This document provides an overview of the life sciences and health tech ecosystem in the Helsinki region of Finland. Some key points:
- Helsinki has a large talent pool of over 29,000 people working in life sciences and exports in Finnish health technology grew over 8% in 2014.
- The region is a top 10 global location for medical research and among the top choices in Europe for starting an mHealth business.
- Major universities include the University of Helsinki and Aalto University, and there are over 300 companies operating in health tech.
- Leading areas of expertise include oncology, neurology, gastroenterology, and nutrition/dietetics. Finland also has many health data registries and biobanks for
2. THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
HELSINKI HAS A
LIFE SCIENCES
TALENT POOL
OF AROUND
29 000 PEOPLE
EXPORTS OF FINNISH
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY
GREW 8.3% TO A NEW
RECORD OF €1.8
BILLION IN 2014
A TOP-10 RESEARCH
LOCATION GLOBALLY
IN 34 OUT OF 39 FIELDS
OF MEDICINE
AMONG THE 1ST
CHOICE COUNTRIES
FOR STARTING
mHEALTH BUSINESS
IN EUROPE
HELSINKI IS HOME TO
TWO WORLD-CLASS
UNIVERSITIES:
UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI
AND AALTO UNIVERSITY
FINLAND HAS
OVER 300
COMPANIES
OPERATING IN
HEALTH TECH
THE LEADING AREAS OF FINNISH EXPERTISE IN HEALTH
TECH & LIFE SCIENCES INCLUDE ONCOLOGY, CLINICAL
NEUROLOGY, GASTROENTEROLOGY, CARDIOLOGY,
EMBRYOLOGY AND NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
FACTS & FIGURES
FINLAND HAS MOST
PROFESSIONALS
WORKING IN R&D
INTHE WORLD PER 1M
POPULATION (7482)
FINLAND
IS RANKED
3RD IN GLOBAL
INNOVATION
IN 2015
THE CORPORATE LIFE SCIENCES SECTOR
IN THE HELSINKI REGION HAS PERSONNEL
OF 21 000 AND REVENUES OF
€8.5 BILLION (2014).
3. THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
ECOSYSTEM OVERVIEW
CITIES
HELSINKI
VANTAA
ESPOO
HELSINKI
BUSINESS HUB
CAN HELP YOU
CONNECT
WITH…
TALENT
HEALTH CARE SPECIALISTS
ENGINEERS – BIG DATA & SOFTWARE
R&D SCIENTISTS
ACADEMIC SCIENTISTS
SALES & MARKETING
COMPANIES
MNC’S
SPECIALIZED HEALTH COMPANIES
STARTUP ECOSYSTEM
ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITIES
UNIVERSITIES
UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI
AALTO UNIVERISTY
LAUREA UNIVERISTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
METROPOLIA UNIVERISTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
RESEARCH & INDUSTRY
ORGANIZATIONS
HUS / HUCH
HYKS INSTITUTE
HEALTH CAPITAL HELSINKI
VTT
TEKES
SITRA
FIHTA
PIF
WORLD’S MOST
ADVANCED TESTBED
NATIONAL BIOBANKS
HEALTH DATA REGISTRIES
LARGE SAMPLE RESEARCH RESULTS
PILOTING OPPORTUNITIES
PUBLIC/PRIVATE COOPERATION
ACCESS TO
OTHER MARKETS
EU CERTIFICATIONS
NATIONAL PROGRAMS TO
GLOBALIZE, R&D AND GROWTH
5. High medical research
in relevant fields, especially for Silver age
Finland #1
in clinical medicine
Citations per paper:
1. Finland: 18.35
2. Denmark 18.25
3. The Netherlands 17.87
Thomson Reuters’ Essential
science indicators database
1998-2008.
Finland #1
in cancer research
Citations per paper:
1. Finland: 26.4
2. USA 22.4
3. Switzerland 21.7
Lab Times’ cancer research
analysis covers publications from
1998–2009
World-leading
center
in neuro science
Basic and cognitive
neuroscience
Imaging
Surgery
38% of publications in
top scientific journals
(2015)
7. DATA REGISTRIES – CASE FINNISH CANCER REGISTRY
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
• The Finnish Cancer Registry maintains a nation-wide database on all cancer cases in Finland going back to 1953. It is also
an internationally active institute for statistical and epidemiological cancer research.
• The Finnish Cancer Registry and its staff are highly recognized both among the scientific community and the health care
sector in Finland. The output of the Registry is widely used in research, administration, and health education on all levels.
• All this improves the quality of the registration activity and is likely to contribute towards complete coverage and high
data accuracy in the Registry.
• Every year about 80 scientific papers are published based on the data and know-how of the Finnish Cancer Registry
• More than 22,000 new cases of cancer are currently registered each year, plus some 4,500 basal cell carcinomas of the
skin and smaller amounts of some other lesions.
• The Registry file is annually matched with the Cause of Death Register located at Statistics Finland, and regularly linked
with Central Population Register.
Source: Cancer Society of Finland
9. EXTENSIVE HEALTH DATA IN REGISTRIES
Organisations using
the national services
through their systems
International
connection
(epSOS, Cef)
Access for
citizens
Based on
international
standards Supporting services
National data repository
E-prescriptions
Patient data (patient record)
Social care data
Personal health and wellbeing data (2017)
10. 18.4.2018 Kaisa Silander
10
Name of register Data included in register Keeper Digital since
Hospital Discharge Register (HILMO)
Discharge from inpatient care (hospitals and all social institutions,
such as elderly care homes and institutions for the mentally
disabled), treatment and diagnoses information
THL 1967
Cancer Register
Cancer patient information from hospitals, pathology, laboratory
measurements, etc.
THL 1953
Register of Congenital Malformations
Congenital chromosomal and structural anomalies detected in
stillborn and live born infants and foetuses
THL 1963
Drug Reimbursement Registers Disease that is being treated, and medication used Kela 1967
Medical Birth Register
Information on all births in Finland, from gestation week 22+0 or
birthweight 500g
THL 1987
Cause-of-Death Register
Death certificates, including underlying cause of death, direct cause
of death, intermediate causes of death and contributing causes of
death.
Statistics Finland 1969
Register on Social Benefits under the
National Sickness Insurance
Social benefit information Kela 1967
Register on Pensions Work pension information, age of individual, type of pension
Finnish Centre for
Pensions
1962
Central Population Register
Continuous census on all Finnish citizens and permanent residents,
information on family relations (stillbirths are not registered)
Central
Population
Register
1973
Finnish health registries
11. DATA-DRIVEN HEALTHCARE ECOSYSTEM
build-up in Greater Helsinki
SOURCE: KIMMO KASKI, AALTO UNIVERSITY
Data-driven
healthcare
technologies
Data Repository
Data Analytics
Predictive Modelling
Aalto University
Life Science
Medical expertise
University of Helsinki
Helsinki University Hospital
Data Collection Infrastructure
Helsinki Metropolia
University of Applied
Sciences
Digital Health Technologies
Tech firms & Finnish Health
Healthtech Finland
Consortium for Data-Driven Healthcare Ecosystem build-up is enlarging: Nokia/Digital Health labs, BC
Platforms, Medixine, BCB Medical, Noona Healthcare, FMI – ilmatieteenlaitos, CSC – Tieteen Tietotekniikan
keskus, Väestöliitto…
12. TALENT – EXPERTISE ACROSS ALL KEY SPECIALTIES
THE LARGEST AREAS E.G. BIOCHEMISTRY, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
21 000
17 700
14 100 14 000 13 100
11 700
10 700
7 200 6 400 6 400 6 200 5 700
4 300
2 700 1 900
0
5 000
10 000
15 000
20 000
25 000
FINLAND - EXPERTISE IN SPECIALIST LIFE SCIENCES SKILLS
Source: Oxford Intelligence 2014
13. A BLEND OF EXPERIENCE AND NEW TALENT
42 % HAVE MORE THAN 5 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
Source: Oxford Intelligence 2014
31%
28%
31%
10%
Less than 2
years
2-5 years
5-10 years
10 years or
more
GREATER HELSINKI - YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN
A TECHNICAL LIFE SCIENCES ROLE
48%
29%
13%
8% 2%
GREATER HELSINKI - EDUCATION LEVEL OF
LIFE SCIENCES PROFESSIONALS
Master's Degree
Doctorate/Licentiate
Bachelor's Degree
Vocational education
High school
14. RICH CROSS-INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
ALMOST 40% OF LIFE SCIENCES PROFESSIONALS HAVE ALSO WORKED IN ANOTHER SECTOR
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
Source: Oxford Intelligence 2014
39%
34%
34%
33%
Food
science
Engineering
ICT
Cleantech
FINLAND - % OF LIFE SCIENCES PROFESSIONALS WITH OTHER TECHNICAL SKILLS
15. OVER 3000 LIFE SCIENCES GRADUATES ANNUALLY
FINLAND UNIVERSITY GRADUATIONS IN LIFE SCIENCES 2015:
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
Source: Finnish National Board of Education
FIELD
BACHELOR'S OR
MASTER'S DEGREE
DOCTOR'S,
LICENCIATE'S OR OTHER
SPECIALIST DEGREE
TOTAL
DENTISTRY 146 42 188
MEDICINE 625 848 1 473
PHARMACY 395 29 424
HEALTH SCIENCE 732 41 773
VETERINARY MEDICINE 139 45 184
TOTAL 2 037 1 005 3 042
16. SELECTED ECOSYSTEM SUCCESS STORIES
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
Noona is a mobile service, created
with leading experts in HUS
Oncology Department, which
allows cancer clinics and hospitals
to monitor patients’ health
development during and after a
course of cancer treatment. The
cooperation will open new doors
for Noona in MSD's international
client network and promote its
faster move to global markets.
NOONA
HEALTHCARE IN
R&D CO-OP
WITH MSD
THERMO FISHER
SCIENTIFIC
ACQUIRED
FINNZYMES
BAYER’S
NORDIC
HEADQUARTERS
GE ACQUIRED
INSTRUMENTARIUM
BLUEPRINT
GENETICS
RAISES
FUNDING FOR
US EXPANSION
MEDISAPIENS
COLLABORATES
WITH GSK &
BAYER
In 2010 Thermo Fisher Scientific
acquired the Finnish Finnzymes,
whose extensive know-how in PCR
and qPCR technologies as well as
collaboration with academic and
industry research led to several
innovative commercial products.
Today Thermo Fisher has a Finnish
R&D centre in Vantaa and
production facilities in Joensuu..
In 2011 German pharmaceutical
company Bayer established its
Nordic and Baltic headquarters in
Espoo, which is now home to one of
Bayer’s largest clinical research
units. Bayer’s focus areas in Finland
include use of polymers in medicine
dosing, as well as contraceptives
and hormonal treatment. Bayer
also has a manufacturing site in
Turku.
In 2003 GE Healthcare acquired
Instrumentarium, a large Finnish
medical technology company.
Instrumentarium specialized in
patient monitoring, anesthesia and
imaging technologies. Today GE’s
unit in Helsinki is one of it’s global
centers of research and
development in patient monitoring,
anesthesia and healthcare
information systems.
Blueprint Genetics provides
genetic diagnostics of rare diseases
based on Next-Generation
Sequencing (NGS), targeted for
hospitals and research groups. The
aim is to disrupt the market by
decreasing the price level of
genetic diagnostics significantly
while increasing quality and adding
clinical insight to the results
statements.
MediSapiens and Bayer developed a
platform for genomics data
management and analysis in
Oncology. The platform enables
Bayer to more effectively utilize
genomics data in oncology
research. In collaboration with GSK,
MediSapiens presented an entirely
new pipeline for performing fast
and powerful Pan-Cancer
identification of fusion genes.
17. UNIVERSITIES & RESEARCH
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
AALTO UNIVERSITY
http://www.aalto.fi/en/
• 6 schools, 20 000 students and 4 500
employees, of which over 400 professors
• Health and wellbeing (H&W) is one of the
university’s seven key research areas.
• Six subareas of H&W: Biomedical Engineering,
Neuroscience and Neurotechnology,
Biotechnology, Biomaterials, and Chemistry
in H&W, Digital Health, Management in H&W
and H&W Architecture and Design
• Expertise includes medical and wellness
devices, data science and software
engineering for healthcare and wellbeing,
biomaterials, biotechnology, and
pharmaceuticals
• Aalto Health Platform is a collaborative
program for joint work with partner
organizations in H&W. Its role is to support
H&W research activities and facilitate
technology transfer towards innovations and
startups and the broader high technology
industries
laurea UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
https://www.laurea.fi/en
• 7700 students and 520 staff members
• 4 fields of studies: Business, Nursing, Social
Services and Hospitality Management
• The strategic goal is to be an international
developer of well-being and competitiveness in the
Helsinki metropolitan area in 2020.
• Learning through research, reflection and
development activities carried out together with
teachers, other students and workplace actors.
• Laurea's fields of expertise in RDI activities focus
on expertise in nursing work and coping at home,
service business activities, security and social
responsibility, as well as entrepreneurship and
innovations.
• Laurea has created the Learning by Developing
(LbD) model as a tool for reaching its strategic
goals and implementing them in practice at the
Laurea Living Labs Network. Living labs are
authentic environments that clients and users
identify as their own, where innovation is utilized
and accepted as part of one’s own life or as an
element that reform one’s work.
HELSINKI UNIVERISTY /
HELSINKI UNIVERISTY HOSPITAL - HUS
https://www.helsinki.fi/en
• The leading teaching hospital in Finland
• 2,3 million visits annually, 22 000 employees
and revenues of 2.0 billion euros
• one of the biggest PACS archive in the world
• more than 3 million samples in HUS biobank
• several specialties – such as oncology,
pediatric cardiac surgery and
transplantations– where treatment outcome
is among the best in the world
• ranked among top 10 in Europe regarding
academic medical research
• active corporate co-operation in acid-
testing, evaluation, challenging, simulation,
user panels, pre-clinical and clinical trials,
testbed services, usability-testing and
development, and many other services
• For medtech, pharma and other companies’
access point to HUS services is via Health
Capital Helsinki (more on HCH next page)
18. UNIVERSITIES & RESEARCH
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
Clinical Research Institute Helsinki University
Central Hospital
http://www.hyksinstituutti.fi/index.php?page=10
6&lang=2
The company conducts contract-based
research in the entire Hospital District of
Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS)
• The doctors and nursing staff are highly
qualified and have the full support of the
Faculty of Medicine in the University of
Helsinki.
• Continuous collaboration with University
Hospitals in the EU and the USA and the
international network of awarded scientists
guarantee that HUS has the latest
information of the best practices in all fields
of medicine.
Health innovation village at ge
https://www.facebook.com/healthinnovlge
• Digital Health ecosystem hub and co-
working space
• Houses over 25 startup companies
• The home of StartUp Health Finland, the
largest Digital Health accelerator in the
world
TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF
FINLAND - VTT http://www.vttresearch.com/
• VTT is the leading research company in the
Nordic countries
• 2,600 personnel, annual budget of €277M
• Helping customers develop new
technologies and service concepts in the
areas of digital health (health monitoring,
human data analysis and application &
service design), wearable technologies and
diagnostics
• one of the largest R&D programs for optical,
electrical, biological and molecular sensing
solutions in Europe
BIOMEDICUM
http://www.biomedicum.com/index.php?page=1
05&lang=2
• startup physical space, located in HUS,
allows companies in health area research to
do collaboration with HUS
• Concentrated on helping health companies
grow and develop their business
19. • HCH provides easy collaboration & connections
through public & private sectors – one entry point to
get in touch with the entire life sciences ecosystem in
the Helsinki region:
• Research expertise, universities and biobanks
• Product & business development
• Life science and health tech’s innovations, clinical
research & its personnel
• Interesting startups and growth companies
• Funding organizations (e.g. Tekes has reserved
2,5M€ for product development in this area)
• Marketing and communication channels
• Co-creation and co-development with the Health
Capital Helsinki alliance, its wide network and
access to large population
HEALTH CAPITAL HELSINKI
http://www.healthcapitalhelsinki.fi/en/
20. OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
THE FINNISH HEALTH TECHNOLOGY
ASSOCIATION – FIHTA
www.finnishhealthtech.fi
• Association for all Finnish companies in the
health technology business.
• The purpose is to represent the growing
Finnish health tech sector and monitor the
common interests of its member companies
to improve their business environment.
• FiHTA forms a substantial forum for
communication, cooperation and networking.
It maintains firm contacts with its interest
groups and customers in the health sector.
THE FINNISH FUNDING AGENCY FOR
INNOVATION – TEKES
http://www.tekes.fi/en/
• Tekes is a publicly funded expert
organization for financing research,
development and innovation in Finland
• Boosts wide-ranging innovation activities in
research communities, industry and service
sectors and is an active game builder in
selected fields, incl. wellbeing and health.
• Offers innovation funding and services to
internationalizing companies and support
efforts to attract foreign investment in
Finland.
• The Bits of Health programme pursues to
make Finland a renowned expertise and
business hub for digital health
• The programme offers funding for
research, development and innovation
projects. Co-creation with end-users
and piloting in early developmental
phase in real user environments in
encouraged.
PHARMA INDUSTRY FINLAND - PIF
http://www.pif.fi/en
• Organization bringing together innovation-
driven companies based in life science
research and development.
• Focus on lobbying, external communications
and partnership building and internal PIF
operations and related communications
THE FINNISH INNOVATION FUND – SITRA
http://www.sitra.fi/en
• Public fund aimed at promoting new
operating models and stimulate business
that aims at sustainable well-being.
• Carries out practical experiments, compiles
cross-boundary networks and develops and
finances business operations
• Operations are funded from the returns of
endowment capital and capital investments,
which means that Sitra receives no funding
from taxes or the state budget.
21. EASY ACCESS TO EU MARKETS
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
• CE marking signifies that products sold in the European Economic Area (EEA) have been assessed to meet high
safety, health, and environmental protection requirements.
• CE certification also helps to achieve a quicker path for FDA approval
• Better private – public partnerships provides a strong baseline for entry into larger EU markets such as the UK
market
• The high quality of our public health care system and cost-effectiveness
• National R&D and Growth programs to reach other markets: Asia, North America, Africa
25. MED TECH
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
• Health technology is Finland’s now largest hi-tech sector (nearly half of all hi-tech exports) and medical
equipment its fastest growing field - exports of medical equipment rose over 10 % to €1.3 billion in 2014
• Healthtech exports have increased at an average annual rate of 9 % for two decades
• Product trade statistics actually understate the export prowess of Finnish healthtech, as several multinational
companies have large R&D operations in Finland without associated product manufacturing in Finland
• Recent notable activities in med tech in the Helsinki region include e.g. the founding of GE Health Village and
Fischer Scientific’s Acquisition of Instrumentarium, tying the excellence in Engineering with the Health Sciences
• Helsinki offers many collaboration opportunites in med tech, such as with Aalto University and HYKS institute
• Wearables & sensor development, Opticals – Helsinki’s expertise have attracted MNCs that are looking for top-
notch engineers with tight R&D collaboration
26. 1ST MEDICAL DEVICE CYBER SECURITY
PROJECT IN THE WORLD
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
• Medical device cyber security studies on how to deal with the development of medical devices for optimum
performance while deterring system-wide attacks
• TEKES (The Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation) funded platform, with strong ties to HUS and the
government
• The 1st noted Governmentally Supported Project that focuses on the effects of a changing global climate where
cyberterrorism can and has happened
• Looking for Global Partners to collaborate on the industry standards
27. EXAMPLES OF COMMERCIAL R&D IN MED TECH
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
COMPANY REVENUE M€ PERSONNEL DESCRIPTION
GE Healthcare 305 659
Finnish HQ in Helsinki is one of GE’s patient monitoring R&D centers. Also anesthesia and healthcare
software development. Home to GE Health Innovation Village, a campus for healthtech startups.
Thermo Fisher Scientific 143 697
Product development, sales and marketing in Vantaa, production in Joensuu. Finnish R&D focuses
on analytic devices, chemicals, reagents and other supplies for laboratory environments.
Philips Medical Systems MR Finland N/A 80
Part of the global Philips Healthcare group. Vantaa site develops innovative minimally invasive
therapy solutions based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging guidance.
Varian Medical Systems 21 128
Varian Medical Systems Finland is located in Helsinki and designs and develops state-of-art
radiation therapy treatment planning products.
Planmeca Group 750 2670
Finnish Planmeca is a global leader in digital dental units, 2D and 3D imaging devices, and
comprehensive CAD/CAM and software solutions. HQ in Helsinki.
Palodex Group 133 337
Finnish Palodex is nowadays part of US based Danaher Corporation. Designs, manufactures and
markets devices for dentomaxillofacial, ENT (ear, nose and throat) and head and neck imaging for a
global customer base.
Sartorius Biohit Liquid Handling 30 166
Finnish Biohit sold its liquid handling business to Sartorius in 2011. The majority of electronic
pipettes used worldwide are developed and manufactured by Sartorius Biohit Liquid Handling.
Finnish HQ in Helsinki, factory in Kajaani.
29. CANCER TREATMENT
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
• Cancer research is one of Finland’s major competitive advantages in the global research field
• The Helsinki University Central Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center (HUCH CCC) is the first Nordic
institution accredited by the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI).
• Establishing a National Cancer Centre took a major step forward in April 2016 with the Government’s decision
to provide funding for this purpose during the next four years
• Innovative treatment platforms - Not just looking at the patient from the clinical aspect, but also emotional,
thus treating the entire patient, not just the disease
• Partnerships with public agencies and HUCH are made very easy to reach into the research ecosystem and as a
testbed
• Ease of doing clinical trials with one of Europe’s biggest Patient Care Databases, that will be combined in the
next few years under a new law with physical samples in one of the most complete Biobanks in the world
30. EXAMPLES OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL R&D
IN CANCER TREATMENT
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
COMPANY REVENUE M€ PERSONNEL DESCRIPTION
Bayer 740 800
Nordic HQ in Espoo, production in Turku. Espoo is home to one of Bayer’s largest clinical research
units. Finnish expertise areas include use of polymers in medicine dosing as well as contraceptives
and hormonal treatment.
Novartis 133 184
Located in Espoo – pharmaceutical sales and clinical research. Additionally, Sandos AS sells generic
drugs and Alcon Nordic AS eye surgery products.
Pfizer 132 126
Helsinki site focuses on oncology, vaccines and consumer healthcare and conducts clinical research.
On their website Pfizer state that one of their missions is to increase life sciences sector investment
in Finland.
Janssen-Cilag (Johnson & Johnson) 130 141 Sales organization of one of the world’s largest pharma companies. Espoo.
GlaxoSmithKline 112 110
GSK implements clinical medicine and vaccine research together with its Finnish partners. The
company’s research team in Finland consists of 20 professionals who work in co-operation with
academic research institutions, hospitals and private medical services providers. Espoo.
Santen 105 459
Santen’s European R&D centers are located in Tampere and France. Clinical research and marketing
office in Helsinki. Tampere also has a production site. Focus areas are ophthalmic and anti-rheumatic
pharmaceuticals.
Roche 94 90
Especially focused on personalized medicine, cancer treatment, arthritis, neurological illness. 30
ongoing clinical research projects in Finland. Espoo.
Sanofi 90 89 Sales office of French pharma company, located in Helsinki. European R&D in France and Germany.
AbbVie 62 94 Biopharmaceuticals sales organization located in Espoo.
31. EXAMPLES OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL R&D
IN CANCER TREATMENT
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
COMPANY REVENUE M€ PERSONNEL DESCRIPTION
AstraZeneca 61 53
Biopharmaceuticals sales organization located in Espoo. HQ in London and head R&D facility in
Södertälje, Sweden.
MSD (Merck & Co) 30 109
Espoo sales and marketing organization focusing on cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, cancer,
osteoarthritis, women’s health and infectious diseases. Also conducts around 30 clinical trials in
Finland annually.
Merck 18 20
Sales organization of the German pharma and chemicals company. Therapeutic areas in Merck
Finland’s pharma product area include Oncology, Multiple Sclerosis, Fertility, Endocrinology (growth
disorders and diabetes) and Cardiovascular Diseases.
Amgen 15 35 Biopharmaceuticals sales organization located in Espoo.
Eli Lilly 13 65
Global pharma company focused on diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, CNS and heart disease. Sales
and marketing in Helsinki.
32. EXAMPLES OF FINNISH COMMERCIAL R&D
IN CANCER TREATMENT
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
COMPANY REVENUE M€ PERSONNEL DESCRIPTION
Orion Oyj 1 017 3 493
HQ in Espoo, most of R&D and manufacturing in Finland. Core R&D therapy areas include central
nervous system (CNS) disorders, oncology and respiratory. Orion Diagnostica focuses on diagnostic
test systems.
Biohit Oyj 4,6 50
Globally operating Finnish biotech company. Develops diagnostic tests for the early detection and
prevention of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Glykos Finland 3,4
N/A.
(2013: 38)
Analytical services to characterize glycans. Partners with pharmaceutical companies in new
molecules development. Applications in e.g. cancer treatment.
33. PILOTING OPPORTUNITIES
CASE – HELSINKI UNIVERSITY CENTRAL HOSPITAL
COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER (HUCH CCC)
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
• The goal of the HUCH CCC’s “Kertomalla paranee” (eng. =
“improve by telling”) project is to holisitically develop cancer
treatment and patients’ quality of life.
• The project first gathers improvement suggestions openly
via #kertomallaparanee webpage & campaign, out of which
HUCH CCC then chooses and refines ideas to start co-
developing with companies.
• The project gives an unique opportunity for companies
operating in the area to co-create and test their product
directly with the future client & end-users.
42. GENOMICS & PRECISION MEDICINE
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
• Biobank Helsinki – 50 years of collecting samples +
continuously new ones (& legislation to support)
• Data sequencing in action
• Big data ecosystem:
• i.e. Blueprint Genetics, BC platforms, Medisapiens
• High global interest already for Finnish genomics testbed
• Ideal development location for precision medicine as well
• Finland with its small population is a good test case location
for EU markets
Research
institution
Focus
areas
Institute for Molecular
Medicine Finland (FIMM)
human genomics and
personalized medicine
Biocentrum Helsinki
molecular biology, experimental
biomedicine, biotechnology
University of Helsinki -
Faculty of Biosciences
genetics, bioinformatics
43. STRENGHTS IN GENOMICS & PRECISION MEDICINE
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
• Reliable and comprehensive registries and population databases since the 1950’s
• Nationwide electronic patient data repository and MyData
• Strong tech capabilities
• Relatively isolated gene pool
• Existence of a legal framework for biobanking and willingness to further develop the legislative framework
• Strong tradition of genetics research & active research in the field of personalized medicine
• Very positive attitude of the population towards research
44. BY THE YEAR 2020, GENOMIC DATA WILL BE EFFECTIVELY USED IN
HEALTHCARE AND IN THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND WELLBEING
• Ethical principles and legal framework are available
for the application of genomics
• Genomics research is integrated into healthcare
• Healthcare workforce have the knowledge and skill
to apply genomic information
• Informatics infrastructure is in place for effective
application of genomics
• Genomic information is widely used in healthcare
to meet the needs of individuals and the population
• People understand and are able to make effective
use of genomic information to improve their own
health
• In genomics, Finland is an attractive research and
innovation environment for collaboration and
investment
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
45. GENOMICS & PRECISION MEDICINE COMPANY ECOSYSTEM
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
COMPANY ESTABLISHED DESCRIPTION
BC platforms 1997 genomic data analysis
Genoscoper 1995 DNA-based animal diagnostics
MediSapiens 2009 gene expression database
Blueprint Genetics 2008 genomic data analysis, big data
Euformatics 2010 genomic data analysis
Oligomer 2004 synthetic DNA and reagents
Significo Research 2012 genomic data analysis
Biomedicum Genomics 2007 genomic data analysis
51. DIGITAL HEALTH
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
• Healthy ecosystem that contains mobile apps development, wearables and professionals that are willing to test
them in real-world environments
• Use of digital health and development to enable more self-care and independence
• Inclusion of Chronically Conditions in Digital Health for better Quality of Life
• Digital Health Applications geared to Geriatric Populations
• Use of Digital Health as a Holistic view of Treatment
52. DIGITAL HEALTH –
THE ISAACUS PROJECT
http://www.sitra.fi/en/well-being/well-being-data
• “Isaacus – the digital health hub”, is a project focused
on gathering and co-ordinating well-being data.
• From a single access point, Isaacus will provide data
concerning well-being – such as patient,
demographic and lifestyle data – and open data
gathered from various registers and sources. When
gathering and processing this data, special attention
will be paid to the protection of privacy, data security
and the individual as the key decision-maker
• Citizens will be able to view their own data and use it
to maintain their personal well-being. Unhindered use
of data generated by society will lead to better care
and treatment, boost the service production and
research, and help the business sector to regenerate.
• The work will be done in extensive collaboration with
the public and private sectors and NGOs.
53. IHAN PROJECT
HUMAN-DRIVEN DATA ECONOMY
www.sitra.fi/en/topics/human-driven-data-economy/#latest
• Significant amounts of data are collected from individuals for systems administered by
companies and organisations. Nowadays data is administered mainly by whoever collects it.
• We are building an ecosystem for a fair data economy, together with citizens and different
organisations. Our goal is to produce an international IHAN® account system for data
exchange, which is similar to the IBAN system commonly used in the world of banking, and to
create rules at the EU level.
• Project produces an EU-level road map for a fair data economy, develops and tests a
technical platform for information exchange.
54. EXAMPLES OF COMMERCIAL R&D IN DIGITAL HEALTH
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
COMPANY REVENUE M€ PERSONNEL DESCRIPTION
Mawell 24 47 HQ in Oulu, office in Helsinki and other Nordic capitals. Healthcare software.
Whitelake Software Point 11 98 Laboratory informatics, healthcare, biobanking and lab intelligence software.
Mediconsult 7,5 67 Healthcare software solutions. Located in Helsinki.
Medixine 1,6 15 Telehealth solutions. Located in Espoo.
55. EXAMPLES OF COMMERCIAL R&D IN PHARMA
THE HELSINKI REGION HEALTH TECH & LIFE SCIENCES
COMPANY REVENUE M€ PERSONNEL DESCRIPTION
Bayer 740 800
Nordic HQ in Espoo, production in Turku. Espoo is home to one of Bayer’s largest clinical research units. Finnish expertise
areas include use of polymers in medicine dosing as well as contraceptives and hormonal treatment.
GlaxoSmithKline 120 110
GSK implements clinical medicine and vaccine research together with its Finnish partners. The company’s research team
in Finland consists of 20 professionals who work in co-operation with academic research institutions, hospitals and private
medical services providers. Espoo..
Medix Biochemica 15 92
Finnish biotechnology company that develops, produces and markets monoclonal antibodies, antibody services and
recombinant antigens for IVD industry as well as diagnostic rapid tests. Building IVD and pharma network in Finland with
Tekes funding.
MSD (Merck & Co) 30 109
Espoo sales and marketing organization focusing on cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis,
women’s health and infectious diseases. Also conducts around 30 clinical trials in Finland annually.
Novartis 133 184
Located in Espoo – pharmaceutical sales and clinical research. Additionally, Sandos AS sells generic drugs and Alcon
Nordic AS eye surgery products.
Orion Oyj 1 017 3 493
HQ in Espoo, most of R&D and manufacturing in Finland. Core R&D therapy areas include central nervous system (CNS)
disorders, oncology and respiratory. Orion Diagnostica focuses on diagnostic test systems.
Pfizer 132 126
Helsinki site focuses on oncology, vaccines and consumer healthcare and conducts clinical research. Pfizer state that one
of their missions is to increase life sciences sector investment in Finland.
Roche 94 90
Especially focused on personalized medicine, cancer treatment, arthritis, neurological illness. 30 ongoing clinical research
projects in Finland. Espoo.
Santen 105 90
Santen’s European R&D centers are located in Tampere and France. Clinical research and marketing office in Helsinki.
Tampere also has a production site. Focus areas are ophthalmic and anti-rheumatic pharmaceuticals.
Verman 33 55 Pharmaceutical and food supplement R&D, production and sales.
56. INTERESTED? WE’RE HERE TO HELP!
www.helsinkibusinesshub.fi
Marcello van Rossum
Senior Business Advisor
Health tech & life sciences
tel. +358 40 729 5583
marcello.vanrossum@hbh.fi
57. INTERESTED? WE’RE HERE TO HELP!
www.helsinkibusinesshub.fi
Kimmo Koponen
Senior Business Advisor
Health tech & life sciences
tel. +358 44 757 2244
kimmo.koponen@hbh.fi