Baltic Sea protection takes important steps forward

The Baltic Sea Action Summit in Helsinki on Wednesday brought the first time together the private and public sectors to commit to Baltic Sea protection. In addition to high-level group of participants, numerous non-governmental organization and businesses took part in the summit, and made about 140 concrete commitments to protect the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea - the world's most polluted sea - is at the brink of terminal care and needs concrete actions as soon as possible in order to survive.

Finland and Russia boost cooperation in energy efficiency, renewables

Russia and Finland aim to deepen and develop mutually beneficial cooperation in energy efficiency and renewable energy, according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Helsinki by Sergei I. Smatko (r.), Energy Minister of Russia, and Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland. For launching of practical measures, the ministers stated that a first step can be taken by developing pilot projects and appointed high representatives to chart possible co-operation areas, joint ventures and potential pilot projects.

Aalto aims to become one of the world's top universities

Aalto University is a new multidisciplinary science and art community in the fields of science, economics, and art and design. The new university is founded on Finnish strengths, and its goal is to develop as a unique entity to become one of the world's top universities. The cornerstones of Aalto University are its strengths in education and research – with cross-scientific opportunities. Aalto University is created through a merger between the Helsinki School of Economics, the University of Art and Design Helsinki and the Helsinki University of Technology. The official inauguration of University took place in Finland on 8 January 2010.

2010 may be Finland's breakthrough year in cleantech

President of Sustainable World Capital, Shawn Lesser, has identified 11 breakthrough companies in Finland's expanding cleantech sector. "With the wide array of materials and technologies now funded and in production, 2010 may be Finland's breakthrough year in clean technology," says Lesser who has done an amazing job in the past of predicting top cleantech companies and cleantech countries. The top companies work for smart metering, solar cells, emission control, wireless charging, power electronics and printed batteries, for instance.

Europe must accelerate the shift towards bio-based economy

Europe has to accelerate the shift towards a more diversified use of domestic bio-based natural resources without at the same time increasing the environmental burden elsewhere, concluded the Koli Forum - a new top-level initiative to establish a discussion forum on natural resources. The Forum gathered together 70 European opinion-leaders in Finland to search out the best solutions for a future that considers natural resources. The conclusions of the Forum are summarized in three theses and ten practical courses of action to be implemented at local, national and international levels.

Helsinki low carbon block shifts to implementation

Winner for the international design competition on a carbon neutral block in the City of Helsinki has been selected, and the block is shifting to implementation phase. It will include low or no carbon buildings, sustainable economic models and energy policies, resilient social systems among countless others. When completed, it will prove that national and international sustainability targets can be reached cost-effectively through high quality architectural solutions that are robust and reproduceable.

Organic material into emissions-neutral biocarbon

A process, developed by a Finnish company Preseco, converts a variety of organic materials into emission-neutral biofuel with a superior energy value. It makes a use of existing, remotely located, biomass reserves. The product can be utilized efficiently in existing power plants while reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Preseco has already opened it´s first biocarbon production plant in Finland and will deliver biocarbon technology in China.

Reliable technology for harnessing variable winds

An innovative wind turbine concept has been created by combining German innovation and expertise with Finnish know-how in energy production. The innovative wind turbine contains only slow-rotating components. This provides high reliability and efficiency as well as ease of maintenance resulting in low production costs during the entire lifespan of the turbine. Around 250 megawatt of turbines have been erected in different countries.

Real-time information on lightning strikes

A global lightning dataset enables uniform global coverage and provides the timeliest information on rapidly evolving severe weather situations for the world's meteorological institutions and other weather-dependent users. The potential application areas of the dataset range from thunderstorm identification, hydrology and hurricane forecasting to improved high sea identification and climate change research.

New forum promotes international water projects

A recently established non-governmental organization, the Finnish Water Forum (FWF), helps to start water-related international projects. Development issues are a high priority, and the Forum wants to participate in the efforts to reach the millennium goals defined by the United Nations. It also promotes cooperation between water experts of the private and public sectors. Membership of the Forum is open to all organizations within the water sector and related sectors.