This is how Vantaa speeds up businesses’ growth – preconditions for success attract top brands into the city

Vantaa is the center of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, with the fastest road connections in all directions in congested Finland: the airport, four motorways, Ring Road III, the Ring Rail Line, and the upcoming Vantaa light rail make Vantaa a logistics hub.  

One of Vantaa’s specialties is the Helsinki-Vantaa airport, which is a particular advantage for international companies or those aiming for it.  Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is one of the busiest airports in Northern Europe, and has been voted the best airport in Europe for several years. 

Discover business and workplace plots:

• Commercial plots | Vantaa

Vantaa to become the next light-rail city

The Vantaa light rail is the largest investment in the city’s history, and 60,000 new residents and 30,000 jobs are coming along its route.    

The tracks bring permanence to the city and facilitate future commuter traffic.  Several commercial and office premises for companies have already been zoned along the route – find out more about the light-rail route and construction:  About the light rail | Vantaa  

The light rail is currently being planned and is scheduled to be completed in 2029. 

Aviapolis – Finland’s second largest labor-market center 

Aviapolis, located next to the airport, is Finland’s fastest-developing business center, which has great economic significance:  Vantaa's airport area currently produces just under four percent of Finland’s gross domestic product.

Did you know? The Aviapolis area is not only in the middle of Vantaa, but also in the middle of the entire metropolitan area 

More than 17,800 companies operate in Vantaa across multiple industries.  At the end of 2023, the largest number of jobs in Vantaa were in wholesale and retail trade (18%) and in transportation and storage (15%).  Administrative and support services formed the third-largest sector (11.1%), followed by manufacturing (10.9%). 

Compared with the six largest cities in Finland, Vantaa had the highest share of private‑sector jobs in 2023 — as much as 69 percent. In municipalities and wellbeing services counties, the share was 14 percent, in state‑majority‑owned companies 6 percent, and in central government 3 percent.  Meanwhile, entrepreneurs accounted for 7 percent.  

Vantaa is home to both large international corporations and innovative local companies.  The combined turnover of businesses in Vantaa exceeded 36 billion euros in 2024. 

The number of new companies established in Vantaa has remained fairly stable for several years.  In 2024, 2,374 new companies were founded in the city. 

International Vantaa 

Internationality is visible both in the business landscape and among residents.  Almost 30 percent of Vantaa’s population now speaks a language other than Finnish, Swedish, or Sami. From a business perspective, a diverse and international talent pool enriches work communities and provides a competitive advantage in global markets.  

Did you know? Over 700 of Finland's 4,000 international businesses operate in Vantaa.

Read more:

• Talent Vantaa | Business Vantaa
• Business Spotlight: IKEA’s Practical Approach to Diversity and Inclusion | Business Vantaa
• Business Spotlight: Fazer’s Recipe for Global Success | Business Vantaa

Well‑known and major employers in Vantaa 

Vantaa hosts many familiar and significant companies:  

• Finnair – Finland’s national airline and Vantaa’s largest corporate employer, with around 4,000 employees.
• Fazer – Fazer’s Vantaa confectionery factory produces 13 million Fazer Blue chocolate bars each year.  The Fazer Experience Visitor Centre is located in Vaarala, Vantaa.
• Kesko – Several Kesko logistics centers are located in Vantaa, including a deep‑freeze warehouse storing about 3,600 product categories at –21°C.  
• Vaisala – A global leader in measurement technology enabling climate action.  Vaisala employs over 1,500 people in Vantaa.
• Tikkurila Plc – One of Finland’s best‑known paint and coatings brands, whose operations began in Vantaa’s Tikkurila district already in 1862.
• Sensofusion – Sensofusion provides drone countermeasure systems for military and law‑enforcement use.  The company has exported its technology to, for example, the war zone in Ukraine.
• Vantaan Energia (Vantaa Energy Ltd) – Vantaa’s electricity network spans 3,700 kilometers.
• Okmetic – A silicon wafer manufacturer that chose Vantaa as its permanent location thanks to logistics, accessibility, and smooth cooperation with the city (helsinginuutiset.fi).
• Suunto – Known for watches and compasses, among other things; the company’s headquarters and production facility are located in Tammisto, Vantaa.  
• Marioff – One of Vantaa’s key high‑tech companies, supplying sprinkler and fire protection systems worldwide.  

In Vantaa, businesses, educational institutions, and other stakeholders work together continuously through collaboration, co‑creation, and active networking.

Did you know? Vantaa won the European Rising Innovative City award in 2023.  

Vantaa hosts numerous events that make meeting people and forming new connections easy.  The largest of these is the annual Trade and Commerce Day (Elinkeinopäivä), which brings together more than 500 entrepreneurs, business representatives, stakeholders, and the city's decision-makers.  

In February 2026, a new Business Vantaa Hub workspace and event venue opened next to the Jumbo shopping center, within the Leija Business Service Center. The hub provides companies, entrepreneurs, and partners with a low‑threshold meeting place.   

Explore all business premises and co‑working spaces at: Facilities | Business Vantaa

Key business clusters

The following three major business clusters operate in Vantaa. The Food Cluster, the Logistics Cluster, and the High‑Tech Cluster. These clusters are collaboration networks that bring together key actors in the local business ecosystem — companies, educational and research institutions, and the City of Vantaa.    

The purpose of this cluster work is to solve the problems faced by the developing city together with businesses and educational institutions. Examples of the key themes to be promoted include, among others:  

• Food Cluster: developing food culture through events, 
  supporting access to skilled staff through student cooperation, turning food waste into new business opportunities, and exploring opportunities for food exports through strengthened collaboration.
• Logistics Cluster: developing air cargo operations, advancing sustainable practices, and separate projects such as the Logistics Laboratory and urban aviation.  
• High‑Tech Cluster is the newest cluster in Vantaa’s portfolio. Its goal is to develop Vantaa’s Vehkala district into a new “Silicon Valley.”  

Did you know? Vantaa’s food waste project won the Milan Pact Awards 2025, a prestigious international recognition in the food sector.

Did you know? More than half of Finland’s semiconductor industry revenue is generated in Vantaa.

Vantaa’s startup scene is growing and international — The share of female founders clearly exceeds the European average 

Vantaa has a diverse startup landscape that stands out positively compared to other cities: it is highly international, and female entrepreneurs are notably well represented.  According to a 2024 report, Vantaa is home to 70 active startup companies, of which 29% are software companies, 16% operate in IT business, and 13% work in the field of education and educational technology. 

In 2024, the coworking space Startup Runway opened near the airport, encouraging collaboration and shared innovation among startups.  Startup Runway offers an inspiring environment equipped with resources and mentoring.  Moreover, in 2025, Vantaa either organized or co‑organized ten events aimed at startups. 

Familiarize yourself with Vantaa’s startup report: The Startup Scene in Vantaa is Growing and International – The Proportion of Female Founders Far Exceeds the European Average | Business Vantaa

Partnering with educational institutions 

There are two universities of applied sciences in Vantaa: Laurea University of Applied Sciences and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences — both of which collaborate closely with businesses and the city to support development and innovation.  Vantaa also has several upper secondary and vocational institutions, the newest being Varia’s modern Vehkala campus. 

At the Tikkurila Competence Campus, currently under construction, a cross‑sector partner network will be created, offering services unique in Finland.  The Competence Campus will bring together students, educational institutions, training partners, employees, and companies to jointly address the challenges posed by a changing world of work.  

The city‑established Business Vantaa Hub will also operate at the campus, helping connect employers with employees.  The Competence Campus will provide strong conditions for collaboration between private and public sector actors. 

Business Vantaa consists of the City of Vantaa, Vantaan Yrittäjät (Vantaa Entrepreneurs), the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce, and Varia Vocational College. Together, we help companies grow and succeed in Vantaa. 

Our experts across the city’s different departments support all companies — small, new, growing, or large. You don’t need to know in advance whom to contact — we will help you find the right specialist. A simple way to get started is to send us an email: business.vantaa@vantaa.fi 

Contact our Business Location Services