Finnish-Russian presidential talks urge cooperation on Baltic Sea

President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev made a working visit to Finland on 20-21 July. The talks with Finnish President Tarja Halonen focused on cooperation within international and regional forums in the Baltic region, northern Europe in general, and in the Arctic. The state of the Baltic Sea received special attention as the presidents visited a research center on Seili Island in the Sea. Medvedev said that a condition of the sea is worse than it used to be. "We should work on solving problems of the Baltic Sea together."

Creating new tools for environmental monitoring

A program, developed and executed by a wide cross-functional consortium including the leading Finnish technology providers and research institutes, will create new tools, standards and methods for environmental measurement, monitoring and decision support. These promote new applications and services based on environmental data to improve the energy and material efficiency of infrastructures and industrial processes.

Developer of cost-efficient solar cells wins Millennium Technology Prize

The Winner of the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize is Professor Michael Gratzel from Switzerland for his third generation, low cost, dye-sensitized solar cells. The price/performance ratio of Grätzel's dye-sensitized solar cells is excellent. The technology often described as "artificial photosynthesis" is a promising alternative to standard silicon photovoltaics.

Finnish cleantech business in China expected to double by 2013

At present, the Finnish cleantech business in China is estimated being worth around EUR900 million this figure is expected to double by 2013, and China to become the main export area for Finnish cleantech companies within the next few years. Top Finnish cleantech companies met with members of Chinese government and industry at a high-level seminar in Beijing today.

Finnish-Komi bioenergy cooperation advances

The bioenergy cooperation between Finland and the Russian Republic of Komi makes progress. An example of current efforts is the plan to convert forest industries' by-products into pellets. Bioenergy is a part of wider Finland-Komi cooperation that includes forestry and forest industry, energy efficiency, energy saving, fishing industry, tourism and a few other areas.

Finland gives a big boost to renewable energy

To respond to its climate commitments, Finnish government agreed on Tuesday to massively fund the growth of renewable energy - including wood-based energy, wind power, biofuels and heat pumps. In all, the support for renewables will be more than EUR300 million per year by 2020. This is expected to trigger near EUR10 billion investments in green energy and create more than 10,000 jobs.

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.

Russia improves environment for foreign investments

The annual meeting of the Finnish-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation took place in Helsinki this week. The business forum in conjunction with the meeting focused on the role of small and medium-sized businesses in innovation activities. Elvira Nabiullina, Russian Minister of Economic Development and Trade, stressed that her country seeks actively foreign investors and improves investment environment. For instance, Russia speeds up approval process for foreign investors and abolishes quotas on hiring highly qualified foreign specialists.

Finland gives go-ahead for Nord Stream

Finland gave the go-ahead for the Nord Stream gas pipeline from Russia to Germany when the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland issued a permit to Nord Stream AG for construction in Finland's Baltic sea economic zone. The permit sets a number of conditions. It, for instance, bans the anchoring of ships laying pipeline, as they may stir up sediments that could release harmful substances. Finland has looked at the pipeline in purely environmental terms. The government signed off on the project in November, but legal conditions required further examination and a final environmental permit.

UN-Finnish project to develop software to help maintain land records

A new project between the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Finland aims to help countries develop affordable land administration systems to improve tenure security and land governance. Using information technology systems is one of the key ways to reduce corrupt and non-transparent land management practices. Effective and transparent land administration also is a vital element for food security, poverty reduction and sustainable use of natural resources.