Helsinki Business Hub

7 April 2009

Wide study assessed level of satisfaction of entrepreneurs in 37 major European cities:

Helsinki favorite among entrepreneurs

Helsinki is the new chosen favorite among entrepreneurs in Europe. The ECER Banque Populaire
study among businesses revealed Helsinki to be a favored location by supporting businesses with
official initiatives and supportive policies.

The City of Helsinki Director of Business Development, Mr. Eero Holstila rejoices in the outcome;
”The result is a reward for hard work and is sure to lift spirits among Finns. It’s great to finish at the
top! In the current economic situation this is a guiding light that we can use to keep on supporting
businesses.”

”The feedback from entrepreneurs is an encouraging signal that Helsinki is an excellent place to do
business. We’ve succeeded to support entrepreneurship through official measures and we’re doing a
lot to support new businesses in the Greater Helsinki area,” says Mr. Tatu Laurila, CEO of Greater
Helsinki Promotion Ltd.

The success that Helsinki enjoys was revealed at the end of March with the release of the newest
ECER Banque Populaire barometer of entrepreneurship in Europe. The study was conducted in 37
major European cities. Nearly 2,400 small‐business leaders were questioned. Entrepreneurs have
given their opinion on their satisfaction with, and the importance they attach to, pro‐entrepreneur
provision at the territorial level, including support services, funding and the general atmosphere of
entrepreneurship.

Pro‐business location

According to Mr. Holstila, Helsinki is used to being among the top ten in many international studies in
the recent years. This is mostly to the credit of pro‐entrepreneurial policies and a steady pace of
development that aims to make entrepreneurship easier in Helsinki.

”We’ve especially paid attention to business applications and innovation policies that start from
academic research. We’ve also worked hard to make Helsinki an attractive location over all. An active
environment with events, life and laughter is an attractive one.” Mr. Holstila asserts.
”Finland has a good infrastructure for entrepreneurship. Setting up a business is straight forward and
easy, both financially and from the bureaucratic perspective. We have excellent help desks for
companies and a wide array of support for R&D and innovation work.” concludes Mr. Laurila.
Helsinki is considered an effective city in size, compared to many other European cities. The city has a
straight forward and flexible way of working that enables quick networking and co‐operation.
This study was done for the second time. Helsinki was followed by Stockholm, Munich, Malmö and Hamburg.

For more information:

Tatu Laurila, CEO, Greater Helsinki Promotion Ltd.
tel. +358 40 564 3024, tatu.laurila@helsinkibusinesshub.fi
Link to the study results: http://www.ecer.fr/resultat_en.html