A Defence Tech Hub - turned into a
world-class innovation attraction engine
Irene Haikonen, Marketing Director Enter Espoo.
Across Europe, cities are asking the same question: how do we remain competitive, relevant and resilient?
At PLACExNordic, Irene Haikonen will share how a city can transform global uncertainty into a structured opportunity — and how ecosystem thinking can become a powerful engine for investment attraction and long-term competitiveness.
For cities and regions working with investment promotion, innovation environments and talent attraction, Espoo’s journey offers a concrete example of how resilience can be designed, positioned and scaled.
As Finland’s fastest-growing city, Espoo has developed a focused strategy built around strong innovation ecosystems.
The Defence Tech hub as Attraction Engine
One of the most ambitious initiatives is the Defence Tech Hub — a unique positioning platform bringing together and enabling collaboration between
As Finland’s fastest-growing city, Espoo has built a Defence Tech Hub that brings together and enables cooperation between
- the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT)
- established tech companies and
- start-ups,
- Defence Innovation Network Finland (DEFINE)
to accelerate innovation from research to real-world deployment, while actively attracting new companies and talent to the region.
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The Defence Tech Hub opens door also for non-traditional tech companies that want to enter the defence market but lack networks, testing environments or market access.
It also opens the door for non-traditional tech companies that want to enter the defence market but lack networks, testing environments or market access.
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The hub creates a clear gateway into Finland’s most advanced defence innovation ecosystem. Companies gain faster pathways from development to deployment — and Espoo strengthens its position as a trusted European location for deep tech and strategic industries.
Photo: Tomi Thäti
About Espoo
Espoo is Finland’s second largest and one of its fastest-growing cities, attracting international companies through strong innovation ecosystems, easy accessibility and close proximity to nature.
Companies based in Espoo rank among Europe’s most active in patent applications, and 42% of the revenue of Finnish companies listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange comes from businesses headquartered here.
Just 30 minutes from Helsinki Airport and 15 minutes from central Helsinki, Espoo combines world-class research and innovation with stunning surroundings — from Nuuksio National Park and the Baltic Sea islands to vibrant waterfronts and urban districts. In 2024, Espoo was awarded the Sustainable Travel Finland label in recognition of its long-term commitment to sustainable development.
More about marketing, Irene Haikonen and Enter Espo
As Marketing Director, Irene Haikonen and the team at Enter Espoo, play a pivotal role in attracting
- companies,
- investments,
- international visitors
to Espoo while helping innovation ecosystem partners succeed and scale.
Enter Espoo services are designed to connect ecosystem actors with the right partners, customers, and growth opportunities — driving new jobs, increased tax revenue, and sustainable growth for Espoo, its partners, and Finland as a whole.
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With over two decades of experience in strategic, data-driven marketing, Irene brings deep expertise in business development, market research, and performance measurement. Throughout her career, she has worked with leading international and domestic companies to optimize marketing effectiveness and accelerate growth.
A seasoned leadership team member with strong commercial acumen, Irene has hands-on experience in building and executing go-to-market strategies, advancing marketing digitalization, and developing scalable marketing programs across diverse markets. Her approach combines analytical rigor with practical execution—turning strategy into measurable impact.
