The SUBMARINER Network in Finland

All Country Profiles

Blue bioeconomy is one of the key projects of the Finland’s previous Prime Minister Juha Sipilä´s Government programme for the 2025. Blue bioeconomy in Finland is defined as business that is based on the sustainable use of renewable aquatic resources and water expertise. Good status of waters is the foundation of a successful blue bioeconomy and achieving and maintaining this supports the development and marketing of blue bioeconomy products and services. Key sectors are water expertise and technology, tourism, making use of aquatic biomass and the value chain of fisheries. Digitalization is largely used in new processes. Biotechnology is also important in Finland, but most of it is not based on aquatic resources. Overall bioeconomy in Finland is mostly concentrated on forestry and agriculture (bioenergy, novel food products, new biodegradable materials, circular economy).

Lead Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

The Blue Bioeconomy in Finland

Key Facts

Population: 5,5 million (as of 2019)
Area: 338,440 km²
1,250 km coastline
19 regions & 311 municipalities
Finland has the 14th larges national economy in the world measured by nominal gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and 24th largest in the world measured by purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita (2018)
13 universities and 23 universities of applied sciences
Finland has approximately 178,947 islands and 187,888 lakes
Finland has free education, also at the university level
Finland was ranked as #1 in the World Happiness Index 2018 and 2019
The largest industries are electronics, machinery, vehicles and other engineered metal products, forest industry and chemicals.
Blue bioeconomy has been identified as one of the strategic priorities in the Government Programme 2025 in Finland
Out of Blue – Research and competence building agenda on the blue bioeconomy (2018)