Developing a competitive and sustainable food system is a key part of Finland’s national strategy. Business Turku and the University of Turku are working together to strengthen the development and growth of the food sector in Southwest Finland by supporting companies’ innovation activities and bringing industry stakeholders together into a shared network.
The first meeting of the Food Sector Network will take place on 26 March 2026 in Turku.
Join the network by contacting Lauri Seppälä!
Business Turku and the University of Turku are launching a collaboration to increase research, development and innovation (RDI) in the regional food sector. The aim is to significantly grow RDI investments, support business growth, and raise the level of processing, international competitiveness and export potential of Finnish food products.
– Through the strong network collaboration initiated with the University of Turku, we are now bringing together actors across the entire value chain — from primary production to industry, services and the restaurant sector. This work strongly supports Turku’s position as a food city and improves companies’ opportunities for export and growth, says Minna Arve, CEO of Business Turku.
Development efforts focus on food technologies, novel food products and protein sources, and sustainable cultivation solutions. The region also invests in products and nutrition solutions that promote health and well‑being.
– Our region’s food sector companies hold enormous innovation potential, which we can now harness through close regional cooperation. We can move quickly thanks to a strong ecosystem of actors and expertise across both industry and research, says Lauri Seppälä, Senior Specialist at Business Turku.
Supporting a Better Understanding of Consumer Needs
The food industry in Southwest Finland employs over 16,000 people, with actors ranging from primary production to advanced research and new product development. The University of Turku, for example, has a long-standing history in food and nutrition research as well as education in the field.
– The university’s strong research expertise and the multidisciplinary Flavoria® research platform offer companies the opportunity to develop solutions with clear future market demand. We want to strengthen the transfer of knowledge into companies’ development and innovation activities, says Senior Researcher Ella Koivuniemi from the University of Turku’s Food and Nutrition Research Centre.
To support the success of new food innovations, a new operating model is being created to help companies better identify genuine consumer needs and respond to market demand both in Finland and internationally.
A New Network to Boost the Ecosystem’s Vitality
Business Turku is establishing a Food Sector Network to support the regional value chain and broader food ecosystem. The network will bring together companies, research organisations, financiers and other key stakeholders. Its purpose is to strengthen regional cooperation, connect the ecosystem, and accelerate the industry’s growth and development.
In addition to innovation activities, a key focus is on improving companies’ export readiness, with initial cooperation efforts aimed especially at Sweden. A developing ecosystem will also attract new investments to the region, supporting wider economic growth.
Finland’s national food strategy sets the goal that by 2040, the country will be a global leader in developing and renewing sustainable food systems. Southwest Finland’s new regional strategy aims to make the region the most food self‑sufficient area in Finland and a key contributor to the country’s overall food security.
The development of the regional food sector is supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the RaTKI – Accelerating RDI in the Food Sector project. The joint project between Business Turku and the University of Turku will run from 2026 to 2027. The project is funded by the European Union and the Regional Council of Southwest Finland.
