 2.5 billion euros in

22 Public procurements in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area City EUR, million % Espoo Helsinki 1, Kauniainen Vantaa Total 2,538 References on page 32 Otaniemi Metro Station Arkkitehtitoimisto A-Konsultit 19

23 Priority 3 Strengthening user-driven innovation environments and developing public procurements Innovation environment refers to a regional or thematic operating environment in which multidisciplinary know-how and internationally networked research, education, development and other organisations are concentrated. In demand- and user-driven innovation activities the needs of the customers, consumers and citizens are taken into account, both in the public and private sector. User-driven innovation activities require encouraging markets and innovation processes common to the users and developers. The cities can contribute, more actively than today, to the advancement of services and markets by opening public service markets and allocating their procurements so as to support the development and take-up of innovations. Moby Dick Heureka s Futures Project JKMM Arkkitehdit 20

24 Action line 11: Selection and development of regional innovation environments Helsinki develops its city centre as a meeting place and its university campuses as user-driven innovation environments Helsinki City Centre and the Central Campus 25 The Central Campus, situated in the historical centre of Helsinki close to Senaatintori in the Kruununhaka quarter, is the administrative hub and the largest centre of the faculties of the University of Helsinki. The Faculties of Theology, Law, Arts, Behavioural Sciences and Social Sciences are located there. Similarly, the university library, the National Library of Finland and the new learning centre Aleksandria are situated in the city centre. The academic atmosphere created by the long traditions can be enjoyed on the Central Campus. The Campus is not an area isolating itself from the rest of the city but connects to it in line with the old academic tradition. Espoo develops the Otaniemi-Keilaniemi-Tapiola district as an innovative centre based on the interaction of science, business and art Tapiola-Otaniemi-Keilaniemi district Otaniemi, Tapiola and Keilaniemi, characterised by the words science, art and economy (T3), can form, acting together and in interaction with each other, a globally unique innovation environment. In Espoo s T3 vision Otaniemi and the Helsinki University of Technology operate as developers of science and technology, Tapiola as provider of art, culture and quality of life and Keilaniemi and its modern office block as the engine of the economy. Vantaa develops Marja-Vantaa as an international development environment for ICT and environmental technology, and the Aviapolis area next to the international airport so as to make nationally avail of this proximity to the airport area Aviapolis 26 Aviapolis is an airport city rising around the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. It is a business and residential centre covering 42 square kilometres. Of Finland s total passenger air traffic, 98 per cent go via the airport and Aviapolis. The fast growing centre already has over 35,000 jobs. 21

25 Action line 12: Regional thematic innovation environments: Digital services: Forum Virium (Helsinki) Well-being and health care services: Active Life Village (Espoo) Logistics: RFID Lab Finland and Anturikeskus Sensor Center (Vantaa) Thematic innovation environments Forum Virium Helsinki 27 Forum Virium Helsinki is a business-based and driven cluster of actors whose mission is to promote the development of digital services. It is also an impartial test bed for ideas and actors, collecting large companies and growth companies, leading development projects and opening connections to international markets. The cluster of actors closely participates in real test environments in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and designs Länsi-Pasila and the Forum Virium Center to be built there. The aim is to create better services and increasing business on the basis of solid competence. Active Life Village 28 Active Life Village Oy is a unique centre of well-being expertise aiming to promote the set-up and commercialisation of competitive well-being service innovations together with the people who use them. The non-profit Active Life Village provides companies with business support in addition to development activities and an inspiring environment. RFID Lab and Anturikeskus Sensor Center 29 RFID Lab Finland and Anturikeskus Sensor Center Oy belong to the Vantaa Innovation Institute, which became operative on 1 May It aims to promote the internationalisation of businesses and the creation of innovation environments, among others. RFID Lab provides neutral information, expertise and services related to RFID technology and its application, especially in the application fields of logistics and asset management. Anturikeskus provides product services related to sensor systems and the laboratory infrastructure to businesses engaged in this sector. The Center functions as a springboard for start-up companies engaged in sensor technology. Action line 13: The selected thematic environments are regional and they constitute a common strategic research and development agenda 22

26 Action line 14: The regional aspect and the cities participation in the projects will primarily be ensured so that Culminatum Innovation will provide the selected environments with the required resources and operations. The cities partnership, if any, and other direct ownership in each other s thematic environments are channelled through Culminatum. Culminatum Innovation 30 Culminatum Innovation Oy Ltd is a regional development company established in It implements a national Centre of Expertise Programme and projects developing the innovation environment in Uusimaa. The company enhances international competitiveness in the Uusimaa region as well as the utilisation of the region s educational, scientific and research resources in activities related to economy and business. Culminatum s owners are the Uusimaa Regional Council, the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, as well as the universities, research institutions and the business community in the region. Action line 15: The cities encourage the advancement of demand- and user-driven innovation activities in regional and thematic development environments. With their own public procurements, the cities create encouraging markets and support the common innovation processes of both the users and the developers. Programme developing innovative public procurements Culminatum Innovation s Innovative Public Procurements Programme aims to develop the operating culture, know-how, methodology and models to find innovative solutions for public service procurements. The programme creates and shares information in order to apply procurement procedures and agreement practices enhancing innovations. It also promotes the dialogue between the clients and service providers and strengthens the client organisations own innovation and cooperation abilities. For instance, as part of this programme, an innovative model for the housing services for the seriously disabled has been developed in Vantaa. For this, the City of Vantaa has obtained support from Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation. 23

27 Ring Rail Line Kivistö station Arkkitehtuuritoimisto B & M 24

28 Internationality Internationalisation of the metropolitan area and its connection to global networks 25

29 Priority 4 Internationalisation of the metropolitan area and its connection to global networks The Helsinki Metropolitan Area aims to develop as a multicultural metropolis, the Baltic Sea s logistics centre, a European centre of expertise and as a worldclass business centre. The cities joint participation in international strategic networks and projects supports the achievement of these goals. The global appeal and visibility of the metropolitan area require that the larger economic and working area by the Gulf of Finland develops into a well-functioning region. The success of this region is connected with the development of the region formed by St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Tallinn. The Gulf of Finland region is a rapidly developing economic and working area. The shortest route from New York to the large centres in Asia runs via the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. In fact, the region has good possibilities of strengthening its position as the junction for the air traffic of the East and West. 31 Expanding the market and the increasingly closer networking with international spearhead centres require close strategic cooperation of the actors in the metropolitan area both in the neighbouring area and on the global level. Coordinated cooperation in setting up and maintaining international networks facilitates the achievement of concrete results and saves the resources of the cities. In fact, strategic choices regarding international networks must be made on a regional basis: it should be decided in which network to participate and what networks to manage. Moreover, the area must be made better known and bold marketing is needed to attract international businesses and experts. The metropolitan area must be capable of meeting the rapidly increasing varieties of different cultures. From the international perspective the number of foreigners in the metropolitan area is relatively low, but it is expected to notably increase within the next few years. The ageing of the population is a challenge for the sufficiency of workforce and the provision of municipal services all over Finland. Some 160 different nationalities are already represented in the area 32. At the end of 2008 the proportion of foreign language speakers 33 of the citizens in the metropolitan area was 9 per cent. 34 The most important challenges posed by different cultures are related, for example, to organising services for foreigners. Today several actors provide steering and advisory services for foreign experts and students. The services are considered very comprehensive but dispersed. Foreign students and researchers should be served better than today. Moreover, more comprehensive and regionally coordinated steering and advisory services (soft landing services) are needed for the foreign businesses and their key persons that establish themselves in the metropolitan area. 26

30 Greater Helsinki Promotion Kuudes Kerros Helsinki Foreign citizens and foreign language speakers in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Foreign citizens in the metropolitan area at the end of ,690 Foreign language speakers in the metropolitan area at the end of ,354 The share of foreign language speakers of the population in the metropolitan area at the end of % The share of the metropolitan area of the whole country s foreign language speakers at the end of % The forecast for the year 2025 on the number of foreign language speakers in the metropolitan area 166,421 References on page 32 27

31 Priority 4 Internationalisation of the metropolitan area and its connection to global networks The challenge of the cities is identifying the common targets and partners in regard to international cooperation. The area must also be made better known and bold marketing is needed to attract international businesses and experts. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport Aviapolis 28

32 Action line 16: Greater Helsinki Promotion (GHP) systematically utilises regional and thematic development and innovation environments, internationally strong sectors of research and education, regional knowledge clusters and centres and other points of attraction in the international marketing of the metropolitan area. The metropolitan area is profiled as a forerunner in open user-driven development environments. Greater Helsinki Promotion Ltd Oy (GHP) 36 GHP markets the metropolitan area as an excellent location for international businesses and other organisations. The company seeks to make the area generally known. It also seeks to improve the operating conditions of the companies already based in the area. The company was established as the result of cooperation between the cities of the metropolitan area and the Uusimaa Regional Council. Action line 17: Based on the subsectors defined in the Competitiveness Strategy, the cities engage in target-oriented cooperation with the most important global city regions and networks. The connection to international networks is built together with Culminatum and other interested partners. Helsinki Centre in St. Petersburg The Helsinki Centre operating in St. Petersburg promotes urban relations, communications and the targets related to economic and industrial policy of Finnish cities in St. Petersburg and Northwestern Russia. The City of Helsinki has agreed on the upkeep of the joint centre with the Cities of Tampere and Kotka. Besides the City of Helsinki and the Uusimaa Regional Council, Greater Helsinki Promotion Ltd Oy and the City of Lahti participate in the Helsinki consortium. The aim is to strengthen the cities operations with the cooperation networks in St. Petersburg and Nortwestern Russia by combining resources and coordinating operations. The central themes in this cooperation are transport connections, logistics and the automobile industry, cooperation in research and culture, tourism as well as communications and media connections. 29

33 International Networks Baltic Metropoles Baltic Metropoles is the network for the large cities in the Baltic Sea region. The business idea of the network, which was established in 2002, is to promote competitiveness in the Baltic Sea region by networking the key players in the region cities, universities and businesses into close cooperation. The priorities in this cooperation are innovation policy, promotion of professionals movability and joint marketing. Berlin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Malmö, Oslo, Riga, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Tallinn, Vilnius and Warsaw belong to the Baltic Metropoles urban network. EUROCITIES EUROCITIES is the network of more than 130 large cities in over 30 European countries. EUROCITIES network was founded in 1986 and is committed to working towards a common vision of a sustainable future in which all citizens can enjoy a good quality of life. The network provides a platform for its member cities to share knowledge and ideas, to exchange experiences, to analyse common problems and develop innovative solutions, through a wide range of forums, working groups, projects, activities and events. International Regions Benchmarking Consortium International Regions Benchmarking Consortium, established at the initiative of the City of Seattle, focuses on common learning, for example, in themes related to competitiveness and builds cooperation between its members. In addition, the network develops indicators that enable comparisons related to various themes. Barcelona, Daejeon, Dublin, Fukuoka, Helsinki, Melbourne, Munich, Seattle and Stockholm, as well as Singapore and Vancouver as observers, are members of this consortium. Technopolicy Network Technopolicy Network, established at the initiative of Delft, Helsinki and Austin in 2003, promotes the success of the regions. Today the network s members comprise researchers, practical actors, regional development organisations and business incubators from North America, Europe and Asia. Action line 18: The cities promote together the settling-in of international businesses and make the professionals stay in the area by building up a regional system of steering and advisory services intended for foreign companies and their key persons 30

34 Kirnu ( Giant s kettle ) Shanghai EXPO 2010 JKMM Arkkitehdit 31

35 References 1 KOTA & AMKOTA databases 2 City and district indicators of Statistics Finland & Wera reporting service of the Finnish National Board of Education. Students receiving education at educational establishments and students receiving upper secondary level vocational apprenticeship training. 3 KOTA & AMKOTA databases 4 KOTA & AMKOTA databases 5 Regional portal: Share of Population with Academic Degree, % of year old population. 6 KOTA database. Incl. graduate and post-graduate students 7 AMKOTA database. Incl. students in the Bachelor s Degree Programme or in the Master s Degree Programme 8 City and district indicators of Statistics Finland & Wera reporting service of the Finnish National Board of Education 9 KOTA database. Incl. schoolchildren doing research 10 AMKOTA database. Incl. information on some units outside the metropolitan area 11 KOTA database. Incl. foreign graduate students (2,769) and foreign exchange students (1,774). The foreign graduate students are calculated on the basis of their nationality. 12 AMKOTA database. The foreign graduate students in the metropolitan area (2,516) are calculated on the basis of their mother tongue. The foreign exchange students (1,098) include exchange students from units outside the metropolitan area. 13 Aalto University: 14 Metropolia: & AMKOTA database 15 Laurea: & AMKOTA database 16 City of Helsinki Education Department: portal/opetusvirasto 18 Statistics Finland 17, 20 The data in the info box are based on the information provided by Statistics Finland, the City of Helsinki Urban Facts, City of Espoo statistics and research group, City of Vantaa statistics and research, City of Kauniainen and Urban Research TA Ltd 21 City planning survey 2008 & City of Helsinki Planning Department: 22 City planning survey 2008 & Finlandia Park: www. finlandiapuisto.fi 23 City of Vantaa: & Ring Rail Line: 24 Partners Group Pääkaupunkiseudun kaupunkien yhteishankintojen kehittäminen, final report, 27 February The total procurement volumes of the cities in the metropolitan area (incl. VAT) in University of Helsinki: 26 Aviapolis: 27 Forum Virium Helsinki: 28 Active Life Village: 29 RFID Lab: 30 Culminatum Innovation: 31 Based on Helsinki s strategy for international operations 32 Statistics Finland Foreign language speakers refer to others than those speaking Finnish and Swedish as their mother tongue 34 Statistics Finland 35 The data in the info box are based on the information provided by Statistics Finland, the City of Helsinki Urban Facts, City of Espoo statistics and research group, City of Vantaa statistics and research, City of Kauniainen and Urban Research TA Ltd 36 Greater Helsinki Promotion Ltd Oy: 19 Statistics Finland 32

36 Appendix: Progress of the strategy work Spring 2007 Winter 2008 Spring 2008 Summer 2008 Autumn 2008 Winter Spring 2009 Summer 2009 Publication of the strategy Strategy presentation road shows Start-up of the actions Decision-making regarding the action proposals Drafting of an implementation plan Approval of the priorities and actions lines in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Advisory Board and the city councils Initiation of a discussion on a letter of intent between the cities and the central government Selection of the action lines Assignment from the mayors of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Selection of the priorities Competitiveness Strategy for the Metropolitan Area; launch of an ERDF project The cities identify their own strengths and needs for development The mayors of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area approve the priorities for the strategy Steering Committee (Helsinki Metropolitan Area Economic Development Working Group) Leea Markkula-Heilamo, Business Development Director, Chairman of the Steering Committee, City of Vantaa Ritva Alatalo, Development Manager, City of Vantaa Helena Elkala, Director of Corporate Group Management, City of Espoo Marianna Harju, Director of Technical and Planning Services, City of Kauniainen Eero Holstila, Director of Economic Development, City of Helsinki Matti Ollinkari, Head of International Relations, City of Helsinki Katja Pesonen, Financial Director, City of Kauniainen Kari Ruoho, Director of Economic and Business Development, City of Espoo Tarja Lumijärvi, Development Manager, City of Vantaa Nyrki Tuominen, Director of Business Development, City of Helsinki Outi Ervasti, Senior Adviser, City of Espoo Secretariat Pasi Mäkinen, Managing Director, Culminatum Innovation Kimmo Heinonen, Development Manager, Culminatum Innovation Riikka Ikonen, Project Manager, Culminatum Innovation 33

37 Prosperous metropolis 34