Finland is a land of surprises. A guest from abroad visiting the country for the first time may be met by a verdant forest landscape with a blue lake sparkling under the sun, or a white mantle of snow covering everything beneath it and accompanied by a piercing wind, depending on the time of year. The four seasons can be seen in the clearly discernible changes in Finland's natural surroundings, with added emphasis coming from the enormous variation in the length of day and night.

This publication shows some of the innovations and innovative companies associated with both products and production technology as well as services and business models. The subjects have been grouped under five themes that reflect the strengths of Finnish business life. However, common to all the subjects in the publication are the characteristics that are often associated most generally with the concept of 'Finnishness': expertise, appropriateness and innovativeness - responsibly and with respect for the environment.