Photo: AOR Architects

Helsinki is developing an internationally significant Startup Campus with around 5,000 jobs and 70,000 square metres in connection to the successful Maria 01 startup hub. The new Maria 01 campus will be looking to attract growth companies, startups, anchor companies, investors, accelerators and representatives of research and development activities. The objective is to get around 650 new actors in addition to the current 130 actors.

The global startup community's interest in Helsinki is continuously growing.

"During the expansion project, Maria 01 will grow and become one of Europe's largest Startup Campuses, which offers first-rate conditions for innovations and the development of ambitious teams from startups into growth companies. World-changing solutions are born out of encounters, joint efforts and quick experiments and Helsinki wants to offer a functional and attractive platform for this", says Mayor Jan Vapaavuori.

Contractor a bold and ambitious consortium of 25 actors

A consortium led by YIT and Keva was chosen as the contractor of the project and in addition to the leaders, it comprises 23 companies*), including Accenture, Industryhack, Kone, MaaS Global, Nokia, Siemens and Slush. The contractors were chosen in the preparation phase of the local detailed plan, in order to be able to plan the area according to the idea.

”The Startup Campus will help form an innovation ecosystem, where different kinds of actors complement each other. We already have a strong basis for advancing, but new actors are welcome", says YIT Project Director Olli Viita.

The partner companies produce innovative services and solutions needed by the Startup Campus, bring managerial skills and growth company expertise to the project and develop the functional concept of the project and the architecture that expresses it.

"It is great to be part of the project, which builds on the success of Helsinki's startup community. It's not just a premises project, but a massive hub for connecting companies to boost their growth", says Slush CEO Andreas Saari.

Finland and Helsinki are favourable locations for growth companies and companies investing in them.

"We have the experience, know-how and courage to test city development solutions and with Helsinki's Startup Campus project, we can now also offer physical space for both domestic and foreign growth companies and investors", says YIT Executive Vice President, Urban Development Juha Kostiainen.

Top class platform and showcase for growth companies  

The new Maria 01 is a meeting place for startups developing their ideas, growth companies, venture capitalists and private equity investors funding the stars of the future and international big business offering international growth possibilities and partnerships to startups.

The premises of Maria 01 are planned according to the needs of a growing company. The team can work in the house from the development of the idea to the brink of growth. The premises and the rental agreements will be planned to support both impermanence and rapid needs for change.

There will be more than 50 000 square metres of new premises built according to the plan. Also included in the plan is an expansion of the current Maria 01 from 13,000 square metres to 19,000 square metres.

The area's development period will run through 2020, which is when the planned expansion work will commence. The expansion is due to be completed in 2023.

*) Industryhack Oy, Slush Ltd, Accenture Oy, MaaS Global Ltd, Aarti Ollila Ristola Architects Ltd, Arkworks Architects Ltd, Colliers International Finland Oy, Suunnittelutoimisto Amerikka Oy, Plus One Agency Oy, Uusi kaupunki Kollektiivi Oy, Sitowise Oy, Vainu.io Software Oy, Smartly.io Solutions Ltd, The International Childcare & Education Centre, Heltti Ltd., Vapaus Bikes Finland Oy, Restaurant Fat Lizard Otaniemi Ltd, CHAOS Architects Oy, Nokia Oyj, Siemens Oy, Kone Ltd, Aalto University and Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region sr.

Keva is Finland’s largest pension provider. It is responsible for funding the pensions of local government employees and for investing their pension funds. The market value of Keva’s investments at the end of 2017 was EUR 51,9 billion.

YIT is the largest Finnish and significant North European construction company. We develop and build apartments, business premises and entire areas. Together with our customers, our 10,000 professionals are creating more functional, more attractive and more sustainable cities and environments. Our pro forma revenue for 2017 was over EUR 3.8 billion. YIT Corporation's share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Oy.

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