"China is becoming an important highway for Finnish companies to grow globally," believes Timo Mattila, the head of the FinChi Innovation Center in Shanghai. FinChi networks Finnish and Chinese companies and corporations and sniffs out new business opportunities.

The Innovation Center acts as a springboard for Finnish companies and channel of contact for the Chinese market, deepens an already existing network and makes the Finnish innovation environment more international. Reciprocally, the Center acts as a service point, presenting Finnish expertise to Chinese companies, research institutes and authorities. It also attracts Chinese investment to Finland.

"Coming here is easy. We make it possible to assess business opportunities in China cost-effectively and without risk and to start searching for partners and operating. At FinChi companies can concentrate immediately on their own tasks."

Environmental technology creates interest

There is a full-service office hotel complete with exhibition premises at the Innovation Center. FinChi provides a wide range of services for setting up a business unit, handling tax and work permit matters, implementing marketing activities and arranging logistics and subcontracting.

"The most important point is FinChi's dynamic role as a networker for companies in China. We have comprehensive relations with the Chinese authorities, research institutes and companies," Mattila emphasizes.

More than half the premises at the Center, which started in the autumn, are already in use and new companies are coming to it all the time. "At this moment environmental technology in particular but also the manufacturing industry and biotechnology appear to be the most promising areas of cooperation," Mattila explains.

Megatrend possibilities

The rapid economic growth in China will provide Finnish business life with plenty of opportunities, as long as it knows how to take advantage of them. Finland is well-placed here because, according to Mattila, Finns are much sought-after co-partners in China. The Finnish temperament and way of operating are well-suited to China.

"Developing technology together instead of the direct selling of equipment has proved to be an effective leading idea." Mattila says.

"The next megatrend is the globalization of Chinese companies. I believe that here it will be possible to bring investment to Finland as a continuation of the projects that are now under way."

>> www.finchi.fi

Interest in Finnish technology has been greater in China than expected.