Special edition • December 17 January 18 • 8€ THE STORY OF FINLAND From independence to the best country in the world in 100 years Baby in The Box How a tradition of a gift for new mothers is spreading to the world Helsinki Hospital Patient-centred care TRANSFORMED CONNECTIONS AND ENHANCED COHESION Will Finland be connected to Europe by a super-fast Hyperloop? The Sound of Finland You may have heard of Sunrise Avenue and Alma, but how about these? WHERE TO GO | WHAT TO DO 9 789525 284997 PAL.VKO 2018-04 285205-1701
Helsinki Times Special Edition 2 IITTALA BIRDS BY OIVA TOIKKA, SUOMI FINLAND 100 KUULAS Iittala Birds by Oiva Toikka, Suomi Finland 100 Kuulas has a unique numbering from 1 to 2017 in the bottom. Kuulas has ultramarine color and its size is 140 x 90 mm. 160,48 € LIMITED EDITION! IITTALA ALVAR AALTO COLLECTION VASE 50 X 195 MM Suomi Finland 100 Iittala Alvar Aalto collection vase 50 x 195 mm Duo is a union of white and ultramarine. The color of the vase and Suomi Finland 100 engraving in the bottom makes it unique. 139,00 € LARGE SUOMI STEEL TRAY Size: 43,5 x 20,7 x 2,6 cm 39,00 € SMALL SUOMI STEEL TRAY Size: 24,1 x 11,5 x 2,6 cm. 19,90 € IITTALA ALVAR AALTO COLLECTION VASE 200 MM Suomi Finland 100 Iittala Alvar Aalto collection vase 200 mm Duo is a union of white and ultramarine. The color of the vase and Suomi Finland 100 engraving and numbering from 1 to 2017 in the bottom makes it unique. The vase is valuable collector’s item. 219,00 € Delivery cost will be added to price. All the prices VAT 0%. +3583 3454 5000 Suomi steel tray is design by Suomen Kolibri. The tray is part of of? cial Suomi Finland 100 collection and it has Suomi Finland 100 engraving in the bottom. SUOMI FINLAND 100 YEARS PRODUCTS DIRECTLY FROM OUR WAREHOUSE LIMITED EDITION! IITTALA ALVAR AALTO COLLECTION VASE 160 MM Suomi Finland 100 Iittala Alvar Aalto collection vase 160 mm Duo is a union of white and ultramarine. The color of the vase and Suomi Finland 100 engraving in the bottom makes it unique. 199,00 € www.suomenkolibri.? www.kolibri-shop.?
Helsinki Times Special Edition 3 T his December, once-lonely elderly people will gather for Christmas parties, to sing carols and make holiday cards. In fact, all year round they have new opportunities to get together for concerts, movie nights or just good old conversation. This is made possible by an unlikely source: Finland’s gaming company Veikkaus. Veikkaus plays a unique role in Finnish society. Owned by the Finnish state, it is the main provider of games of chance, from casinos to the lottery, from online sports betting to slot machines. The group is also extremely popular: it has 2 million loyal customers out of a Finnish population of 5.5 million. Besides providing good entertainment, one of the reasons for Veikkaus’ popularity is how its profits are used. About one billion euros are distributed annually for the public good. Finnish sports, culture, science, health and welfare all receive a significant boost thanks to Veikkaus. Another recipient of Veikkaus’ funds are organisations for communities and the elderly, such as Siskot ja Simot. Thanks to Siskot ja Simot, many elderly people won’t be bored and alone this holiday season, or any other season for that matter. The community aid organisation Siskot ja Simot is the brainchild of Eero Väisänen. He worked for a local government for years, but wanted a new way to give back to the community. Volunteering is a great way to do this, but Väisänen realised something important. Volunteering is not one person helping another. In reality, both people benefit. Siskot ja Simot’s first activity was taking nursing home residents outside for a walk, and so many volunteers showed up they ran out of residents. Väisänen knew he had something special, but to help more people he needed financing, which he received from Veikkaus funds. Now Siskot ja Simot are helping the elderly across Finland to enjoy a communal “Little Christmas” party.• Veikkaus How some Veikkaus profits – altogether over one billion euros – are reinvested: art €233 million; sports €148; science €103; child, youth and family €100; Finnish war veterans €100; sickness and disability €91. Portfolio covers all gambling products offered in Finland. Finland’s largest consumer webstore and over 7,000 gaming locations. Encourages people to play games safely and with moderation. All games are subject to the age limit of 18 years. veikkaus.fi/company veikkaus.fi/avustukset CHANCES FOR THE COMMON GOOD VEIKKAUS
Contents Revolution and Opportunity The story of Finland’s independence is intertwined with the Bolshevik revolution of Russia, the rise of Lenin and the birth of the Soviet Union. It all started with a political assassination in the heart of Helsinki 100 years ago. Campéon Finlandés The Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral couldn’t have been further away from Finland at the time of the nordic nations struggle against the Soviet Union, yet she was so touched by the falling of Gunnar Höckert, the 5000 metres Gold Medalist at the Berlin Olympics of 1936 in The Winter War, that she composed a poem in his memoriam. 12 16 22 24 8 TIMELINE OF 100-YEAR-OLD FINLAND Lots can happen in 100 years, even though it’s just a life time nowadays. Here is an illustrated timeline, the main events in the history of Finland. From Independence to the Best Country in the World When Finland broke away from Russian rule 100 years ago, plenty of hard work was ahead to raise the country to the level of one of the most developed countries in the world, but few could have imagined that this small nordic nation was on its way to be ranked the best in many different fields. Here are just a few examples of those rankings. Aiming at Nordics? Locate in Helsinki As increasing numbers of international companies establish their regional headquarters in Helsinki, there is good reason for the capital’s reputation as a haven for innovation. It is home to companies specialising in everything from mobile games and robotics to the IoT and healthtech. The Helsinki area hosts many corporate and regional headquarters of multinational companies, all forming a rich ecosystem. Yet there is more to the booming region than just technology. In fact, it has quite a few well-kept secrets.
28 Saunas Everywhere There is a sauna in almost every Finnish house, but going to sauna is a social event for Finns. That is why there are numerous public saunas in Finland. On the national Sauna Day, people invite total strangers to their saunas. For those who dare, adding in a roll in the snow or a swim in an ice hole is an unforgettable experience. Change Makers Not every company with social and economical impact is well known to the public. In fact, many of the nation’s hidden gems are hard working entrepreneurs who have come up with interesting concepts on their own. The Helsinki Times team has uncovered a few of these who are worth knowing about. 54 41 Hyperloop us to Europe Being on the north-eastern edge of Europe and separated by the Baltic sea from the rest of the continent, Finland has always felt a bit of an isolated place, but hold on; several visionary projects are planning to change that. Although still in initial phases and on the drawing table, Hyperloop enthusiasts such as Risto J. Penttilä and Peter Vesterbacka want to connect Finland to Estonia and Sweden by a super-fast tube, which could take you there in minutes. 45 Baby in the Box Finland’s maternity package box turns 80 this year. When the BBC published an article about a longlasting tradition by the Finnish Social Security Services of sending a box full of useful items and baby clothing to every new mother, the idea began to spread to other countries. It is now a growing idea. Where to Go? Check our selection of December and January events in Finland. 69 58 Finland in Numbers One of the best public organisations in Finland is Statistics Finland. There is hardly any measurable subject that is not researched and put into Excel and graphs by this office. Here is a small sample of their stats put into infographics perspective by our designer. 61 Christmas in Helsinki Every year, the darkest time of the year is brightened by street lights, decorations, markets and events in Helsinki and other Finnish cities. Dress warm and enjoy the ride.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 6 The Helsinki of the future is much more international H elsinki is the most international city in Finland. This newspaper, for instance, serves as a testament to that. However, in the future, we want to be still much more international. It is not enough to be the most significant metropolis of our own country. Urbanization is a global trend which has led to the fact that competition in the future will be more and more between cities instead of nation states. The city of Helsinki has a newly approved strategy, in which the amibition of being more international is very clear. Clear are also the steps that we need to take in order to become a truly international metropolis: The children of Helsinki will in the future start learning a first foreign language much earlier than today; Chinese will be taught in our schools to a larger extent than before; the capacity of education and day care fully taught in English will be doubled. Our labour market also needs to make much better use of the knowledge and skills that immigrants and new citizens possess – this is also a condition for successful integration. Helsinki’s objective is also to be one of Europe’s most captivating locations for innovative start-ups. But not only do we need to be the location companies want to make their business in, we also need to be a place where individuals, where ever they may be from, will want to move to, make a life for themselves and make the world a better place to live in. Helsinki is a wonderful place to call home. Helsinki welcomes its international friends, the expat community, people who visit or stay here only for a short period of time as well as those who aspire to make Helsinki their home. This year Finland celebrates 100 years of independence. Before Finland became independent the population of Helsinki was very diverse. Now that non-natives make up for over 15 percent of the population of Helsinki, one could say that we are returning to the old normal. Jan Vapaavuori Mayor of Helsinki FOREWORD
Helsinki Times Special Edition 7 I was born and raised on an island in Finland’s largest lake, Saimaa. In my childhood life was quiet in the countryside of this beautiful southeastern region and public services were not available around every corner. However, the most essential one for the future of every child was close by a public school. We were only 24 kids in the entire school, yet we enjoyed the same high-quality basic education that has put Finland at the top of international rankings measuring students’ learning results several times over the years. The tuition-free educational system that provides top-quality teaching to all children and youth, no matter their gender or the social status or wealth of their families, is the most important building block of Finnish society. It provides us with equal opportunities to develop and challenge ourselves, study and build our future based on our own aspirations. It also teaches us something important right from kindergarten: we are all equal and able individuals, equipped with the capabilities to build a bright future. All we need to do is seize the opportunity offered to us. High-quality education starting from kindergartens all the way to universities, together with deep appreciation for nature, have made Finland a global leader in environmental governance, sustainable use of natural resources as well as clean technology development and energy efficiency. These are key elements of Finland’s ambitious climate policy we aim to be carbon neutral by 2045. In order to succeed we need to lead by example the urgently necessary transition from a fossil pipeline economy towards a circular economy based on the sustainable use of renewable raw materials and energy. We will, for example, end the use of coal in energy production by 2030. In a circular economy we reuse, recycle, remanufacture, repair and share products, materials, services and ideas. Efficient use of our globally scarce natural resources is essential. As part of the government’s actions to promote circular economy we are currently testing new solutions for sustainable food systems, timber construction and recycling of municipal waste, just to name a few. The battle against climate change will be won or lost in cities. In our national Sustainable Urban Development program we are focusing particularly on low-carbon, resource-efficient and smart services as well as promoting equality. The government also supports urban circular economy and cleantech iniBuilding Blocks for a Sustainable Future “The battle against climate change will be won or lost in cities” Photo: Teemu Kuusimurto / YHA kuvapankki tiatives and pioneering networks such as the Smart and Clean Foundation in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. I’m proud of the initiative that my current hometown Helsinki and its neighbors have taken to promote sustainable development. In the future, we will make the most of our educational system and the expertise it has enabled us develop to foster an economic paradigm change towards circular economy and a carbon neutral future. Kimmo Tiilikainen Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing FOREWORD
1904 – Assassination of Nikolay Bobrikov A supporter of the limiting of Finland’s autonomy by Russia, Governor-General of Finland Nikolay Bobrikov was given dictatorial powers over Finland by the Tsar in 1903. He was assassinated in Helsinki by Finnish nationalist Eugen Schauman in 1904. 1906 – Establishment of Parliament The single-chamber Parliament of Finland was established by the Parliament Act in 1906. Women were permitted to vote and run for office as equals, as were non-land-owning people. 1917 – End of the Russian Empire The February Revolution in Russia leads to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. The newly-formed Provisional Government of Russia fully reinstates the Constitution of Finland in March. 1917 – Finnish independence The Provisional Government of Russia are defeated in the October Revolution and the ruling Bolsheviks declare a general right of self-determination for Finland. The Senate of Finland is formed in November and on December 6 the Parliament of Finland approves the Finnish Declaration of Independence. 1920 – Peace Treaty A peace treaty between the Republic of Finland and the Federal Socialist Republic of Soviet Russia is signed in Tartu, Estonia on October 14, 1920. 1938 – Finnish baby box The Finnish maternity packages were issued to low-income parents in 1938. They contained a blanket, crib sheets, diapers and fabric from which parents could make clothing for the baby. In 1949 Finnish maternity packages began to be issued to all mothers-to-be. 1899 – February Manifesto A Russian imperial proclamation that abolished Finland’s autonomy within the Russian Empire. The manifesto allowed the Tsar of Russia to rule Finland without regard for the principality’s constitution. This marked the beginning of the “Years of Oppression”. 1918 – Civil War The Finnish Civil War breaks out in January between the Social Democratic Party-led Reds and the conservative-led Senate, i.e. the Whites. The Reds seized power in Helsinki and set up their rule in southern Finland, while the legal government fled to Vaasa and struck up an alliance with Germany. Despite being reinforced by the Russian Imperial Army, the Reds lost the war after key defeats in Tampere, Viipuri, Helsinki and Lahti. Approximately 39,000 died in the conflict. 1929 – Lapua Movement Brought about by the Great Depression and influenced by Italian fascism, the Lapua Movement was a fascist movement in Finland that supported anticommunism and a hatred of Russia. Followers of the movement, led by General K.M. Wallenius, unsuccessfully prepared to carry out a coup d’état in 1932. Lapua was later banned and the movement subsequently collapsed. 1939 – Nobel Prize Finnish author Frans Eemil Sillanpää won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1939 “for his deep understanding of his country’s peasantry and the exquisite art with which he has portrayed their way of life and their relationship with nature”. 1907 – Female MPs The parliamentary elections of 1907 saw the election of 19 female MPs, making Finland the first country in the world to elect female members of parliament. finland centenary timeline Helsinki Times Special Edition 8
1939 – Winter War In November 1939, the Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov demanded that Finland give up some of its border territory to help with the Soviet Union’s protection of Leningrad. Finland’s refusal led to a Soviet invasion of Finland on November 30, 1939 and the beginning of the Winter War. 1940 – End of the war Finland repelled the Soviet attacks for several months. After finally overcoming the Finnish border defence, the Soviets demanded that Finland give up a total of 11% of its territory, including East Karelia. Finland agreed and the Moscow Peace Treaty was signed on March 12, 1940. 1941 – continuation War With reason to believe that the Soviets would resume hostilities, Finland allowed Germany to send its troops through the country in exchange for material support and military cooperation. A state of war was declared on June 25, 1941, when the Soviets carried out an aerial attack on Finland. With help from Germany, Finland was able to reclaim East Karelia later that year. By 1944, however, the Soviets drove Finland back and eventually forced them to seek peace negotiations. 1945 – Nobel Prize Finnish chemist Artturi Ilmari Virtanen wins the 1945 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for his research and inventions in agricultural and nutrition chemistry, especially for his fodder preservation method”. 1944 – Lapland War Another condition of the Moscow Armistice was for all German troops to be expelled from Finland. After mining the seaward approaches to Finland and attempting to seize the island of Suursaari, Germany was forced out of most of northern Finland by November 1944. The Germans took their revenge by devastating large stretches of Lapland as they left. Rovaniemi was burned down, $300 million of property damage was incurred and about 100,000 Finns were displaced. The last German troops were expelled by April 1945, although the landmines they left continued to be triggered as late as 1948. 1948 – Treaty of Friendship Finland signs the Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union on April 6, 1948. The treaty increased Finland’s political independence but also distanced them from the West. 1944 – Moscow Armistice Following a ceasefire on September 5, the Moscow Armistice was signed on September 19, 1944. Finland agreed to give East Karelia back to the Soviet Union and return to the borders of 1940. On top of that, they conceded the northern area of Petsamo, agreed to pay reparations and reduced the size of their armed forces. 1946 – Election of President Paasikivi Juho Kusti Paasikivi became President of Finland in March 1946. His time in office was marked by an uncompromising attitude over Finnish independence and a foreign policy that prioritised peace and cooperation with the Soviet Union. 1952 – War reparations Finland completes payments of war reparations to the Soviet Union. 1952 – Olympic Games The 1952 Summer Olympics were held in Helsinki, Finland. The hosts finished eighth overall with 22 medals including six golds. Helsinki Times Special Edition 9
1958 – Night Frost Crisis The Finnish-Soviet “Night Frost” Crisis was sparked after the left-wing SKDL party were not given a place in the government despite receiving the most votes in the Finnish elections of 1958. The crisis was resolved after Kekkonen removed the Finnish Rural party from government, which in turn toppled the Social Democratic coalition that the Soviets objected to. 1961 – Note Crisis The Finnish-Soviet Note Crisis came about after the Soviet Union proposed to Finland that the two countries begin consultations on securing their defences against West German militarisation and a possible threat of war. Not wanting to strain Finland’s relationship with the West or upset its position of neutrality, while also fearing a Soviet military presence in Finland, President Kekkonen managed to placate Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev during three days of personal talks. 1966 – Popular Front government The Finnish parliamentary election of 1966 saw a “popular front” of left-wing parties form a coalition government. The Social Democrats, Centrists and Communists formed a so-called “big three” that would govern in Finland for most of the period between 1966 and 1982. 1975 – Helsinki Accords The Helsinki Accords was part of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe that was held in Helsinki during the summer of 1975. The declaration represented an attempt to improve relations between the Communist bloc and the West. 1982 – Election of President Koivisto Mauno Koivisto succeeds Urho Kekkonen as President of Finland on January 27, 1982. Koivisto’s election represented a less authoritarian style of governance and a new era of parliamentarianism in Finland. 1987 – Blue-Red government The Finnish parliamentary election of 1987 saw the formation of a new government between the Social Democrats, Centre party and the more conservative National Coalition party. 1990 – Finnish depression After the country’s economic boom of the 1980s, Finland experienced a severe recession and mass unemployment in the early 1990s. Part of the reason was the collapse of the Soviet Union, which led to Finland’s key export market being almost completely wiped out. 1994 – Election of President Ahtisaari Martti Ahtisaari succeeds Mauno Koivisto as President of Finland on March 1, 1994. An active participant in international affairs, Ahtisaari urged Finland to enter the European Union and Finnish peacekeeping helped end the conflict to end the conflict in Kosovo. 1956 – Election of President Kekkonen Urho Kekkonen succeeds Juho Kusti Paasikivi as President of Finland on March 1, 1956. Kekkonen continued along the same line as his predecessor and adopted a policy of friendly neutrality towards the Soviet Union during his near-26 years in office. 1955 – United Nations Finland becomes a member of the United Nations and the Nordic Council. 1995 – EU membership Finland joins the European Union. Helsinki Times Special Edition 10
2015 – Finns party enter government The Finnish parliamentary elections of 2015 saw the formation of a right-wing coalition between the Centre Party, True Finns party and National Coalition party. 1995 – World Ice Hockey Championships triumph Finland wins its first World Ice Hockey Championships by beating rivals Sweden in the final 4-1. 1995 – Rainbow government The Finnish parliamentary elections of 1995 saw the formation of a “Rainbow Coalition” between the Social Democrats, National Coalition party, Left Alliance, Swedish People’s Party and the Green League. 2000 – New constitution Finland’s new constitution came into force on March 1, 2000. One key difference was a reduction of presidential power and an increase in the influence of parliament. 2000 – Election of President Halonen Tarja Halonen succeeds Martti Ahtisaari as President of Finland on March 1, 2000. Finland’s first female president, Halonen was a left-wing Social Democrat who was known for her interest in human rights issues and strong foreign policy. 2006 – Eurovision triumph The Eurovision Song Contest of 2006 was won by Finnish rock band Lordi . 2007 – Blue-Green government The Finnish parliamentary elections of 2007 saw the formation of a new coalition between the Centre party, National Coalition party, Green League and Swedish People’s Party. 2011 – True Finns rise in popularity The 2011 elections saw the True Finn party win 19% of the vote and become Finland’s third most popular political party. They chose to remain in opposition, and a “six-pack” coalition government was formed of the National Coalition party, Social Democrats, Green League, Swedish People’s Party, Christian Democrats and Left Alliance. 2011 – World Ice Hockey Championships title Finland wins the World Ice Hockey Championships a second time, again defeating rivals Sweden in the final. This time the final score was 6-1. 2012 – Election of President Niinistö Sauli Niinistö succeeds Tarja Halonen as President of Finland on March 1, 2012. A supporter of Finland’s involvement in the European Union, Niinistö has gained a reputation as a pragmatist and sound steward of the Finnish economy since becoming president. 2017 – Terrorism In the first ever foreign terrorism act in Finland, an asylum seeker stabs two people to death and wounds eight others in Turku. 2017 – Finland celebrates 100 years of independence. Timeline text by Dan Anderson Photos by Kalle Havas, Volker von Bonin, Olympiakuva Oy, Simo Rista, Grünberg Constantin / Helsingin Kaupunginmuseo, SA-kuva, Tuomo Salonen, Albin Olsson, Helsinki Times Special Edition 11
Helsinki Times Special Edition 12 I n 1908, the Finns marked a rather less jubilant centenary than the one being celebrated this week. The occasion then was 100 years of Russian rule, after having been part of Sweden for six centuries before that. Little did they know then, they would be living in their own country in less than a decade. Finland declared its independence in 1917, but how? In short: the Finns, then part of the Russian Empire, found themselves in the middle of an overthrow of monarchy and political turmoil. As this turned into the revolution that created the Soviet Union, Finland quietly made for the exit while attention was elsewhere and whispered the parting words, “well, we’ll leave you all to it then, shall we?” And Finland avoided being part of Soviet Russia. It wasn’t quite that simple but the full story is intriguing. INDEPENDENCE Revolution and Opportunity By Jesse Karjalainen
Helsinki Times Special Edition 13 N ATIONALIST FEELINGS . The Finnish independence movement took shape following the Crimean War – a war where the British navy attacked Finnish towns over two summers in 1854–55, blockading the coast with steam-powered battleships with orders “to take, burn or destroy”. Finnish nationalism grew and from 1881 onwards Russian tsars fought to stamp out Finnish national feelings with bouts of “Russification” for the next 40 years. In June 1904, a Finnish nationalist assassinated the Russian GovernorGeneral in Helsinki’s Senate. In 1905, Russia lost its war with Japan and the country was broken. Finns pushed to consolidate their autonomy. The Finnish Diet in 1906 enacted a new constitution, a singlechamber parliament and universal suffrage for citizens over 24. The following year saw the world’s first female MPs sit in parliament. Despite this, the Russification continued through political oppression and arrests of outspoken nationalists. Many were deported or executed. The Finns played the long game of passive resistance, not risking their autonomous status within the Empire. At this time, the Grand Duchy of Finland was the most stable Russian province, loyal to the Tsar and by far the best-developed part of the Empire. Over 50 years, Finland had quietly gained many things the rest of Russia did not have: its own parliament, universal suffrage, a central bank and currency, its own legal system, a state railway, modern institutions, a university, a coat of arms and a national anthem. Finns remained largely loyal to Russia up until 1917. Edvard Isto The Attack the Russian eagle attacking the Finnish Maiden Finnish Civil War 1918, Photographer Matti Luhtala, Vapriikki Photo Archives.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 14 R EVOLUTION AND OPPORTUNITY. Finland’s independence came not via uprising but by a combination of action, reaction and opportunity. In the March Revolution, the Duma dissolved and Russian autocracy disappeared virtually overnight. Finland’s close link with the Tsar was lost. Russia had no viable government and the nation floundered. By summer, Finns knew something major was up – they sensed freedom, mixed with anxiety and excitement. In July, the Finnish Diet approved the “Enabling Act”, giving it supreme powers in all matters apart from defence and foreign affairs. Russia’s Provisional Government ordered the Diet dissolved in August. This was done after a vote and fresh elections in October. The Social Democrats lost a majority as voters veered to the right. The game-changer for Finland was the Bolshevik Revolution in October 1917. The Reds took power in Russia on 7 November and the chaos caused a power vacuum in Finland. Finns were split between Bolshevik supporters wanting to stay in Russia and those wanting independence. The Finnish Bolsheviks declared their own right to self-determination and on 13–14 November the Social Democrats called for classwar, a General Strike and arrests by the Red Guards. Violence followed. On 15 November, the crisis spooked Finland’s parliament into claiming supreme authority of Finland. They appointed a new senate and Finland sought support from Germany. On 4 December, the government proclaimed Finnish independence, ratified by the Diet on 6 December. Lenin, who had been given refuge by Finland as a political radical before the revolution, recognised Finnish independence on 31 December – the first head of state to do so. H owever, Bolshevik Red Guards ignored government requests to leave. Instead they took control where they could. Thinking Red factions in Finland could maintain order, Joseph Stalin recognised Finland’s independence from the new USSR on 4 January 1918. The next to do so were France, Germany and Sweden, followed by 13 more countries that year. That month, blood was spilt on the frozen streets as a 105-day civil war ensued between Finland’s Reds and Whites. Germany and Russia ended their war in March. General Mannerheim won a key victory in Tampere on 6 April. German troops landed in Helsinki a week later and took the capital. The Civil war ended in May 1918 and Finland got its first Prime Minster, JK Paasikivi. In July 1919, Parliament approved a republican constitution and appointed its first president. In October 1920 Finland signed a peace treaty with Russia that ended the war. The peace lasted 19 years. • Jesse Karjalainen is an author who lives in the UK. His latest book ‘Sisu: the secrets behind Finland’s can-do spirit of resilience’ is out in early 2018.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 16 – ca. 2000 casualities – which has been noted as a remarkable phenomen and as something which helped Finland get back on her feet relatively quickly both economically and politically after the traumatic war years. Gunnar Höckert, the 5000 metres Gold Medalist at the Berlin Olympics of 1936, perished in The Winter War, and his tragic fate has been mentioned as the source of inspiration for this remarkable poem by Gabriela Mistral. Unlike many other Finnish sports champions in the early years of Finland’s independence, Höckert came from a wealthy family based in Helsinki, had completed his academic studies and launched a promising commercial career after he had abandoned competitive sports due to bad bouts of rheumatism. CAMPEÓN FINLANDÉS G abriela Mistral’s poem “Campeón finlandés” (“The Finnish Champion”) has probably not been well-known in Finland previously, although the poet herself, the Nobel Laureate, has been known and appreciated among Finnish friends of world-class poetry. This powerful text was inspired by Finland’s Winter War (1939-40) which was top-news widely around the world. That conflict and Finland’s almost miraculous survival from the throes of World War II has had a lasting impact on Finland’s international reputation. The sacrifices inflicted upon Finland by World War II were heavy: about 93 000 soldiers lost their lives in the 1939-45 period. The civilian losses of life, in turn, were more modest this chilean event here at europe house is a good example of our foreign partners ’ willingness to participate in our a nniversary y ear in a creative and memorable manner . Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957) Born as Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga in 1889, Gabriela Mistral was the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. Although Mistral is best known as a poet, she was a prominent educator, diplomat and feminist. She served as Chilean consul in Naples, Madrid and Lisbon, and was involved in cultural committees attached to the League of Nations. She held numerous honorary degrees and taught Spanish literature in the United States at Columbia University, Middlebury College, Vassar College and at the University of Puerto Rico. Sonetos de la muerte, a collection of love poems in memory of the dead was published in 1914 helped make her name a standard within the literary community. In 1922 her book, Desolación was published followed in 1924 by Ternura. Her complete poetry was published in 1958. She died in 1957. t ext by p ekka h uhtaniemi , f inland 100 s pecial a mbassador
Helsinki Times Special Edition 17 As the war effort required that large numbers of reservists were mobilised for the battlefields, it was inevitable that the fatalities included many sports heroes. About a dozen Finnish Olympic Medalists and other champions were killed in uniform. But the losses of life did not spare other segments of Finnish youth, either. Among the casualities were also cultural figures, artists, film-makers and members of families of highranking Finnish politicians and generals. The tragedy had a truly national character with impacts in all parts of the country and across all social, religious and other boundaries. Events on the battlefronts inspired artistic recollections and statements also in Finland: novels, films, paintings and drawings, music and poetry. For example, the leading Finnish poet of that period, V. A. Koskenniemi, wrote lyrics for the famous “Finlandia Hymn” of Sibelius soon after the Winter War. The hymn itself had been composed by Sibelius already in 1899 in another context and without any lyrics. The most famous war-time collection of Finnish poems is “The Purgatory” (“Kiirastuli”) by Yrjö Jylhä, published in 1941, a powerful evocation of humanistic values haunted by the terrible circumstances of a bloody war. Gabriela Mistral’s poem is a moving reminder of the strength of such values in a more global context. Sensitive spirits care about the fates of human beings and far-away nations when they see and hear about great tragedies and unjustices. Mistral has been inspired by a fallen Finnish sports champion but her message is more universal and ever-lasting.• The Ambassador of Chile in Finland, Mr. Eduardo Gálvez, presents the Poem, “Finnish Champion” written by Gabriela Mistral in 1940 to Finland100 special Ambassador Mr. Pekka Huhtaniemi as the official gift of Chile to Finland for the 100 year anniversary. Finnish Champion * Finnish Champion, you are stretched out in the burnished light of your final stadium, red as the pheasant in life and in death, stitched with wounds, drained as a gargoyle spout of your blood. You have fallen in the snows of your childhood, among blue edges and steely mirrors, crying No! to the North and the East, a No! that compresses profusion of snow, hardens the skis to diamonds, stops the war tank like a wild board. Swimmer, ball-player, runner, let them burn your name and call you “Finland.” hallowed be your final course, hallowed the meridian that took your body, hallowed the midnight sin that granted your final miracle. You denied the invader the draught of your lakes, your paths, the life-thread of your reindeer, the threshold of your home, the cube of your arena, the rainbow of your Virgins and Christ, the baptized foreheads of your children. Translated by Doris Dana * During World War II Finland put up amazing resistance to massive invasions by Russian forces.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 18 T his year marks the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence. With the sisu spirit of perseverance and great vision, the Finns have built their country into one of the most stable, successful and competitive societies in the world. It has been actively engaged and played an increasingly important role in regional and international affairs. We truly admire Finland for the extraordinary achievements it has made and share the joy with the Finnish people in their centenary celebrations. This year also marks the 67th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Finland. During the past decades, we have become close partners, both politically and economically – in good times and bad. Finland’s centenary slogan, “Together”, is extremely fitting also for our bilateral relations in the past year. At the invitation of President Sauli Niinistö, President Xi Jinping concluded a successful state visit to Finland in April. The two heads of state confirmed the establishment of the future-oriented, new-type partnership between the two countries by further enhancing political mutual trust and expanding cooperation to the benefit of our two peoples. As a follow-up, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä visited Building Better China-Finland Relations Together China and participated in the Summer Davos Forum. A record number of agreements were signed during this visit, which will bring billions of euros to Finland over the coming years in the form of investments and commercial deals. Recently, Finnish Parliament Speaker Maria Lohela paid an official visit to China, holding talks with top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang for the fourth time. The two sides agreed to lift bilateral ties further through pragmatic cooperation and by enhancing exchanges between our respective legislative bodies. China has maintained the position of being Finland’s biggest trading partner in Asia for 14 consecutive years and, vice-versa, Finland is China’s key trading partner in Northern Europe. Chinese investments in Finland have surged over the past year to nearly US$10 billion. Likewise, there are approximately 400 Finnish companies operating in China, with a total investment of over US$10 billion, and their investments have proved successful. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, we believe the “Digital Silk Road” (along the northeast passage) and a new rail express between Kouvola and Xi’an will bring brand-new opportunities for future cooperation. Text by Mr. Chen Li Ambassador of China to Finland
Helsinki Times Special Edition 19 svenskfinland.fi welcome.fi visit us ! PROVIDES ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT FINLAND! Have you recently moved to Finland? PUBLISHED BY THE CITY OF HELSINKI Moving to Finland, everyday life, housing, work, starting a business, Finnish language, education, family and children, leisure time. With the announcement of the 2022 Winter Olympics being awarded to Beijing, more Chinese are getting onto the snow and ice. The coming winter-sport theme year of 2019 between China and Finland offers great opportunities for Finnish companies. We are happy to see great examples already: top-class Finnish players in China’s first KHL team, Kunlun Red Star; a Finnish coach leading the Chinese crosscountry ski team; more Chinese winter sport players coming to Finland for training; and bilateral cooperation on snow technologies growing rapidly. These cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Finland have been dynamic. With more Chinese coming to Finland, the number of overnight stays by Chinese tourists increased by 50% in the first half of this year. We are glad to see that Alipay – the popular Chinese mobile payment platform – has been gradually adopted by the Finnish service industry. The airline Chinese Lucky Air will start flying to Helsinki from Kunming via Chengdu as of winter 2018 and Finnair will soon launch direct flights to Nanjing, which marks its seventh destination in China. In a couple of months from now, a pair of giant pandas are expected to settle in at Ähtäri Zoo in Finland. The joint project is a gift from China to Finland on its 100th birthday. The pandas will help build a new bond between our two countries and our peoples. Recently, China’s 19th Party Congress was concluded in Beijing. As the congress heralds a new journey for China’s future development, it also creates new dynamism for cooperation between China and Finland. In the next five years, China will press ahead with supply-side reform, speed up industrial upgrading, facilitate innovation and promote clean energy and green development. As China rolls out its modernisation agenda, it will build up the momentum of ChinaFinland relations and highlight Finland’s unique strength in clean-tech, green economy, innovation and creative industries. We stand ready to work with our Finnish friends to seize the opportunities to deepen cooperation and boost our relations to a new height. Congratulation to Finland on its 100th birthday and we wish you every success in the next centenary! Let’s build better China-Finland relations together! • “Chinese investments in Finland have surged over the past year to nearly US$10 billion. Likewise, there are approximately 400 Finnish companies operating in China, with a total investment of over US$10 billion, and their investments have proved successful.“ B w h o th Centenar of Finlan ’ Independenc T HE E MBASSY OF THE R EPUBLIC OF I NDONESIA IN H ELSINKI .
Helsinki Times Special Edition 20 Our warmest and best wishes to Finland on its 100 anniversary www.mofaic.gov.ae @MOFAUAE Congratulation Finlan ! Best wishes on the 100 year anniversary of Finland. Ambassador and sta? of the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Helsinki T oday, Finland is a strong nation with rich history and cultural heritage, as well as many success stories of building a modern civil society and innovative economy. Your country’s tremendous achievements provide solid basis for amplifying its remits and prestige in the international community as active contributor to the cause of peace, cooperation and dialogue. A significant role of Suomi in addressing acute issues of regional and global agenda within the framework of the UN, EU, OSCE and other multilateral organizations vividly speak in favor of these points. 2017 is a special year for us as we mark the 25th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Finland. Here, let me stress that the past quarter century of true friendship and effective interaction of the two countries has been crowned with many records and landmark events. Thanks to gradual deepening of mutually beneficial political, economic and cultural ties, Helsinki has become one of the key partners of Astana in Northern Europe. I am confident hat future of our multifaceted interaction will be even more dynamic and fruitful. I also would like to express my sincere appreciation to all Finnish friends for their valuable contribution to the success of “EXPO-2017” International Exhibition in Astana. Suomi’s Gold medal at the EXPO is an excellent demonstration of its “green” power, as well as of our shared aspirations to meet sustainable development goals TOGETHER and ensure wellbeing of the entire world. I wish Finland many centuries of continues prosperity and progress! • I offer my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Government of the Republic of Finland and its People on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Suomi’s Independence. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov
Helsinki Times Special Edition 21 T he international branch of Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), HYKSin has been providing exceptional healthcare to overseas and Finnish patients since it was established in 2013. The private company is best known for its excellent track record of treating patients that require the most demanding types of medical care, with its team of experts specialising in over 20 medical disciplines. All of HYKSin’s treatment is carried out in Helsinki University Hospital. HUS is the biggest of Finland’s university hospitals, as well as being among the largest in Europe. Consisting of a total of 23 hospitals, HUS receives half a million patients a year and is responsible for 100,000 surgeries per year. 18,000 babies are also delivered every year in HUS hospitals, which accounts for a third of Finland’s annual births. Although 25% of HYKSin’s patients are from Finland, the majority travel to the country especially to receive treatment. The high level of medical expertise in specialist areas is one reason why customers have been making the trip, while the exclusive use of evidencebased treatment methods is another. “Neurosurgery, e.g. brain surgery, is one of our main areas of focus,” says Hanna Tuominen, Medical Director at HYKSin. “We have one of the largest neurosurgical units in Europe. Another area is paediatrics. We treat many small babies that suffer with cardiac problems and other difficult diseases.” Patients also seek out treatment through HYKSin because of Finland’s reputation for outstanding medical care. “People know that we are competent and safe,” explains Hanna. “Our maternal, childbirth and postoperative mortality rates are among the lowest in the world. We also demonstrate outstanding treatment results in many medical specialties, such as cancer treatment.” Factors like these have contributed towards Finland being known as a hidden jewel in the area of medical tourism. With HYKSin treating more and more patients since opening four years ago, there’s no reason to think that Finland’s international status won’t continue to grow. Further growth in the treatment of children is also on the horizon for HYKSin. Next September will see the opening of the New Children’s Hospital. “Our vision is to open the best children’s hospital in the world,” says Jari Petäjä, Director of the Centre for Children and Adolescents at HUS. Combining excellence in paediatric care with state-of-theart equipment, facilities and IT infrastructure, the hospital is envisioned as a true healing environment for the patient and the wider family. • TENDER, LOVING CARE FROM FINLAND Medical Director Hanna Tuominen (on the right) with colleagues. Meilahti Tower Hospital in Helsinki Text by Dan Anderson
Helsinki Times Special Edition 22 THE WORLD’S MOST HONEST CITY Reader’s Digest put the honesty of 16 cities to the test by leaving 192 wallets scattered in a random selection of their streets, parks and shopping centres. A dozen wallets were “lost” in each city, with each one containing contact details and the equivalent of $50 in cash. 11 of the 12 wallets that were lost in Helsinki were returned, which was good for the magazine’s number one ranking and title of world’s most honest city. A couple in their sixties from Kallio told the publication: “Of course we returned the wallet. Honesty is an inner conviction.” To celebrate Finland’s centenary, let’s take a moment to recognise some of the elements that help to make the country such an awesome place. Here’s a list of seven things in which Finland or Helsinki can be considered the best in the world: THE MOST STABLE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD Assessing the vulnerability of states to conflict or collapse, every year Fund for Peace puts together its Fragile States Index. Rankings are based on a series of 12 indicators that are split up into the categories of social, economic and political. And every year (since 2011) Finland has come out as the world’s most stable country. Improved economic performance, a lessening of social and political divisions, and successes in addressing demographic and environmental issues have contributed towards Finland retaining its place for the seventh straight year. BEST PRIMARY EDUCATION IN THE WORLD I suspect we’ve all read one article or another that waxes lyrical over the standard of education in Finland. Going one step further, I could even suggest that it’s nigh-on impossible to find Finland’s name left out of any discussion about the world’s top education systems. We can thank the World Economic Forum for adding a little more fuel to the fire. The 2017-18 edition of their Global Competitiveness Report concluded that Finland has the world’s best primary education, as well as the second best level of higher education. Finland’s approach to “preparing the younger generation for the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution through novel teaching approaches” was considered particularly noteworthy. W E A RE T HE BE ST ! Helsinki Times Special Edition 22 Text by Dan Anderson
Helsinki Times Special Edition 23 Safety and stability go hand in hand, so it’s no great surprise that Finland has also been named as the world’s safest country. This designation comes courtesy of the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017. The biennial study examined a total of 136 countries and analysed, among other things, the extent to which each country exposes tourists to security risks and violence. Foreigners that arrive in Finland only need to take a look at the country’s deposit-refund system, in which empty cans and bottles are swapped for money in local supermarkets, to know that Finland is on the progressive side of the environmental scale. This view is backed up by the most recent Environmental Performance Index. The study assesses the performance of countries in two environmental areas: the protection of human health and the protection of the environment. Finland’s high placement in areas such as biodiversity, health impacts and air quality, as well as its commitment in striving to achieve a carbon-neutral society, contributed to its overall number one ranking. Helsinki scored highest for openness in a ranking carried out by housing aggregator Nestpick. Taking into account thousands of cities from around the world, the Millennial Cities Ranking determined the top 100 places for Millennials to live in 2017. Helsinki was the only city that was given a perfect score for gender equality, while it also rated as the third best city for immigration tolerance and the fifth best for transport. When it comes to getting from one place to another, Helsinki has been nominated as Europe’s best. Finland’s capital came out trumps in a ranking of 20 large European cities by the US journal Politico. The Urban Mobility Index ranked the cities based on their performance in four equally weighted areas: air pollution, cycling, public transport and traffic congestion. Helsinki ranked second in air quality and sneaked into the top five in both bicycle use and traffic congestion. • Photo by Harri Tarvainen | Visit Finland HELSINKI IS THE MOST OPEN CITY IN THE WORLD NUMBER ONE FOR SAFETY EUROPE’S TOP CITY FOR URBAN MOBILITY THE WORLD’S GREENEST COUNTRY Helsinki Times Special Edition 23
Helsinki Times Special Edition 24 I f you ask anyone around the world what they know about Helsinki you are likely to hear a few common themes. You might hear about Santa, hockey or quality of life, but you are almost certain to receive an answer about high technology. “Due to the Nokia legacy, Helsinki is well known as a digital hub and for its innovations,” explains Marja-Liisa Niinikoski, CEO of Helsinki Business Hub. “This view has been strengthened through the world’s leading high-tech startup event, Slush.” There is a good reason for Helsinki’s reputation as a haven for innovation. It is a home for companies specialising Helsinki – the heart of Nordic business THE HELSINKI AREA IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO ESTABLISH A COMPANY’S REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS FOR NORDIC AND EUROPEAN MARKETS. Photo by Kari Palsila / Visit Finland in everything from mobile games and robotics to the IoT and healthtech. The Helsinki area hosts many corporate or regional headquarters of multinational companies, all forming a rich ecosystem. Yet there is more to the greater Helsinki area than just technology. In fact, it has quite a few well-kept secrets. “I wish more people knew that Helsinki functions as a city with no hiccups. Everything just works,” Niinikoski continues. “The city is one of the most liveable cities in the world according to various indices. It offers many advantages for companies that wish to invest in R&D. We have an ecosystem that supports innovation. Helsinki is the place that future solutions are born.” Text by David J. Cord
Helsinki Times Special Edition 25 S mall world, big talent A number of organisations are dedicated to assisting companies set up shop in Finland. Helsinki Business Hub helps investors to invest in the Helsinki region and accelerate business growth in the area, as well as assisting potential companies with data, analysis, networking and advice, among other things. In addition, Finpro provides similar services in other parts of Finland. Huber Hu knows these services well. Hu has plenty of experience getting businesses up and running. In Finland, he set up Huawei’s operations as well as initiated the Huawei R&D centre in Helsinki. He worked as a tech entrepreneur in the area and is now the CEO of Powervision Robot Europe in Helsinki. “Finland is a small world,” Hu says. “If someone wants to set up a business in Finland I recommend they contact Helsinki Business Hub and Finpro at the earliest opportunity to get familiar with the Finnish business and tech system. Compared with a big country like China, this process is super efficient and transparent.” Hu points out that the labour market is flush with high-quality talent, thanks to veterans of major companies like Supercell and Rovio, as well as the famous Finnish education system. Getting the right people is extremely important. He stresses to find a team leader who fits your working culture, has deep experience and connections to get the team in place. Why Helsinki? • 87,000 ICT professionals in Helsinki have advanced programming skills • 71% of Finns speak English • Helsinki is ranked 8th in the world in quality of life • Finland is the 5th most innovative country in the world • Finland is #1 in the 2016 world press freedom index www.helsinkibusinesshub.fi Source: Helsinki Business Hub “Helsinki is well known as a digital hub and for its innovations.” Marja-Liisa Niinikoski
Helsinki Times Special Edition 26 H elsinki as a place for regional HQs The Helsinki region is increasingly the place for multinational companies to set up their R&D operations, thanks in part to Aalto University, which is eager for corporate research partnerships. For instance, Finland is the ninth top European destination for Chinese R&D, and is even higher in the ICT and electronics category. Bayer, a global company best known for its healthcare expertise, decided to put its Nordic headquarters in Espoo in 2011. Espoo is Finland’s second largest city attached to Helsinki. together with Vantaa, these three form the Greater Helsinki Region. One of the reasons they chose Finland was the talent available – not only medical know-how, but also procurement, legal and communications expertise. According to newspaper reports, Bayer invests around 60 million euros annually in research activities in Finland. “The booming start-up bubs in the Helsinki region are fascinating to me,” says Bayer’s Mirjam Holstein. “Even at the darkest time of the year there is a lot of inspiring things happening, like Digital Silver Forum and Slush. Events like these provide excellent platforms to answer the needs of the future, being it ageing societies or digital solutions mega trends, and bringing the global players to Finland.” Nissan is another major corporation which has chosen the Helsinki area to host it's regional headquarters. “Nissan has been present in the “In 2015 almost 200 foreign companies landed in Helsinki.” Helsinki Times Special Edition 26 Miriam Holstein Photo by Bayer Nordic Nordics for 55 years. As a result, there is a tremendous sense of pride having our regional headquarters in Finland,” says Robert Lujan, managing director of Nissan Nordic Europe. “Our location allows us to tap a diverse talent pool when looking for new associates. When you factor in stable, local growth, a growing tech industry and the affluence of the area, Espoo is a very attractive location.” Some companies have decided to move their entire headquarters to Helsinki, such as Nordea, the Nordic region’s largest financial group. Nordea was attracted by Finland’s membership in the European Union’s banking union as well as its stable and predictable regulatory environment.
S afe and international The outward-looking nature of the Helsinki economy has made it extremely internationalised in recent years. Niinikoski points out that during the first half of 2017 ten per cent of open jobs were English-speaking. Lujan, an expat himself, claims that out of all the places around the world he has lived – including France, the UK, the Netherlands and Japan – moving to Helsinki has been the easiest. Getting necessities like residence permits, housing and mobile phones has been painless. “I find the work-life balance in Helsinki has played a large role in my easy transition to the area,” Lujan continues. “It’s perfectly acceptable to work hard and then take time for yourself and your family. Frankly, it’s refreshing and I enjoy seeing our associates take advantage of the balance. It makes for a happier and engaged workforce. This philosophy has also allowed me to personally experience the local surroundings more than in previous roles I’ve had worldwide.” Niinikoski hopes that any company looking for a European base will give her a call to see what Helsinki has to offer. After all, she says, Helsinki is not just a great place to work. It’s also a great place to live. “Helsinki deserves the image of a metropolis, but in a fun and functional way,” she says. “The city is safe enough to let your children go to school alone. Think about that!” • Helsinki Times Special Edition 27 Nissan’s headquarters in Finland’s “Silicon Valley”, just by the the New Port of Keilahti. Photo courtesy of Marinetek Robert Lujan Photo by Nissan Nordic Europe
Helsinki Times Special Edition 28 29 LocalBitcoin Established by two brothers: Jeremias and Nikolaus Kangas, just a few years ago, LocalBitcoins was planned as a place where local enthusiasts could exchange the cryptocurrency. Guess what, it turned out to be anything but local. Stera Long before startups and inventors would turn to Shenzen to have their prototypes made, there was Stera. Founded by Heikki Ajanko, Stera fuses mechanics and electronics to make bespoke prototypes and other machinery. Fafa’s Fafa’s is one of those success stories worth a Hollywood movie. An immigrant from Israel starts his way up from working in restaurants to establishing a chain of 16 exceptional falafel restaurants in the country. Kouvolan Lakritsi Timo Nisula is not just any entrepreneur, he is a visionary. He acquired a historic company producing liquorish and turned it into a “republic”. After all, Liquorish is more than just a candy in Finland, It’s a religion! WAPICE You have probably heard about digitalisation and the Internet of Things (IoT) a lot recently. Well, Wapice was already doing these things years ago . Established in 1999, Wapice is a pioneer of digitisation Jackie Manglani Jackie Manglani is a brand by himself. He is the man who dresses the men who change the world or die trying. Steffano Ricci and Scabal have put all their trust on him to represent them in Finland. Tuomo Siitonen Architects Creator of totally new interpretations of traditional designs, which look classic, but are totally new. Lami Doors Producer of specialised doors, LAMI Doors is all about what you don’t see in a door. Helsinki Limo When celebrities and hotshots visit Finland, who are they going to call to fetch them from the airport and take them places? Helsinki Hospital By minimising the administrative costs to next to nothing, and putting the patient in the centre of everything. Helsinki Hospital is taking healthcare to the next level. Changemakers 30 31 32 34 36 36 37 38 33 Changemakers section is a commercial partnership produced by Helsinki Times in co-operation with Circus Marketing
Helsinki Times Special Edition 29 CHANGEMAKERS LocalBitcoins aims at the future of finance T en thousand years ago our ancestors made their purchases with shells or bronze axes. Ancient Romans measured their wealth in gold or silver coins. More recently our grandparents used bank notes or currency issued by a central bank. Today the currency of choice is increasingly bitcoin. The digital currency bitcoin is growing in importance, both as a medium of exchange and as a store of value. Everyone from small pizza parlours to Microsoft accepts payments using the cryptocurrency. Investors have also taken notice. The price of bitcoin has increased hundreds of per cent during the first eleven months of 2017 and the total market value now rivals General Electric’s, making it a serious international asset. Yet every asset needs a method to be exchanged, which is where Localbitcoins comes in. Helsinkibased Localbitcoins is a veteran of the bitcoin revolution, having opened in 2012. They have developed an over-the-counter trading system for bitcoins where transactions are done directly between two parties. Users post messages where they state exchange rates and payment methods for buying or selling. Trade in bitcoins is truly international: over 99 per cent of Localbitcoins’ customers are outside Finland and about 80 per cent are outside of the EU. Localbitcoins view themselves as on the cutting edge of future global trade. In the past, for instance, Finnish international trade could be imagined as manufacturing a phone and selling it abroad. Now a Finnish company is taking advantage of global digitisation. Localbitcoins is growing rapidly, with both sales and profits steadily climbing the past few years. The millions of euros in profit Localbitcoins makes from international business results in taxes and jobs home in Finland. “We are really helping to change the world. We enable access to bitcoins and transactions to take place anywhere in the world,” says CEO Jeremias Kangas. “When things are going smoothly it is very relaxed work in a stable environment. When the markets get volatile we have a lot to do, but that’s also a part of what makes it interesting.” https://localbitcoins.com
Helsinki Times Special Edition 30 CHANGEMAKERS S tera Technologies Oy is an engineering company that specialises in mechanics, electronics and a combination of the two. Established in 2007 when three family businesses merged together, Stera draws on a combined 70 years of experience in the production of electromechanical components. “There is no other company in the Nordic region that has such a large electromechanical production range,” states Heikki Ajanko, CEO of Stera. “We manufacture customised products that our clients need. Starting from the design stage and moving on to prototyping, we work closely with our customers right up until the final phase of production.” Stera manufactures four main product types. First, there are cabinets, enclosures and other sheet metal products. Then there’s machinery and mechanical products. Electronics is the third category, which includes things like printed circuit Uniting mechanics and electronics boards and wire harnesses. Lastly, there are large-scale products. This category includes electromechanic systems such as LED lightening products. “Our biggest customer is Kone,” says Heikki. “We produce elevator doors for them, as well as the chassis for the elevator. Another customer is ABB. They receive electromechanical products from us, such as big heat exchangers that are approximately the size of a van. We are also the biggest supplier of automotive equipment to Valmet Automotive.” With eight factories across three countries, Stera has 55,000m² of production space. Five factories are in Finland, two are based in Estonia and one is in India. Although the company celebrated their tenth birthday recently, that doesn’t mean they’re slowing down. “We’re constantly expanding our activities,” says Heikki. “Our newest one is the Estonian factory close to Tallinn. The first step was opened in last September and two of our Finnish factories are being expanded by 2,000m² each.” 2018 looks to be another year of evolution: “Stera will have a new CEO and President next year. Jussi Ohlsson, our current Vice President, will step into that role in January. He was previously in charge of the Tammela and Kaavi areas and has been with us for nine years. I know that in his hands we’ll be in great shape for the future.”• CEO Heikki Ajanko gives his welcome speech Stera’s new stateof-the-art factory Text by Dan Anderson | Photos Stera
Helsinki Times Special Edition 31 CHANGEMAKERS A wakening Finland’s passion for all things pita, Fafa’s has grown from a single restaurant on Iso Roobertinkatu to a national brand that is redefining the country’s idea of fast food. With plans to set up as many as 80 shops by 2021 and spread its wings outside of Finland in the near future, it seems like Fafa’s is in the process of cooking up something big. Considering that not a single falafel had been fried before December 2011, this precipitous growth must even surprise founder and CEO Doron Karavani. Moving to Finland from Israel in 2002, Doron brought along a love of street food from his native Tel Aviv and, after sampling Finland’s fast food options, decided there was room for improvement. “Fafa’s has grown from a small kiosk to a chain of 16 restaurants in few years” Street food with no shortcuts GROWTH COMPANY OF THE YEAR Text by Dan Anderson | photos by Tomas Whitehouse “Where I come from, it’s a place where street food has no shortcuts,” says Doron. “You get what you pay for and it’s always tasty. I knew the falafel and pita world before, but I was a bit upset with the Turkish kebab places in Helsinki and the places I went to. They weren’t anything that I was familiar with in terms of taste and presentation. So I knew that I wanted to do something better.” After teaming up with a trio of Finnish investors, Doron was able to open what he considers “the first cool street food place in Helsinki” at the end of 2011. Fafa’s became known for its fresh and healthy selection of pitas and salads, gaining the attention of consumers that craved for a better quality and more authentically Middle Eastern experience. “We want to and will be the best pita chain,” explains Doron. “If you think about burgers as a product, pizzas or burritos, then you also have pitas. We are famous for our falafel, chicken and vegetarian options, but the idea is that everything revolves around the pita. That is one thing that makes us different – we offer something new.” So what’s next for Fafa’s? “We have plans to go to Stockholm, Tallinn and the Baltic. London too,” reveals Doron. “When you think about Fafa’s, it’s very international. It’s fusion. It’s very light. You have the taste of the Middle East, the taste of Europe. So I think this unique concept gives us a great opportunity to do something special.” •
Helsinki Times Special Edition 32 CHANGEMAKERS IN THE EASTERN CITY OF KOUVOLA IS A TINY REPUBLIC WHERE ITS CITIZENS’ JOB IS TO PACKAGE HAPPINESS AND SHIP IT TO THE WORLD. Finns consume more candy on average than in any other nation in the world, (14 kg per person). Most of this is liquorice and “Salmiakki”, a salty version spiced up with crystallised salt (ammonium chloride). For most Finns, this is the taste of their childhoods and the number one item that they miss when abroad. from all over Finland and with different backgrounds applied to join the company. “I was happy to get so many applications, but at the same time sad that we couldn’t hire all of them, so I started a campaign to get jobs for these people.” Timo’s campaign got the attention of the media and he appeared on several talk shows and in newspaper interviews, which resulted in a nation-wide discussion on employment opportunities. Timo told his team “The Republic of Liquorice is a bureaucracy-free zone with 5000 registered inhabitants” The RepubLic of Liquorice Kouvolan Lakritsi • Started as a lemonade factory in Vyborg in 1906 • Moved to Kouvola in 1945 after the war and started making liquorice • Timo Nisula bought the company in Feb 2008 • He made the brand a gourmet and design food product • Turnover increased from €1.3 mil (2008) to €3.1 mil last year • The company uses a traditional 1945 recipe, which was developed further in 1960 by Englishman H. Knoch. “Liquorice is more than just candy,” says Timo Nisula, the CEO and owner of Kouvolan Lakriitsi. He is also the il Presidente of the self-declared Republic of Liquorice. “Liquorice root has been used since 4000 BC. All of the Egyptian Pharaohs have been buried with Liquorice root and Hannibal, Napoleon and the Phoenicians used it to calm their stomachs and minds before battles.” Since taking over the company in 2008, Nisula has rejuvenated the brand and grown it into a gourmet and design food product. “Last year, we established our own state,” he says passionately. “The Republic of Liquorice is a bureaucracyto send each applicant a thank you and good luck letter rapped around a box of liquorice candy. Around the same time, Finland’s parliament was busy passing a law that classed the popular pipe-shaped liquorice candy as a tobacco-related product. This meant that stores had to keep the famous candy hidden away together with lighters and matches, as well as check shoppers’ IDs for to check their age. Timo sent a letter to the responsible minister, Juha Rehula, banning him from setting foot in the Republic of Liquorice for 10 years. “We are not the biggest and don’t want to be the biggest, but we want to be the best,” says Nisula. “It felt really free zone. With 5000 registered inhabitants, we are one of the smallest nations in the world. A happy country on a factory plant.” During the elections in the United States, celebrities such as Samuel L. Jackson and Miley Cyrus threatened to move abroad if Trump won. When the results came out, Timo sent them a Twitter invitation to move to the Republic of Liquorice. His out-of-the-box thinking has often got him into the Finnish media’s spotlight. Two years ago, when the company had five vacancies, it received 1100 applications. People great when 99% of the visitors to the Helsinki Liquorice Festival this November came and told us exactly that.” Kouvolan Lakritsi recently hired Prof. Eero Aarnio, known for his popular ball-chair design, to create the first edible design. The resulting “Kummitus” (Ghost) sweet ended up on restaurant menus as a dessert. Kouvolan Lakritsi is exceptional in many other ways. The factory uses 100% biogas in the production of its liquorice, resulting in a zero carbon footprint. The company also produces white-label designer liquorice packaged with the logos and brands of clients for marketing purposes. • Text by Alexis Kouros | Images: Kouvolan Lakritsi CHANGEMAKERS
Helsinki Times Special Edition 33 CHANGEMAKERS The digitisation experts W apice is a software company that specialises in embedded systems, industrial systems and business solutions. A pioneer in the world of digitisation since being founded in 1999, Wapice’s core service is building tailored software systems for companies in the industrial sector. Personalised software expertise is also offered to clients at each step on their journey towards digitisation – from product research to implementation and everything in between. “We have been working with digitisation since the very beginning”, says CEO Pasi Tuominen. “Wapice’s name actually comes from WAP, which was an early type of mobile internet”. A lot has changed since then and Wapice has had to constantly Text by Dan Anderson Photos Wapice evolve in order to remain at the cutting edge of software. Pasi explains: “The continuous development is a big part of us – we are constantly improving our technology and our capability to work with customers. To help us do this we now have 340 experts working across our three core areas – embedded systems, and the industrial and business sectors. Overall, we have a very wide operating area and things have been growing since day one”. This is demonstrated by the handful of unique products that Wapice has created. “One product is a tendering and ordering tool called Summium – it completely digitalises the sales process for our customers”, says Pasi. “Then there’s our other product, IoT-TICKET, which is a complete Internet of things (IoT) platform”. IoT-TICKET enables companies to integrate their machines and devices with information systems, allowing users to monitor and control all of their equipment simultaneously. Pasi explains: “Some companies use IoT-TICKET to handle machines. For example, they can monitor the condition and location of moving machines and see how they are operated”. Demand for these products is growing rapidly and Pasi is excited about their potential: “Our customers usually operate in the industrial area and are often quite large businesses. But with Summium and IoT-TICKET, a small company can jump to the level of a big company in the sales and IoT areas. We are able to digitise small companies using top-level tools and help them succeed worldwide”. •
Helsinki Times Special Edition 34 CHANGEMAKERS R olling up one’s sleeves is a style that is in fashion today. However, what also matters is the quality of the cloth, explains Helsinki-based tailor Jackie Manglani. “You don’t just dress for yourself, you also dress for other people,” he tells me from his showroom, which has been tastefully done up by Italian craftsmen. The view from the large windows overlooking the Esplanade is inspiring. Located on Mannerheimintie, Manglani’s showroom is just a stone’s throw away from some of the cosmopolitan capital’s plethora of cafés, restaurants and the famous Stockmann department store. “My motto in life is that you have to invest in yourself, because you are the most important asset that you have. If you don’t, then don’t expect other people to do so either,” he adds. Being the founder of a tailoring business spanning 30 years, Manglani has measured tens of thousands of people. But his early years were challenging. “I got an offer to travel to Hong Kong and went there for training, starting at a tailoring business,” he reveals. “They then gave me a bag full of samples and said, ‘OK Man, you’re on your own now. Go off to Europe or wherever you want and start making a living for yourself’.” His first trip was to South America. “I had almost nothing and learnt the business – always travelling and meeting lots of people. We also didn’t have any mobile phones back then, so you’d save money for the whole month, calling home once monthly on a particular Sunday at a particular time, with people waiting just to know that you were alive. Those three-minute phone calls would cost about $30 dollars.” Cutting a fine figure
Helsinki Times Special Edition 35 CHANGEMAKERS There were good weeks, and not so great weeks. “But at the age of 19, I survived for a year. Everything was easy after that. Because once you do that at a young age, basically you’re not scared of anything. You know that you can survive on your own without support from anyone,” says Manglani. He then moved to Europe, coming to Finland for the first time in the 1990s, when Nokia was at its height, and set up a business in his current showroom about eight years later. “I fell kind of in love with Helsinki because I come from a city called Mumbai, in India. It is hot, overcrowded, humid. I love Mumbai, but Helsinki was like heaven for me with snow. So it was exactly the opposite of what I was used to but something that I really liked. I also found out from a friend that Finland has a very high level of education, so that was an attraction as well. I was newly married at that time. So, I decided to stay here,” he explains. Text by Michael Sandelson Thousands of suits, shirts and several smartphones later, the experienced tailor stocks a huge collection of ready-to-wear clothes and accessories by Florence-born Stefano Ricci. Mr Manglani himself also offers his own creations, which range from the readymade with a wide selection including sportswear, shoes, belts and accessories, to the tailor-made and bespoke. “Made-to-measure allows you to open the waist a bit, do the sleeves a little bit, for example, and then your suit is ready. But bespoke tailoring means taking measurements and working with the shape of the body, making sure that the suit or shirt drapes so well that the tailor can hide all the body’s imperfections. Because nobody’s perfect,” says the tailor. And while today’s somewhat instant society offers so-called “offthe-peg” and cheaper outfits, Manglani thinks that change is afoot. “The earlier generation – to which I belong, and the one before me – were much more interested in things that were made for them by hand, where they could choose alternatives when you ordered a suit. They would like to pick their own buttons, choose the lining, etc. The cycle will turn when people again start to understand that they need to dress nicely. You don’t just dress really just for yourself, you also dress for other people.” What advice would you give to a man wishing to be well-dressed? “Again, as I said, always dress keeping the occasion in mind first, then pick your clothes accordingly. My idol is not a man who dresses well, instead it is a character who does so. I really admire James Bond. He’s always appropriately dressed for every occasion. It’s unbelievable how well they take care of his outfits,” concludes Manglani. • CHANGEMAKERS Helsinki Times Special Edition 35
Helsinki Times Special Edition 36 CHANGEMAKERS L AMI is a specialist in manufacturing hygienic GRP (glass reinforced polyester) doors. Developed with the help of decades of experience, LAMI GRP doors are specifically designed for use in the most demanding and harsh environments, where no other kind of material will suffice. The family-owned LAMI DOORS MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF HYGIENIC LAMI GRP DOORS Exceptional benefits offered by LAMI encapsulated doors: • Waterproof and moisture proof: 25-year guarantee for water and moisture resistance • Chemical resistant and hygienic • Corrosion free • Long life expectancy • Lightweight and safe to use • Fire safety • Easy installation with choice of frame systems • Co-ordinated outlook MuovilamiOy • lamidoors@lamidoors.com • +358-207-281828 • www.lamidoors.com T uomo Siitonen Architects is an award-winning architecture office consisting of 12 leading architects and designers. Working on a broad range of projects, from town planning to interior design, the company emphasises elegance and ecology in all of its architectural solutions. The firm has over 50 award-winning entries to Finnish and foreign architecture competitions. Previously working for 15 years at the Helsinki University of Technology as a professor of architecture, Tuomo has also been awarded the Finnish State Art Prize for Architecture on two occasions. With its impressive portfolio, Tuomo Siitonen Architects has worked on some of the biggest and most demanding projects in Finland. One such undertaking was the Leppäsuo neighbourhood in Töölö, which was built in four phases and completed this spring. “There is a strong tradition of contextualism in Finnish architecture,” says Tuomo. “Every location has its own unique characteristics and inexhaustible source of architectural expression. The concept of the Leppäsuo block was to reinterpret a traditional Töölö-style closed quarter.” The neighbourhood has been designed as a light, comfortable and ecofriendly space that retains the historical features unique to Töölö. Adding up to an original kind of cityscape, the design includes a protected and spacious courtyard, a bright facade and an oblique roof that allows for an exceptional amount of interior sunlight. The project is summed up best by the jury of the Finnish State Art Prize for Architecture, which said: “The plan for the Helsinki Leppäsuo block opens up new perspectives in Finnish housing architecture”. • To see the portfolio of Tuomo Siitonen, visit their page: www.tsi.fi RESHAPING TRADITION IN TÖÖLÖ company has been manufacturing specialist LAMI GRP doors since 1966. Over the years LAMI has successfully delivered more than 250,000 sets of doors worldwide, leading to the company being recognised for its uncompromising quality, great service and innovativeness. Offering a wide range of products and accessories, as well as the Contact information: Te xt by D an A nd er so n | Ph ot os TS I A rc hi te ct s Text by Dan Anderson | Photos Lamidoors option of customised designs, LAMI is continually developing its products and services for an even more sustainable future. LAMI manufactures and supplies specialist, hygienic GRP doors for demanding premises such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, laboratories, clean rooms, research facilities and hospitals, as well as food manufacturing facilities, commercial kitchens, spas, leisure centres and swimming pools. The range of LAMI GRP doors include single action and double action doors, fire-rated doors, x-ray doors, acoustic doors, manual and automated sliding doors, and standard doors.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 37 CHANGEMAKERS A iming for far more than getting customers to where they need to be, Helsinki Limo offers you the possibility to enjoy a full concierge service throughout every step of your journey. Helsinki Limo is a transportation and concierge service that was established by Lauri Kovanen in early 2011. They offer exclusive experiences to their customers, no matter what the needs might be. The response from their loyal customers has been a warm one. Expanding the business in an organic way that doesn’t rely on excessive advertising or branded vehicles, Helsinki Limo serves clients who want a little bit of privacy. They are a well-known name and a brand that is not only recommended by their own customers – just ask Les Clefs d’Or, the world’s biggest concierge association, who recently made CEO Lauri Kovanen an honorary member. Helsinki Limo offers a very wide range of different transportation services, limited only by the imagination of the customers themselves. Some may be going from a hotel to the airport, while others might want to spend a full day with their own chauffeur and concierge service – a personal roadshow, effectively. Customers like the kind of personal service that Helsinki Limo offers, which is built on the finest of details and, above all, loyalty. Some clients might just want to go home. In that case, that is all they need to say. Helsinki Limo’s fleet includes luxury sedans, minivans, minibuses and coaches. “You’ve probably seen one of our cars somewhere but it didn’t stand out. That’s exactly the kind of privacy we like to extend to all of our customers,” explains Lauri. • Achiever of the Year Driving with a difference “WINNER OF ACHIEVER 2015, PASSIONATE COMPANY 2016” “We aim to bring something unique to the table and, as we see it, there was a clear need for the special service that we provide,” says Lauri. “That idea has been our guiding light along every step of the way. Why shouldn’t you enjoy a moment of comfort in your day?” poses Lauri, before emphasising the value that Helsinki Limo wishes to bring to the otherwise mundane task of moving from one place to the other. HELSINKI LIMO Services include premium executive cars, luxury limousines, stretch limousines, minivans, VIP buses and large buses. Porthaninkatu 3, 00530 Helsinki info@helsinkilimo.com +358 207 870 360 Text by Dan Anderson | Photos Helsinki Limo
Helsinki Times Special Edition 38 CHANGEMAKERS Helsinki Hospital placing the patient at the centre of planning Helsinki Hospital managment team From right to left: Neurosurgeon Esa-Pekka Pälvimäki, Sales and Marketing Specialist Maija Parkkali, Head Nurse Sami Kapanen, Executive Vice President Heli Vähäsiltä and Director of Services Maarit Koivula T hree years ago, in the spring of 2014, Helsinki Hospital first opened its doors for patients in central Helsinki. Serving both individual and corporate customers, the private hospital is built around a vision of timely and compassionate treatment with the patient at the centre of all planning. Today, the vision can be regarded as having been successfully translated into reality. Esa-Pekka Päivimäki, neurosurgeon and founding partner of Helsinki Hospital, was the chief engine for transforming the idea of a patient-centred hospital from dream to reality. He successfully engaged a number of respected doctors in the project, and soon Helsinki Hospital was running the largest private spinal surgery unit in the Nordics. All departments in Helsinki Hospital are run with one key objective in mind: whenever possible, all necessary skills and services that a patient might need are to be found under the same roof. The wound care centre, for example, employs a plastic surgeon, an orthopaedic, a podatrist and a wound nurse, who all consult each other on a regular basis. This is meant to maximise efficiency Text by Nicole Berglund | Photos Tomas Whitehouse and minimise any potential hassle for patients. “We treat our patients as if they are the only patient we have,” executive vice-president Heli Vähäsilta says. Every day, the patients are given a menu with various foods from nearby restaurants, but if the patient really feels like eating something that is not on the menu, such as pizza or kebab, it can usually be arranged. Once, there was a patient who really felt like eating beef tongue, so Vähäsilta arranged it. Beyond focusing on patient experience, Helsinki Hospital works to ensure that all their medical procedures are conducted using the latest state-of-the-art technology. The recovery time for Helsinki Hospital’s patient tends to be shorter than usual because of the minimally invasive surgeries that the brand-new technology allows. Sixty per cent of lumbar spine patients are, for example, discharged on the day of their operation. The hospital’s reputation has attracted patients from as far away as the United States, Canada and the United Arab Emirates, as well as several top sports-people. Services can be provided in Finnish, Swedish, Estonian and Russian, and for patients with other linguistic back
Helsinki Times Special Edition 39 CHANGEMAKERS Neurosurgeon Juha Pohjola (right), and Nurse Fatima Kortesoja performing a surgery in Helsinki Hospital operation theatre Heli Vähäsiltä Executive Vice President grounds interpreters can be arranged. The hospital can even sort out accommodation for foreign clients, as they have partnered with several hotels around Helsinki. “Some of our international clients ask us about levels of hygiene and cleanliness,’ Vähäsilta explains. ‘What they don’t realise is that in Finland there is virtually no hospital bacteria and blood transfusions are highly secure. This is true for any hospital you would go to.” Beyond cleanliness, Helsinki Hospital’s staff have a high medical ethic. Unnecessary tests or scans – potentially harmful – are not done unless they are absolutely necessary. In the odd case that the patient has a problem that cannot be solved at Helsinki Hospital, the staff guides them to the right specialist and makes sure they get the best treatment available. One Russian patient, for example, had been told in her country-of-origin that she should have a big and complicated jaw surgery, but upon arrival at Helsinki Hospital the doctors realised that she in fact needed a teeth alignment. She was immediately referred to an orthodontist and got the care she needed before her departure. Another patient with oral cancer had been deemed untreatable in his home country. His daughter, who lives in Finland, brought him to Helsinki for a secondopinion. The surgeons at Helsinki Hospital decided to perform a complicated surgery and rebuild his tongue. For a year prior to the surgery he could barely eat or speak, and now he is speaking and eating with appetite. After losing all hope, he is now able to live an almost completely normal life. There are no long waiting times for getting treated at Helsinki Hospital. An appointment with a specialist can, for example, be arranged within one to two days of booking, and if a surgery is necessary it could be performed within seven days of the appointment. • Helsinki Hospital is located at Bulevardi 22 in Helsinki. THE HOSPITAL’S REPUTATION HAS BROUGHT PATIENTS FROM AS FAR AWAY AS THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, AS WELL AS SEVERAL TOP SPORTS-PEOPLE.
progressive and competitive port ready to boost your logistics hidden gem in port of kalajoki www.portofkalajoki.fi Commercial Director Petri Nikupeteri +358 44 4691 358, email: petri.nikupeteri@portofkalajoki.fi AIRPORTS Oulu 130 km Kokkola 90 km Port Information FIKJO (ID: 11827) Relevant charts BA 2252, BA3062 Finnish charts; 957, 3 (Gulf of Botnia), 53 Landmarks Ulkokalla Lighthouse (64*19.88´N 23*26.75´E) the bay of bothnia T he largest Russian biotechnology company BIOCAD plans to enter the European market with oncological and autoimmune medicines. So far, there are seven molecules in the European portfolio of BIOCAD. This are innovative and biosimilar products, which could be used in treatment of melanoma, breast, stomach, kidney and lung cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. BIOCAD presents its latest developments at the CPhI exhibition in Frankfurt on October 24–26, 2017. The top management of the Russian biotechnological company at the CPhI will discuss the issues of market access in EU and worldwide. BIOCAD will continue negotiations with the Japanese pharmaceutical partner and discuss commercial terms and conditions for the distribution of its products in the Land of the Rising Sun. “The presence of Russian innovative medicines on the European market depends on the speed of approval processes in the EMA (European Medicines Agency) which correlate with readiness to provide sufficient documents from manufacturer. BIOCAD is the only pharmaceutical company in Russia that is ready to provide dossiers for its medicines according to ICH CTD format in the shortest possible time,“says Dmitry Morozov, general director of BIOCAD biotechnological company. In addition, the advantage of BIOCAD is its own production plant, which the company builds in Finland, in the city of Turku. r ussian biotechnology company biocad prepares to enters the european market about company BIOCAD is leading global innovative biotechnology company in Russia. Its excellence comes from the world-class R&D centers, modern biotechnological manufacturing facilities, as well as preclinical and clinical research infrastructure that corresponds to the international standards. BIOCAD is a full-cycle drug development and manufacturing company, ensuring high-quality pharmaceutical development in all stages— from new genetic engineering to large-scale commercial production and further marketing support. The company provides original and generic drug products for treating complex health conditions such as cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, Hepatitis C infections, and other disorders. The company employs about 1300 workers, including more than 450 researchers. BIOCAD has created subsidiaries and partnerships in the USA, Brazil, China, India, and other countries. Currently, the Russian pharmaceutical company BIOCAD has not only biosimilars and generics in its pipeline, but also original molecules for the treatment of oncological and autoimmune diseases. The company invests in clinical trials of all these products. The last preparations are underway for conducting European Phase III clinical trials of adalimumab biosimilar and the original anti-IL-17 molecule. The preliminary agreement for the distribution of adalimumab in the European Union countries is planed to be signed in Frankfurt at the CphI exhibition. “As for the EU countries, where the approval of biological product goes under centralized procedure through the European Medicines Agency, taking into account the need for local clinical trials, we expect to get marketing authorization for biological products in 2021,” says Dmitry Morozov. In addition, in 2021, the generics of oncology drugs – docetaxel, paclitaxel, pemetrexed and irinotecan – will also enter the European countries. BIOCAD is interested in licensing innovative products from small companies on mutually favorable terms for the Russian market. During the visit to Frankfurt, Russian experts will discuss with their Swiss colleagues the prospects of collaboration on a drug against hard-to-treat chronic viral infections based on a molecule obtained in the laboratories of the Swiss company. In addition, the company plans to sign a preliminary agreement on the licensing of an immune-oncology molecule with a pharmaceutical company from Germany. This drug will be used in combination therapy of some cancers along with the original BIOCAD medicine.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 41 TRANSFORMED CONNECTIONS AND ENHANCED COHESION Would you like to travel from Helsinki to Stockholm in 32 minutes and to Tallinn in 11 minutes? How about from the Baltic to Germany in 90 minutes and from Amsterdam to Berlin in 50 minutes? Hyperloop One and its Finnish partner FS Links have brave new plans for connecting Finland to the rest of Scandinavia and Europe. Fasten your seat belts! Helsinki Times Special Edition 41
Helsinki Times Special Edition 42 L ET’S THINK BIG. Why settle for a tunnel between Helsinki and Tallin? Why not put a Hyperloop transport system in the tunnel? Currently, it takes two hours by boat to travel from Tallinn to Helsinki. It would take a few minutes by Hyperloop. Similarly, it takes seventeen hours to make the journey by ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm. By Hyperloop it would take 28 minutes. What is this Hyperloop that everyone is talking about? (A Google search gives you about ten million hits.) It is Elon Musk’s idea for an entirely new transportation system. It is an extremely fast pod that travels through a tunnel. Instead of using steel wheels as trains do, a Hyperloop pod floats on an electromagnetic field. Instead of relying on air propulsion as aircrafts do, it uses a custom electric motor. The top speed of a Hyperloop pod will be around 1100 kilometres per hour. There is no turbulence. There is little noise. It does not pollute. It does not require a driver. And it is all happening very fast. Hyperloop One – the company that builds both tracks and pods – has built a test track in Nevada. In October 2017 Richard BranWELCOME TO THE HYPER-NORTH! TEXT BY RISTO E. J. PENTTILÄ, CEO OF NORDIC WEST OFFICE PHOTOS HYPERLOOP ONE AND FS LINK
Helsinki Times Special Edition 43 Finland is one small step closer to realising what is probably one of the more ambitious transport projects in the world after the City of Salo signed a letter of intent with Hyperloop One, a start-up based in Los Angeles seeking to bring into life the vision of transporting people in pods at speeds exceeding 1000 kilometres per hour. The letter of intent will mark the launch of the first stage of the project: a detailed feasibility study on building a 50-kilometre hyperloop tube between Salo and Turku as part of a Proof of Operations Facility including a development center and an optimisation lab in the former Nokia/ Microsoft facilities. The transport concept is based on the vision of Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and Tesla. Hyperloop One and its Åland Islands-based partner, FS-Links, are serious about introducing the futuristic transport system in the Nordics. The companies announced recently on their websites that they have drawn up plans to build a 500-kilometre Hyperloop between Finland and Sweden in a project that would cost 19 billion euros and take 12 years to complete. The estimated travel time between Helsinki and Stockholm would be less than half-an-hour, according to the companies. The plans have received considerable attention worldwide among publications such as Fortune and Inverse. The latter, for example, reports that Hyperloop One is “considered the frontrunner in the race to take Hyperloop […] from concept to reality”. Think about a future where Tallinn, Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen would be connected by a Hyperloop transportation system linking them to Berlin and other European mega-cities. Text by Aleksi Teivainen, Helsinki Times son’s Virgin joined Hyperloop One as a strategic partner. If anyone can make a new technology happen, this team can. Will it happen? Much depends on developing a new regulatory system. A good example of the necessary interplay between technology and regulatory system can be found in mobile telephony. The NMT mobile telephony standard developed in the Nordic countries in the 1970s made it possible for Ericsson and Nokia to become global leaders in mobile telephony. No wonder Hyperloop One is thinking about establishing a full-sized test site in Finland. Getting regulation right is as important as getting the technology right. Think about a future where Tallinn, Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen would be connected by a Hyperloop transportation system linking them to Berlin and other European mega-cities. That would really be a step toward creating the “most integrated region” in the world: an example for the rest of Europe to follow. • Helsinki Times Special Edition 43
Helsinki Times Special Edition 44 Single and day tickets on your mobile phone via the HSL Mobile ticket app. Card or mobile payment. Download here:
Helsinki Times Special Edition 45 T he so-called “Finnish baby box” has become an integral part of mothering and parenthood in Finnish culture since the late 1930s, when the box was first gifted to every pregnant woman by the government. All the becoming mother has to do in return is attend a prenatal clinic before her fourth month of pregnancy. The boxes contain about 50 items of baby gear, including bodies, rompers, a snowsuit, socks, leggings, nappies, a bath towel, two bibs, personal care items such as a thermometer, a toothbrush, as well as a picture book and what will be the first toy for many newborn babies a floppy-eared dog that can be also used as a comfort blanket. The inclusion of a picture book has a positive effect, as it gives the children easier access to books and encourages them in later years to read. The box also contains a few items for the parents, such as a pack of condoms. Once the items are taken out, the box can be used as a bed or bassinet. This year, to celebrate Finland’s centenary as well as the baby kit’s 80th anniversary, 15 promising young visual artists were invited to design new illustrations for the box that portray Finland, Finnishness and Finnish culture. The three winners of the invitational competition organised by Kela were Robert Lönnqvist, Aya Iwaya and Ilona Partanen. In the end, a panel of child TO CELEBRATE FINLAND’S CENTENARY AS WELL AS THE BABY KIT’S 80TH ANNIVERSARY, THE 2018 EDITION OF FINLAND’S BABY BOX WAS REVEALED LAST THURSDAY. THE NEW DESIGN FEATURING WHIMSICAL CREATURES OF THE NATURE REPRESENTS FINLAND’S OPENNESS TO DIVERSITY. TO HONOUR THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MATERNITY PACKAGE PROGRAMME, SEVERAL EVENTS SURROUNDING THE FINNISH BABY BOX ARE ORGANISED THIS YEAR. Baby In The Box Text by Franka Kermer | Photo by Kela
Helsinki Times Special Edition 46 judges chose Lönnqvist’s design which shows among other whimsical creatures a bear, a seal, an elephant and a giraffe. The baby box programme begun as an attempt to reduce Finland’s once-high infant mortality rate. In the 1930s, about 65 out of every 1000 Finnish babies died in their first year. Families and mothers of lesser means did not have the money to afford proper clothes, and many parents slept in bed with their infants. The starter kit was meant to provide all Finnish babies with an equal start, including a safe separate sleeping space. Originally, there were three different maternity packages: one with items for the baby only, one with products for the mother only and one with items for both the newborn babies and the mother/parents. Today, Finland’s infant mortality rate is about 2.5 babies per 1000, one of the lowest rates in the world. Lönnqvist’s design for the 2018 maternity box represents his “hope for Finland to be an open country that respects diversity” (source: Kela). His inspiration for the illustrations came from his own childhood, and the memories and feelings it evoked in him. “I wanted to draw a connection between the peaceful slumber of a child and its parents’ dream of the child growing up safe and sound in tomorrow’s Finland. I hope that all of us in Finland and the rest of the world will be able to live in harmony and will teach our children to do the same,” Lönnqvist says (source: Kela). The content of the box has changed a lot over the years: In the 30s and 40s, it contained cloth, because many mothers sewed the baby dresses themselves. During the Second World War, however, the Ministry of Defence had an increased demand for cotton, so part of the material was replaced by sheets of paper and diapers. In 1968, parents were gifted a sleeping bag in the baby box for the first time, and a year later, disposable diapers “Finland’s Most Popular Box Celebrates a New Version for 80th Anniversary” • First baby boxes distributed in 1938 • Benefit offered under the Finnish social security system • Contains 50 products • Contents, colours and patterns change annually • Sent to approximately 35,000 recipients every year • Mothers can choose between a maternity package and a cash benefit of EUR 140 BABY BOX
Helsinki Times Special Edition 47 followed. These were replaced for environmental reasons around the turn of the century again by cloth diapers. One product, however, has been part of the starter kit from the very beginning: the gauze nappy. The maternity package programme has attracted international interest in recent years, with almost 30 countries offering free baby boxes to new parents. For example, in Argentina, so-called Plan Qunita were distributed to mothers and fathers of newborn babies. As of summer 2017, Scotland gifted the Scottish baby box to all parents of newborn babies. Along with the revamped look for the 2018 box, a new website had been designed to inform parents from Finland and all around the world about the maternity package*. The website offers extensive overviews of the history of the baby box, the products that come along with the box and other useful information around the baby box. For those who wish to explore the origins and development of the Finnish maternity package, they are invited to go and see the Baby in the Box exhibition held at the Helsinki University Museum. • *see https://aitiyspakkaus.kela.fi/web/ kela-maternity-package
Helsinki Times Special Edition 48 Oulun Työstökeskus Oy (Fine Machining Ltd.) manufactures high-quality rifle silencers in Finland. We design 6 different silencer models for air rifles, rimfires, and rifle suppressors for different calibers. Also, we produce other weapons accessories. More information: www.ouluntyostokeskus.com. Or send us an email: sak@ouluntyostokeskus.com We are a regular exhibitor at IWA-Outdoor Classic in Nürnberg, Germany. Come to see us in March 2018, booth 3-317! Chinese Tourists Spend Big in Finland I f you saw Asian tourists taking pictures in Helsinki 10 years ago, they would most probably have been Japanese. Not anymore. As the number of Japanese tourists has been decreasing, they have been replaced by Chinese nationals visiting Helsinki as part of their European or Nordic tour. According to a tourist survey by Visit Finland, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Helsinki increased by 35 percent last year and they spend more than any other group on products and services. Tourists spend on average 298 euros in Finland; while the average for Chinese tourists is triple, almost 900 euros; i.e. the highest spending per capita for tourists visiting Finland. In Helsinki region only, Chinese tourists spent around 214 million euros in 2016. No other tourist groups from other nations spends came close. Comparatively, visitors form Russia, the largest tourist group to Helsinki, spent almost half, 124 million euros. Chinese are the fifth largest group of tourists. One main reason for the dramatic increase has been the Via Helsinki strategy of Finnair with several daily direct flights to different population centres in China. Beijing to Helsinki, is only about 7 hours after all. • Ph ot o by Ju ss i H el st èn / V isi t Fi nl an d
Helsinki Times Special Edition 49 W hat comes to mind when you think about Finnish music? Most likely it will be Jean Sibelius, early 2000 hits like Freestyler by Bomfunk MC’s and Sandstorm by Darude, Eurovision Song Contest winners Lordi, superstars Sunrise Avenue or metal veterans like HIM, THE SOUND OF FINLAND TEXT BY NINA RATAVAARA Alma Nightwish and Amorphis. But there is much more to discover in Finland’s diverse music scene. Who, for example, would have known that songwriter Teemu Brunila co-wrote for David Guetta’s album and that young Finnish songwriters are increasingly leaving their mark as far afield as Germany and Asia?
Helsinki Times Special Edition 50 One name that has made their way from Finland into the world is Alma, the singer-songwriter with signature neon-green hair. She has been on an international roster since the release of her single, Karma, which became the second-most streamed Finnish song of the 2010s (after Hollywood Hills by Sunrise Avenue). There are also very few artists that get to perform their debut show at the prestigious Flow Festival in Helsinki, but Alma rocked the Black Tent in the summer of 2016 and the buzz around her keeps growing in the music scene and in media circles alike. By now, the outspoken young singer has released several successful singles and collaborated with acts such as Charli XCX. The artist has also played shows across Europe, including in the notoriously difficult to crack UK. It is impossible to say where the future will take her, but one can be sure that Alma is here to stay. Another artist who managed to land on his two feet in the UK is electronic musician Jaakko Eino Kalevi, who was the first Nordic act to be signed by the British label Domino Records. The former Helsinki tram driver has gained critical acclaim with his dreamy pop from the likes of Pitchfork and he was shortlisted for the Nordic Music Prize with his selftitled album. Not content keeping busy writing music and performing around the world, Jaakko Eino Kalevi also performs as part of Man Duo. There are many avenues into his musical universe. Less dreamy, but also incorporating some electronic elements into his rap, is 23-year-old Noah Kin, who has already released three albums. He is one of the few artists to rap in English in what is a mostly Finnishlanguage dominated hip hop scene. He has opened for the likes of Wiz Khalifa and Kendrick Lamar, which should tell you everything you need to know. And, of course, Finnish metal is still going strong as well. There are numerous Finnish metal bands are touring globally at any given time, but this year one name to mention is Battle Beast. The heavy metal band with energetic frontwoman Noora Louhimo embarked on their first world tour with the chart-topping alJa ak ko Ei no K al ev i / Ph ot o: H ar le y W ei r Battle Beast Photo: Juuso Soinio & Aki Anttila Noah Kin / Photo: Cocoa Music
Helsinki Times Special Edition 51 K ai ja Sa ar ia ho Ph ot o: M us ic Fi nl an d / M aa ri t K yt öh ar ju bum, ‘Bringer of Pain’, and rocked the stages of some of the most important metal festivals worldwide this year – doing Finnish metal proud. Finland is also well known for classical and contemporary music well beyond Sibelius. One of the most famed composers is Kalevi Aho, known for decades for composing for rare instruments and addressing political and societal issues in his art. For this, he for instance received the prestigious German ECHO Klassik award. Another key figure of Finnish contemporary music with a worldwide impact is Finnish composer, Kaija Saariaho. A pioneer in her field, she has had immense success with her operas such as L’Amour de loin, which Maija Kauhanen Photo: Antti Kokkola was the first opera for a century by a female composer to be staged at the MET in New York in 2016. Finland also boasts a rich musical tradition of folk music, with its unique instruments such as the jouhikko (bowed lyre) and kantele (a plucked-string instrument). These instruments have now been “electrified”, and a new generation of blending traditional tunes with modern song writing. One such artist combining kantele with modern beats is Maija Kauhanen, who released her debut album ‘Raivopyörä’ (“The Whirl of Rage”) this year. She was the only Finnish artist to perform at the esteemed World Music Expo WOMEX in Poland.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 52 These artists are not only keeping to Finnish music traditions – they are travelling the world and being inspired by what they hear. This might lead to interesting genres such as ‘Lapland-Balkan’, which is how Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha describe their music. They combine Finnish Iskelmä tunes with Russian and Balkan influences into a musical whirlwind that gets people dancing where ever they play one of their many shows. Another group that describes themselves using an interesting descriptor is Tuuletar (Goddess of the wind). The four women sing a capella and call their music “vocal folk hop”, which Tu ul et ar / Ph ot o: Tu ul et ar Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha Photo: Arttu Nieminen & Roosa Nevala Looking at this roster of diverse artists, the future of Finnish music looks promising and exciting. Tuomo Tähtinen, Executive Director at Finland’s music-export office Music Finland, agrees: “The Finnish music scene is very multifaceted and original right now – there are new discoveries to be made for every taste. Finnish pop music is certainly on an upswing internationally, and the future is looking bright for artists representing other genres as well.” • combines urban rhythms, beatboxing and traditional folk music. Their latest album, ‘Tules Maas Vedes Taivaal’, placed highly in the World Music Charts Europe for three months, taking them to perform live in as faraway Japan.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 53 Building projects. Leading professionals. www.fimpec.fi
Helsinki Times Special Edition 54 L ife without sauna is unimaginable for Finns, and that is why it is not surprising that about three million saunas exist in Finland. The word sauna originally refers to a Finnish steam bath in which steam is provided by water thrown on heated stones. In today's modern sauna, people soak in the steam vapour and heat that is created by splashing water, sometimes even other liquids, on the heated stones. You will almost always experience the marvellously tingling sensation on the skin, the scent that is created by fresh birch branches as they strike against the naked body to stimulate and enhance blood circulation, Helsinki’s Must-Visit Saunas and good company and the fact that various topics, including more private, sensitive matters (even political issues!), can be discussed without inhibitions. In Finland, the numerous types of saunas can be classified by the building itself or by the stove that is used to heat the stones; some of the most common sauna types include steam saunas, smoke saunas, electric stove saunas, wood stove saunas, collective saunas and portable saunas. In Helsinki, people can experience the magic and peace of authentic Finnish saunas in a number of places. Text by Franka Kermer Hot, hotter, hottest
Helsinki Times Special Edition 55 The “traditional” sauna At the very heart of Helsinki there are still three authentic public saunas that have been keeping the Finnish tradition going for decades. In the district of Kallio, the historic and city’s oldest public sauna Kotiharju Sauna, built in 1928, is the last traditional wood-burning sauna in Helsinki. In addition to sauna bathing, they offer massages and cupping, a traditional Chinese remedy. Other traditional public saunas worth visiting are Sauna Hermanni and Sauna Arla. With its vintage décor, old magazines and wood-panelled walls, Sauna Hermanni, open since 1953, transports you back in time. While cooling down after a hot steam, people can enjoy a cool drink and or sandwiches with sausages made by the owner. Photos by Harri Tarvainen / Visit Finland
Helsinki Times Special Edition 56 The “rebranded” sauna In an attempt to attract tourists and encourage the younger generation to embrace the traditional custom of sweating, two newly public saunas have been designed along the waterfront : Löyly and Helsinki Allas. Both saunas are built from ecologically friendly materials, and the simplicity that lies in the lines and shape of the buildings reflect Nordic architecture. For example, Löyly is entirely constructed out of wood and covers over 1800 square metres including the terraces. Löyly also features a restaurant, bar and nightclub, which have transformed the traditional sauna experience into a world-class event of dining, sipping wine and taking a steam. Helsinki Allas, or the sauna deluxe experience, is an oasis of urban culture just a stone’s throw away from the Presidential Palace and the Uspenksi Cathedral, overlooking the Baltic sea. In addition to three saunas, warm water and sea pools, an outdoor gym and restaurant services, cultural events such as concerts are offered all year round. The “extreme” sauna The modernist ecological sauna designed by Tuomas Toivonen and Nene Tsuboi in Merihaka district guarantees a fantastic urban sauna experience. Access to sea water in the harbour for cooling off between times in the sauna, a green, gardenlike relaxation area and a fire pit for grilling sausages are some of the features that make this a fabulous spot. The so-called Sompasauna, located on the island Sompasaari in Helsinki, is another extraordinary place to visit. The beautiful scenery is not the only factor that makes this place special. The public sauna, which reminds of a small summer cottage, was built from donated materials by a group of volunteers and features a small wood stove. Sompasauna is free for everyone to use during the summertime. For the third time in a row, Helsinki Urban Art, Visit Helsinki and Löyly organise the so-called Helsinki Sauna Day, next held in March, 2018. Helsinki Sauna Day is an event where the doors to the city’s private saunas are opened for everyone to enjoy. You may get invited to an apartment building to enjoy a sauna visit with locals, or you find yourself in a company’s private sauna throwing more water in the rocks. • Photos by Jussi Hellstén/ Visit Finland
Helsinki Times Special Edition 57 Photos by Harri Tarvainen / Visit Finland
Helsinki Times Special Edition 58 F INLAND IN NUMBERS Environment and Natural Resources % of population aged 16 to 89 | 2016 Smartphone in own use 72% Made online purchases 44% Uses the Internet several times per day 72% 88% Internet users Use of information and communications technology by individuals Did you know that in finland there are B o u n d a r i e s Sweden 614 km Norway 736 km Russia 1340 km Limit of territorial waters 1250 km Total 3940 km Total Area 390,908 km² Land area 303,912 km² Sea water 52,460 km² Fresh water 34,536 km² Highest point Halti 1324 m Longest river Kemijoki 500 km Source: Statistics Finland | Photo by Markus Kiili / Visit Finland Helsinki Times Special Edition 58 2.7 million men and 2.8 million women 2 million wage and salary earners
Helsinki Times Special Edition 59 Causes of death 2015 55 492 € million Loans, net 6045 € Miscellaneous revenues 5 298 € Total Revenue Taxes and other levies 41 663 € other levies 136 € on income and property 13 149 € on turnover 18 111 € excise duties 7 190 € other taxes 3 077 € Government Finance Central Goverment Budget 2017 in millions Public libraries 2016 743 Libraries 35 589 000 Collections 87 369 000 Loans 1 981 000 Borrowers 49 024 000 Library visits Diseases of the circulatory system Neoplasms Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease Accidents Diseases of the respiratory system Alcohol related diseases & accidental poisoning by alcohol Diseases of the digestive system Suicides Other causes of death Total deaths 19,365 37% 12,481 24% 8580 16% 2161 4% 1940 4% 1666 3% 1178 2% 731 1% 4200 8% 52,302 100% 47,00 legislators, senior officials and managers 3.3 million passenger cars 311 cinemas 2 million hectares of nature reserves
Helsinki Times Special Edition 61 Helsinki lights up for Christmas THE FINNISH CAPITAL PROVIDES A UNIQUE SETTING FOR CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS, OFFERING AN ARRAY OF CENTURIES-OLD TRADITIONS, SEASONAL ACTIVITIES AND SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES. Text by Aleksi Teivainen | Helsinki Times Photo by Krista Keltanen / Visit Finland Helsinki Times Special Edition 61
Helsinki Times Special Edition 62 “St. Lucia Day serves, for many, as a welcome reminder that the darkest time of the year is inevitably coming to an end.”
Helsinki Times Special Edition 63 The Finnish capital, the second northernmost capital in the entire world, typically gets its first snow cover well before the long-anticipated holiday season – between early November and early December. The snow may not be guaranteed to stay on the ground throughout the holidays, but, when it does, it changes the very complexion of the city, exuding a contagious kind of warmth and creating an almost magical contrast with the darkness that wraps the city for much of the day. An early taste of Christmas The holiday season officially gets underway with the opening of the Aleksanterinkatu Christmas Street. The opening ceremony annually brings out tens of thousands of locals and visitors eager to get an early taste of various seasonal treats, such as mulled wine and rice pudding, and marvel as one of the busiest shopping streets in the city is transformed at the flick of a switch into a dazzling spectacle of colour. The windows of the shops lining the street are also a feast for the eyes as proprietors contend for the attention of passers-by, earnestly reminding them of the fast-approaching season gift-giving. Stockmann’s elaborately decorated display window at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Keskuskatu is widely regarded as a must-see, especially for families with young children. A different kind of shopping experience can be found at the nearby Senate Square. Helsinki Christmas Market boasts well over a hundred stalls brimming with handicrafts, ornaments and holiday treats made by local artisans – not to mention a jolly atmosphere. A Christmas in Helsinki is a delightful mix of tradition and modern-day amusement. Traditions new and old As Christmas in Finland is traditionally a quiet family affair, locals tend to make the most of the few weeks leading up to it by partaking in seasonal activities and celebrations. Ice Park, an outdoor ice rink situated next to Helsinki Central, has become popular among locals and visitors alike. The ice rink is open daily, weather permitting, offering visitors an opportunity to hone their ice-skating skills, take their sweetheart for a twirl and take a well-deserved break from holiday shopping in a unique urban environment. With temperatures possibly plunging well below the freezing point, the adjacent café has a selection of hot drinks to help skaters and passers-by brave the cold and dark weather. St. Lucia Day serves, for many, as a welcome reminder that the darkest time of the year is inevitably coming to an end. The day, which used to coincide with the winter solstice, is celebrated in Helsinki with a procession led, in a horse carriage, by the newly crowned St. Lucia, who symbolises the triumph of light over darkness. The tradition has been upheld mainly by the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland but embraced by a growing number of Finns, as evidenced by the fact that over 30,000 people watch the procession light up the city year after year. Another centuries-old tradition that has been enjoying a resurgence is Tiernapojat (Eng. Star Boys), a song-filled enactment performed on the streets of Helsinki by groups of young boys in hopes of gratuities. Photo by Jussi Hellstén / Visit Finland
Helsinki Times Special Edition 64 A busy time for restaurants The weeks leading up to the holidays are also one of the busiest times of the year for bars, pubs and restaurants all over Helsinki, as locals start getting into the holiday spirit by hitting the town to celebrate pikkujoulu (Eng. Wee Christmas) with their friends, colleagues and fellow students. The celebrations are known to get rambunctious. Eating out is increasingly common also at Christmas, which has encouraged more and more restaurateurs to keep their doors open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Shops, similarly, are more likely to remain open throughout the holidays following the de-regulation of shop opening hours at the beginning of 2016. • Photos by Krista Keltanen / Visit Finland
Helsinki Times Special Edition 65 Ravintola Api is a new Nepalese restaurant located in Punavuori. Relocating to Helsinki in the summer of 2017, the restaurant was previously based in Kokkola. “We were known as the best Nepalese restaurant in town,” says owner Nirmal Gautam. “Because of our success in Kokkola we were able to come to Helsinki.” Nirmal moved to Finland from Nepal in 2013 and quickly decided to open the original Ravintola Api. “The new restaurant is quite different from other Nepalese restaurants in Helsinki,” explains Nirmal. “Our vibe is quite Scandinavian, although the food is completely South Asian.” So, what’s on the menu? “Choyala, which is marinated and grilled chicken with garlic, ginger and spices, is a typical Newari dish from Kathmandu. It’s very popular. Timur chicken or lamb is made with sichuan pepper and is very authentic. Then there’s fish, vegetarian and vegan options like tofu chilli. My personal favourite is paneer tikka masala,” says Nirmal. Diners can also stop by for lunch. There are up to eight options and the menu changes daily. “In the future we plan to introduce new dishes that originate from all over Nepal,” adds Nirmal. “Threeand four-course meals and taster menus with wine, too. We have lots of ideas, but maintaining the quality is our first priority.” Ravintola Api Annankatu 6, 00120 Helsinki 044-2440688 service@ravintolaapi.fi Monday to Thursday: 11:00 22:00 Friday: 11:00 23:00 Saturday: 12:00 23:00 Sunday: 12:00 21:00 Nepalese with a kick Text by Dan Anderson
Helsinki Times Special Edition 66 Restaurant 4 Vuodenaikaa Hämeenkatu 19, Kauppahalli 33200 Tampere 03 212 4712 • www.4vuodenaikaa.fi French bistro in the historical Market hall French bistro in the historical Market hall R estaurant Day is a worldwide food carnival and a movement that allows anyone to set up a restaurant, café or a bar. Pop-up restaurants can be opened and local food carnivals can happen anytime and anywhere: at your home, at the office, on a street corner, in your garden or inner courtyard, at a park, or on the beach – only your imagination is the limit. The event was founded and is facilitated by an association created by the Restaurant Day team of three Finns: Timo Santala, Kirsti Tuominen, and Antti Tuomola. During the first five years of quarterly global food carnivals all together over 27,000 pop-up restaurants by over 100,000 restaurateurs have catered for over 3 million customers in 75 countries. So no matter were you live, on restaurant day you can set up your table in the city centre and offer your bravura dish to the hungry crowd for a fee. Res taurant Day Here is some advice from the founders on how to do that: Start with the planning Coffee and cakes at the docks, treats from the trunk of a van, a sixcourse dinner in your living room – what does your own ideal restaurant look and taste like? Reach your customers Come up with a snappy name, and register your pop-up on the Restaurant Day map. Remember also to tell your friends and network about your upcoming restaurant. Be prepared for action Ask your friends to help out. Reserve enough time for preparing your food, have sufficient cold or hot storage space where needed. Next International Restaurant Day is on 18.02.2018 For more info,visit: www.restaurantday.org Ph ot os by Re st au ra nt D ay EAT & DRINK
Helsinki Times Special Edition 67 Kalevala, Finland´s national epic, has been sung, danced, filmed. Now it is also designed, to lift Finland´s national spirit and design into new heights. If you love Finland, you love this: Mai Niemi Finnish Fairytale is the national wearable fashion Kalevala. It is the story of the mystical North in an innovative modern and trendy way and yet pays tribute to the ancient Kalevala wisdom. Knits, accessories, jewellery, dresses; they all are one size, all ages, all seasons, all events pieces of art, simple and practical, spiced up with creative magic and folklore. Mai Niemi Finnish Fairytale Shop, Katariinankatu 4B, Senate Square, Helsinki Online shop: www.mainiemi.com Ice Park Returning to Helsinki Centre This Winter More than a skating rink, Ice Park hosts weekend music events, a Chinese New Year celebration, figure skating shows, and even rousette skating for the lovelorn. T he frozen wonderland, Ice Park now iconic of Helsinki’s centre is returning this December, bringing with it skating, cocoa, music, and a host of popular events to distract from the cold. Two days before Finland’s 100th birthday, Ice Park will return to Helsinki centre until March 2018. More than a skating rink, Ice Park hosts weekend music events, a Chinese New Year celebration, figure skating shows, and even rousette skating for the lovelorn. “One of last year’s highlights was a performance by Canadian Olympic figure skater Gary Beacom,” says Nea Granlund , Ice Park’s Producer. “With Gary and his team, we plan to organise figure skating lessons.” Ice Park also has a cosy café for those seeking a mug of cocoa or some sparkling wine. The admission fee is: adults 6€, children 3€, and discount 4€, and skates can be rented for 6€. Ice Park is next to Helsinki Central Railway Station. Ice Park can be booked for private events (250€+VAT) and if you are a beginner, you can even book skating lessons. See for yourself! Bird eye view of Helsinki and surrounding islands. For opening hours and more info, visit www.skywheel.fi SKYWHEEL HELSINKI Text by Dan Anderson
Helsinki Times Special Edition 68 H ernesaaren Ranta (HSR), an urban area offering various events and culinary specialities during the summer, is idyllically located at the seaside promenade on the beach of Hernesaari, thus creating a summertime atmosphere right in the heart of Helsinki. “The creative mind behind HSR is Seppo Koskinen, a visionary and restaurateur, who wanted to create an unprecedented and unique place for all summer-related things and thoughts”, tells Aapo Mattsson. Since the opening of HSR in the summer of 2015, the area has expanded quite a bit, and now also features several kiosks on the sundeck and terrace, a designated sunbathing area and an open-air sauna complex. Visitors to the summertime oasis can enjoy a varied programme of weekly gigs, public screenings of World Championships, Olympic Games, Ice Hockey games, Midsummer and summer parties (such as the Spotlight Festival) as well as water sport events. Embracing the customer’s wish to attend high-end parties while also holding on to traditional and local roots seems to work the 200,000 visitors in 2017 certainly Trendy Summer Venue would certainly agree. When asked about the atmosphere at HSR, Aapo Mattsson replied: “It feels like you have arrived somewhere in southern European beaches, not few miles from Helsinki city centre.” Last summer, a number of highprofile artists and legends of the Finnish music industry like Kaija Koo, Antti Tuisku, Sanni and Eppu Normaali attracted thousands of people to listen to upbeat music and enjoy their time under the Finnish sun. Finnish Midsummer was celebrated with well-known artists in a cottage-like atmosphere, and the Spotlight Festival brought together emerging artists from Finland and international big-hitters. Visitors can expect top names from Finnish charts and awesome events in 2018 too. For culinary-interested visitors, HSR offers a variety of foods prepared and served from eight different food vendors, ranging from Middle Eastern to Thai and Mexican food restaurants. The team of the Super Bowl restaurant, for example, create their dishes in line with the beachy, breezy, trendy and light atmosphere of HSR. • Embracing the customer’s wish to attend high-end parties while also holding on to traditional and local roots seems to work – the 200,000 visitors in 2017 would certainly agree. Opened in 2015 Creative mind behind the concept is Seppo Koskinen Attracted about 200 000 visitors in 2017 Weekly gigs, public screening, food vendors, sundeck Hernesaaren Ranta Is More than just a Summertime Oasis www.hernesaarenranta.fi Text by Franka Kramer Photos Hernesaarenranta
Helsinki Times Special Edition 69 Pekka Kauhanen Pekka Kauhanen: Taketoy, 2014 hamhelsinki.fi where to go MUSIC Sun 10 December Benny Törnroos and the Moomins Benny Törnroos is a FinlandSwedish actor and singer who is known for singing the theme songs for the animated series of the Moomins in both Finnish and Swedish. Kulttuuritalo, 10:30 Sturenkatu 4 Tickets: 17€ / 65€ (4-person family ticket) www.kulttuuritalo.fi/en/events Until Sun 10 December We Jazz 2017: Timo Lassy & Teppo Mäkynen As one of the most popular annual jazz happenings in Helsinki approaches its final, closing night, Finnish jazz musicians such as Timo Lassy & Teppo Mäkynen will perform live to celebrate the release of their new 7” vinyl single on We Jazz Records. Korjaamon kulmasali, 19:00 Töölönkatu 51 a-b Tickets: 26€ / 20€ www.wejazz.fi Wed 13 December The Magic Flute This production portrays an entirely new perspective on the fantasy world of the opera, featuring the combination of animation and live singers presenting the beautiful music of Mozart. Finnish National Opera, 19:00 Helsinginkatu 58 Tickets: 15-109€ www.oopperabaletti.fi/en Wed, Thu 13–14 December Christmas på Lillan: Nöjesbolaget Emilia Nyman and Arttu Takalo will take the stage at Lilla Teatern to perform classic American Christmas songs in English, including those made famous by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Lilla Teatern, 19:00 Yrjönkatu 30 Tickets: 14.50€-29€ www.hkt.fi Thu 14 December FRSO & Lintu & Finley The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra will perform Kaija Saariaho’s True Fire composition at this season’s closing concert with soloist Gerald Finley and conductor Hannu Lintu. Helsinki Music Centre, 19:00 Mannerheimintie 13A Tickets: 9€-35€ www.musiikkitalo.fi Compiled by Sheila Surban
M aritime Center Vellamo’s two museums are hosting historical Finnish exhibitions relating to glass design and tourism in Finnish history. The Glass for Everyone exhibition opened on May 19, 2017, and portrays the history and relevance of the Karhula glass works from 1889 until 2009. Known for both artistic and practical glass production, Karhula glass factory had an impact on the day-to-day lives of Finns before becoming known internationally in the 1930s. The physical design of the display was arranged by Partanen & Lamusuo Oy, and contains mostly authentic artifacts from the Milan Triennial (1933, 1936), and the World Fairs (Barcelona 1929, Paris 1937, New York 1939), as well as the original Finlandia vodka bottle design by Tapio Wirkkala. “The exhibition is based on our own glass collection, which belonged to Karhula Glass Museum,” says curator Vesa Alén. Karhula glass works opened in 1889 and closed in 2009. It was a major employer in the region for many decades and formed a large part of the community’s identity, and thus the exhibition is closely linked to Finnish industrial history. “Karhula glass works was one of the pioneers of Finnish glass design in the 1930s, so the exhibition has both local and national significance,” Alén continues. Museum-goers also have a new exhibition this month called Come to Finland, which displays a collection of posters from the 1890s to the 1960s that were designed to promote tourism in Finland. Designed by “poster-hunter” Magnus Londén, the exhibition will be an edited version of the same display from the National Museum in Helsinki earlier this spring, says curator Erik Tirkkonen. Around sixty posters are on display, not only showing the language used to draw tourists to Finland, but also discussing design, art and how the various modes of transportation have developed. “This is a good exhibition to present, especially this year when Finland is celebrating her 100th anniversary,” Tirkkonen says. “The exhibition shows that Finland has always been international and outwardly oriented. Many of the designers are famous artists, architects, etc., but not known for their posters.” The Maritime Center Vellamo in Kotka was designed by Ilmari Lahdelma and opened in 2008, and is host to both the Maritime Musteum of Finland and Kymenlaakso Museum. Glass for Everyone will be on display in the Kymenlaakso Museum until January 21st, 2021. Come to Finland opened in the Maritime Museum of Finland on December 3, 2017, and closes April 29, 2018. • For more information about the exhibitions please visit: www.merikeskusvellamo.fi Come to Kotka GLASSWORKS AND FINNISH TOURISM POSTERS ON DISPLAY IN MARITIME CENTER VELLAMO Text by Amy Wiseman / Helsinki Times This page is a paid advertisement. WHERE TO GO Helsinki Times Special Edition 70
Helsinki Times Special Edition 71 WHERE TO GO Over 4000 hotels in more than 100 countries For reservations call our toll free line | +358 (0)800 12010 or book online www.bestwestern.fi ® Wherever Life Takes You, Best Western is There. ® Sun 17 December Club for Five: Jouluna 2017 The Finnish vocal quintet, Club for Five, will sing Christmas music in Finnish. Kulttuuritalo, 15:00 Sturenkatu 4 Tickets: 39.50€ / 45.50€ www.kulttuuritalo.fi/en/events Wed 20 December Joseph Calleja The Maltese opera singer Joseph Calleja, known as one of the most acclaimed and soughtafter tenors, will perform at Finlandia Hall. Finlandia Hall, 19:00 Mannerheimintie 13 e Tickets: 89.50-238€ www.finlandiatalo.fi THEATRE AND DANCE Sun 10 December Janina Rajakangas: Teini The Teini (Teenager) workgroup showcases Janina Rajakangas’s choreography with a combination of chaos, grace, injustice and harmony. Zodiak Centre for New Dance, 15:00 Tallberginkatu 1B Tickets: 11.50€27.50€ www.zodiak.fi Tue 12 December The Nutcracker and the Mouse King Young ballet dancers from the Finnish National Opera ballet school will perform a heartwarming Christmas Eve magic ballet dance performance together with the FNB dancers to the music of Tchaikovsky. Finnish National Opera, 19:00 Helsinginkatu 58 Tickets: 15€-109€ www.oopperabaletti.fi/en Tue 26 December Peppi Pitkätossu Peppi Pitkätossu (Pippi Longstocking) is a popular character Fri 15 December Kazuki Yamada & Antti Siirala Headlining the repertoires of Anton Webern, Selim Palmgren and Ludwig van Beethoven, Finnish pianist Antti Siirala will also perform Palmgren’s most popular compositions together with Japanese conductor, Kazuki Yamada. Helsinki Music Centre, 19:00 Mannerheimintie 13A Tickets: 7€-36€ www.musiikkitalo.fi/en Sat 16 December Fork: Revolution Fork is a contemporary a cappella group, who will perform their new show with dramatic, turbocharged audio visuals along with their trademark humour and glamour. Alexander Theatre, 19:00 Albertinkatu 32 Tickets: 42€ / 50€ www.aleksanterinteatteri.fi
from the series of children’s books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. This theatrical production will entertain children and adults alike. Helsinki City Theatre, 12:00 Eläintarhantie 5 Tickets: 17€-45€ www.hkt.fi EXHIBITIONS Sun 10 December Stories of Finnish Art The Ateneum Art Museum is the home of Finland’s oldest and largest collection, including the Stories of Finnish Art exhibition, which portrays the developments of the Finnish arts from 1809 to the 1970s. The exhibit is on continuous display until the 31 December 2020. Ateneum Art Museum, 10:00 Kaivokatu 2 Tickets: 13€-15€ www.ateneum.fi Until Thu 14 December Anne Pietarinen – Glimpses of brief moments This exhibition showcases Anne Pietarinen’s drawings of momentary observations in simple colours. Malmitalo, 9:00 Ala-Malmin tori 1 Free entrance www.malmitalo.fi MUSEUM CENTRE VAPRIIKKI ALAVERSTAANRAITTI 5, TAMPERE TEL. +358 3 5656 6966 | WWW.VAPRIIKKI.FI THE HIGHLIGHTS OF FINNISH ICE HOCKEY HOCKEY HALL OF FAME FINLAND Folklandia Cruise 2018 To celebrate its 23rd anniversary, Folklandia Cruise invites friends of folk music and dance to experience a fun and entertaining event with a “With all the trimmings the living heritage of folk music and dance” theme onboard a cruise ship at sea. Folklandia festival is the biggest winter folk music and dance event, organised by Pispalan Sottiisi since 1996. Guests are welcome to enjoy performances from over 100 folk singers and dancers from across Finland and Europe. The highlights of the event are the ‘Finnish championship of Tikkuristi’, ‘Folklandia Gala’ and the ‘Huutokatrilli’. The Finnish championship of Tikkuristi, which starts at 12:30, is a competition to determine who is the quickest of the guest participants. The Folklandia Gala will announce the winners of the Folk Music and Dance awards at 18:30. At midnight, Huutokatrilli opens its doors to all to dance along to the music accompanied by a folk band. The event takes place onboard the Tallink Siljan M/S Silja Europa ferry, which departs on Friday 12 January from the Helsinki West Harbour at 18:30 and returns the next day at 16:30. Folklandia Cruise 2018 Fri 12 to Sat 13 Jan 2018, 18:30 Tickets: 130€ Tallink M/S Silja Europa Helsinki West Harbour Terminal 1. Tyynenmerenkatu 8 www.folklandia.nuorisoseurat.fi/in-english/
Until Sat 16 December Hanna Oinonen Collection This exhibition presents Hanna Oinonen’s collection with the theme: “Most lives vanish. A person dies and, little by little, all traces of that life disappear.” Malmitalo Gallery, 9:00 Ala-Malmin tori 1 Free entrance www.malmitalo.fi Until Sun 17 December Dream tapestries The Dream tapestries exhibition showcases the empirical world of Finnish literature classics and new books. Annantalo Art Gallery, 10:00 Annankatu 30 Free entrance www.annantalo.fi Until Sun 24 December Christmas Calendar The students of Annantalo Art Centre will open a new door every day, with exciting Nostalgia and modern times a recipe for handicraft that will interest the whole family. Take a journey through time and the many faces of crafts. Might contain insightful and Might contain insightful and unique experiences! Open Tue-Sun 11 am to 6 pm Free entry on Fridays. www.craftmuseum.? Craft Museum of Finland Kauppakatu 25, 40100 Jyväskylä +358 14 266 4370, craftmuseum.info@jkl.? OSMO RAUHALA MIRROR TEST The Cultural Oasis of Helsinki Until 28.1.2018 Tue-Sun 11-18 Guided tours English: first Saturday of the month 12:00 Finnish: Sat & Sun 13:00 Swedish: Sun 12:00 www.didrichsenmuseum.fi 010 2193 970 Kuusilahdenkuja 1 Helsinki surprises as each Christmas Calendar opens in December at Annantalo’s yard. Annantalo, 10:00 Annankatu 30 Free entrance www.annantalo.fi Until Sun 7 January 2018 Kohtaamisia This exhibition displays a series of photos of ordinary Russians, their everyday lives, food culture and stories. Stoa, 10:00 Turunlinnantie 1 Free entrance www.stoa.fi/en Thu 21 December to Sat 20 January 2018 Jukka Lappalainen The Interior of the Forest This exhibition features paintings, image pairs and panoramas by artist Jukka Lappalainen. Malmitalo Gallery, 9:00 Ala-Malmin tori 1 Free entrance www.malmitalo.fi Until Sat 27 January 2018 Yhteen punotut Concreatives The Stoa Gallery will dedicate two months of inclusive handicraft art that highlights the Concreatives collective, featuring a combination of traditional handicrafts and weaves made by designers from various backgrounds. Stoa, 10:00 Turunlinnantie 1 Free entrance www.stoa.fi/en STEAK HOUSE S I N C E 1 9 8 6 Eteläesplanadi 24, Helsinki +358 (0)9 611 217 www.manhattansteakhouse.fi SAME EXCELLENT TASTES ALSO IN FORUM SHOPPING CENTER (0-FLOOR)
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