A proper introduction to Finland always covers the concept of ‘sisu’. 

Often cited as the defining characteristic of the Finnish spirit, sisu roughly translates as determination, perseverance and resilience. In English, it’s what we might call ‘grit’.

To be resilient also means to be prepared for the challenges the world brings. Finland has long embraced a mindset of preparedness, shaping its society to defend against outside threats, protect critical infrastructure and maintain the Finnish way of life. 

With the ongoing transformation of the world’s security landscape, Finland is now turning its sisu mindset to developing digital technologies and solutions that strengthen the country’s resilience. Much of this work builds on longstanding Finnish strengths in cybersecurity, telecommunications, automation and public-private sector cooperation. 

Finland is now turning its sisu mindset to developing digital technologies and solutions that strengthen the country’s resilience.

Finland is inviting international companies and likeminded public bodies to share in these efforts. By offering a collaborative environment for innovating, testing and deploying technologies that support resilience, the country aims to help other countries prevent and recover from disruptive events too.

“Resilience is in Finland’s DNA. We have learnt a lot over the decades about how to protect our borders and keep critical infrastructure and society safe,” says Kirsi Kokko, Head of Defense and Digital Resilience program at Business Finland. 

“With the deterioration of the world’s security architecture, this Finnish know-how in building resilience is important to the international community. There is a lot of local innovation happening and our companies are open to collaboration.”

Quantum-level security knowledge

Central to Finland’s push for increased resilience are the local companies developing so-called dual-use technologies – solutions that serve both civilian and defense purposes. 

“Dual-use technologies are gaining momentum, as tech companies operate on much shorter development cycles than traditional defense firms. By connecting companies with partners like our VTT public research organization, we’ve helped to create a number of innovative and competitive solutions,” explains Kokko.

VTT has been instrumental in advancing post-quantum cryptography (PQC), collaborating on national projects like PQC Finland to guide the country’s preparedness.

While quantum computing promises revolutionary advancements in fields like medicine and logistics, it also poses significant risks to traditional encryption methods. PQC aims to counter this threat by developing new encryption standards that can withstand quantum attacks.

“The Finnish cybersecurity ecosystem is very collaborative, as is often the case in Finland. Our low-hierarchy structure and strong partnerships across sectors make it easy for international companies to work together and grow here."

One of the companies in this space is Bittium, headquartered in Oulu – often regarded as the home of Finnish telecommunications. The company’s portfolio includes the Bittium Tough Mobile™ ultra-secure smartphone, approved for “NATO Restricted” level of use. Bittium’s SafeMove® Mobile VPN software incorporates quantum-safe encryption to protect against cyber threats.

Another important player is SSH. Best known as the creator of the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol – now a global standard for secure remote access and data transfer – the company safeguards critical digital communications across multiple industries. SSH is heavily focused on PQC.

“Our cybersecurity ecosystem is very collaborative, as is often the case in Finland. Public and private organizations work together to drive innovation in technologies that are important for national security,” explains Kokko. 

“Finland’s low-hierarchy structure and strong partnerships across sectors make it easy for international companies to collaborate and grow here. We host many groups who come to learn about our dual-use technologies and explore how they can benefit too,” she says.

Significant growth in the dual-use sector

A survey by Finland’s state-owned investment company Tesi highlights rapid growth in the country’s dual-use sector. Some 144 companies serving the defense industry are startups and growth businesses, with dual-use technologies showing 30-40% increases in net sales – the highest growth among the categories analyzed. 

Some of the fastest growing companies are those developing so-called ‘new space’ technology. Iceye has emerged as a global leader in synthetic-aperture radar satellites for observing the planet under all weather conditions. Kuva Space is building the world’s largest constellation of hyperspectral-imaging satellites.

Another notable dual-use technology company is Kelluu, a specialist in hydrogen-powered airships for aerial monitoring. Based in Joensuu – near Finland’s eastern border – Kelluu provides high-resolution data for environmental surveillance and critical infrastructure inspection.

Helsinki-based Varjo is a leading developer of high-resolution virtual and mixed-reality headsets for dual-use applications. The company’s products are used across various industries, including aerospace, automotive design and medical training.

One of the most significant moves Finland has made in the dual-use space is to open a NATO accelerator and two test centers.

A number of dual-use ecosystems and clusters are springing up across the country. The city of Riihimäki – some 70 kilometers north of Helsinki – has established the Define Accelerator, backed by European VC firm Redstone. The initiative brings traditional defense industry companies together with startups. The city of Tampere also hosts a security cluster that fosters collaboration between different sectors. 

One of the most significant moves Finland has made in the dual-use space is to open a NATO accelerator and two test centers. NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) is an alliance-wide initiative aimed at developing dual-use technologies.

The DIANA accelerator in Finland is a collaboration between VTT, Aalto University and the University of Helsinki. It focuses on next-generation communication systems and quantum technologies. 

The DIANA test centers are located at VTT’s headquarters near Helsinki and at the University of Oulu in northern Finland. The Oulu center specializes in 6G network technologies – another area in which Finnish leadership is opening the door to global collaboration.

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