Development programme for sustainable maritime industry supports the sector’s international growth

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has launched a development programme for sustainable maritime industry. The starting point for the programme work is maintaining Finland’s maritime industry as a competitive employer in the country’s different regions. Climate objectives and digitalisation will create new demand and business opportunities as long as the sector invests heavily in competence and innovation, productivity, internationality, exports and cooperation.

“Low-carbon technologies, digital solutions and efficient value chains are the key to success in the maritime industry too. Global competition requires closer cooperation between those involved in the sector and long-term renewal of skills and competences. This new programme will strengthen partnerships and ensure that public support measures are effective,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä.

Director Jarmo Heinonen from Business Finland has been appointed chair of the development programme's steering group.

“The maritime industry plays an important role in the Finnish business life. At the moment, the marine industry faces great challenges and opportunities that are related to climate change and the requirement to reduce emissions. This national programme is important because it brings together different actors to promote the competitiveness of the Finnish maritime industry in a sustainable manner,” Heinonen says. 

The programme’s coordination measures aim at a more efficient use of resources and an increased leverage effect. To achieve the objectives, the programme will define a joint development area, with the help of which the measures and their suitability will be concretised and, if realised, serve as a specimen of skill in the field. The programme steering group will decide on the development area in autumn 2022.

Maritime industry significant for Finland

The maritime industry plays an important role in the economy and employment in Finland, both nationally and regionally. In 2020, nearly 1,100 companies with a combined turnover of EUR 7.65 billion operated in the maritime industry and employed 25,400 people. Approximately 90 per cent of the value of the products generated was exported.

The Finnish maritime industry comprises equipment manufacturers, turnkey suppliers, design agencies, software and system suppliers as well as shipbuilding, boat building, repair and offshore shipyards. 

“Finland’s maritime industry has been and continues to be one of the world’s leading supplier clusters for innovative and energy-efficient ships and ship systems. The Finnish maritime industry aims to develop solutions for carbon-free and emission-free shipping, and this programme strongly supports this objective. We are very pleased that the sustainable marine industry development programme can be launched in these challenging times to achieve the ambitious environmental objectives,” says Jyrki Heinimaa, chairman of the board of the Finnish Marine Industries Federation and member of the steering group. 

The project will continue until the end of 2023. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is responsible for the implementation of the sustainable maritime industry development programme, with the help of the steering group. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment appointed representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Business Finland, Finnish Industry Investment, Finnvera, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Finnish Marine Industries Federation to the steering group. A report published in 2021 proposed the implementation of the programme.

Inquiries: 
Anita Silanterä, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 256
Jarmo Heinonen, Senior Director (Innovation ecosystems, industries), Business Finland, tel. +358 50 557 7790