THOUSANDS OF
The Vaasa Region
UNESCO Nature Heritage Site Korsholm
Vörå
Vaasa Vähäkyrö
Isokyrö
Laihia Malax
Korsnäs
© Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK Vaasa Region: Thousands of Happy Stories Production: Mantra Communications, C2 Advertising, Katja Lösönen Oy Print: Fram 2012 First edition ISBN 978-952-6622-02-6
020765
THOUSANDS OF
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE SEA
The sea has left a stronger stamp on the Vaasa region
It may seem paradoxical that water levels along the
than any other element. Only 500 years ago much of
coast are declining at a time when much of the world
today’s Vaasa was still covered by water.
is concerned about rising sea levels due to climate
A region that emerged from the sea has foreign
change. Both a political and a technological campaign
trade in its blood. The sea laid the foundation for to-
have been launched to curb global warming. The Vaasa
day’s exceptionally high export figures and dynamic
region, home to numerous developers of wind and solar
business activities.
power, energy efficiency and smart grid technology, is a
A century back, it transported
numerous emigrants to North America. The sea also
global key player in technological efforts.
brought many of them back, equipped with new know-
Just like the nature around Vaasa is in constant
ledge and skills that generated fresh business ideas.
fluctuation because of the land rising, residents in the
The view over the sea around Vaasa reveals a geo-
region have it written in their DNA to adapt to a chang-
logically speaking newborn landscape. The rapid land
ing environment. This may also be the reason for their
rise following the last Ice Age has formed a natural en-
ranking among the world’s happiest people.
vironment so unique it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
FINE FISHING. With the number of professional fishermen on the decline,Tom Blom seems to be moving against the trend. He began fishing professionally a few years ago and these days he sells his catch on the shore in Vaasa every Saturday. “I’ve kept my old job in a printing house, but this way I also get paid for my dearest hobby. Maybe some day I can provide for myself with fishing alone, now that nearly all the major investments are out of the way.”
CONTENTS Happiest people in the world
10
Why do residents in the Vaasa region have it so good?
Pacesetter in the energy sector
32
Why did the foremost Nordic energy-technology cluster emerge in the Vaasa region?
Rocks on the roll
54
How come Finland’s first natural heritage site expands by an area equivalent to 150 soccer fields a year?
9
Residents in the Vaasa region rank as some of the world’s happiest people. A self-confident claim, perhaps, but one that is also supported by statistics.
CONGRATULATIONS! Rimma Heinonen, a newborn Vaasa resident has a good and long life ahead of her. Women along the west coast have the longest life expectancy in Finland. Rimma will also get two mother tongues for free: her mother, Petra, is a Swedish-speaker and father, Arto, a Finnishspeaker. “It was important for us to come up with a name that works in both languages,” says Rimma’s mother, Petra Sten-Heinonen.
The networks here are close-knit, and it is easy to find contacts and connections.
What makes people happy? It is a question that
What makes this list interesting is that it portrays life
philosophers, scientists and ordinary human beings have
and reality in Finland and especially in and around Vaa-
pondered throughout the times. The OECD has also
sa. The region boasts one of the country’s highest em-
given this thought and come up with statistical vari-
ployment rates, securing a job for most people in the
ables to explain what makes people satisfied with life.
area. Since 2009 Ostrobothnia, where Vaasa is located,
For decades, the GDP has been used as the primary in-
has recorded the lowest unemployment rate in all of
dicator of successful countries and regions, but it alone
Finland (with the exception of the Åland islands) and
says little about our general happiness.
prior to that, it had placed second in national statistics
After all, money doesn’t bring you contentment.
for several years.
There is, of course, a correlation between income and
There are two main explanations for this. In the
happiness, but only to a certain extent. In its Better Life
21st century, the Vaasa region has experienced much
Initiative project, the OECD has listed a number of fac-
stronger economic growth than the rest of the country,
tors measuring well-being. According to them, people
mainly thanks to the dynamic energy technology sec-
tend to be happy if they have:
tor. This has translated into a great number of jobs on offer. What is more, if Ostrobothnians cannot find a job
– a job
they simply go ahead and create one. Ostrobothnia has
– a short way to work
Finland’s highest business density with more compa-
– many close social relationships
nies per capita than any other region on the mainland.
– an opportunity to spend time in nature
►
– a chance to influence their community
13
However, a job as such is only one element of well-being.
actually point to the region’s population running less of a
What is crucial to everyday life satisfaction is that the
risk of being left alone. The networks here are close-knit,
daily commute remains reasonable. Less than a third of
and it is easy to find contacts and connections.
Europeans are satisfied with their work-life balance, and
many people feel the way to and from work consumes
centred around ice hockey and soccer clubs, which unites
a large share of their free time. That is not the case in
people across language and municipal boundaries. The
the Vaasa region, where the majority get to work in 10
audience numbers of Vaasan Sport, an ice hockey club,
to 15 minutes and even those who choose to live in rural
are at a level that other clubs outside major cities can only
settings usually reach their workplace in less than 30
dream of. The atmosphere at home games is legendary,
minutes (this being during rush hour for that matter).
and when it comes to deciding games away from home,
the fans charter dozens of buses to head off and support
Despite the region’s population numbering 110,000,
Take, for example, the incredibly strong fan culture
it is spread over such a wide area that one rarely feels
their team.
cramped. Few places worldwide can offer as easy a way
to combine an exciting job in an international company
other ways to meet like-minded people. The vibrancy of
with life in the middle of an outstanding natural environ-
the countryside around Vaasa is no cliché. The town is
ment. Vaasa also has excellent travel connections: the
surrounded by many vital villages with strong traditions
strong export industry has led to bustling air traffic, with
of community, exhibited, for example, in revue perfor-
direct flights to many European capitals.
mances and at markets and fairs. A few years ago, MTV3,
Should sports not be your thing, there are also many
a Finnish commercial television channel, named the
14
Loneliness and isolation are big concerns for Westerners
village of Solf, south of Vaasa, Finland’s happiest village.
today, making frequent and close social relations a central
The choice was based on statistical facts, such as high
component of well-being. It may seem rather bold to
employment and low crime rates. The residents of Solf, of
claim that people in the Vaasa region have more friends
course, felt the nomination was obvious to say the least.
than people elsewhere in Finland, but many indicators
►
COMFY AND COZY. Few TV programmes succeed in creating all new linguistic concepts. “Not exactly like Strömsö” has become a catchphrase in Finnish for things gone less than perfect. It refers to Strömsö, a lifestyle TV programme shot in Vaasa since 2002, where everything – whether cooked, built or assembled – always turn out superbly. The Swedish-language programme has achieved near cult status. 15
People in the Vaasa region speak Finnish, Swedish and
ever, speak or understand both languages, and it is
whole range of other languages. The share of immi-
perfectly normal to see people chatting away each in
grants is one of the highest in all of Finland, and foreign
their own mother tongue. The Vaasa region is one of the
citizens are well integrated in business and labour.
few truly bilingual places in Finland.
Should you come across an Indian on the street, he or
16
she is more than likely an engineer at ABB, Wärtsilä or
So what conclusions can one draw from all this?
any of the other energy technology companies in town.
Perhaps that happy people do not live in their own
Excluding foreign residents, who account for some
bubble. One of Finland’s lowest racist crime rates surely
five per cent of the population, the region is half Finnish-
means that people in the region are open and tolerant
speaking, half Swedish-speaking. Most people, how-
towards the outside world. Perhaps bilingualism has
Traditionally open to the world. also made it more difficult for hostile attitudes towards
number of people moving to Vaasa has by far exceeded
strangers to take root in the region.
the number leaving the region. This was not as big a
The Vaasa region has traditionally been open to the
surprise to the region’s residents as it seems to have
world. A century back, much of the population emigrated
been to many others. Statistics Finland, for example,
to America, and after the World Wars many people
has repeatedly had to upgrade its growth forecasts for
left for Sweden to seek their fortune. More than a few
the population of Vaasa. â–ş
later returned, equipped with new skills and ideas that translated into new business ideas. In the latter years, the flow has moved in the opposite direction. Thanks to the buoyant economy, the 17
VILLAGE COMMUNITY. Every year, thousands of people find their way to the classic Christmas market in Stundars, which has been organised for more than 30 years. Stundars is a living outdoor museum and culture centre, located in Finland’s happiest village, Solf.
Well-being is about nourishing both the body and soul.
20
The possibility to spend time outdoors also contributes
city centre, and in the winter people enjoy skiing on the
to happiness. Nature is always easily available, just
ice. It isn’t uncommon for city dwellers to simply carry
around the corner in the Vaasa region – even in the capital
their skis down to the shore for an outing.
itself. In Vaasa, a town with a dense population and clas-
Well-being is not only about nourishing the body but
sic grid street plan, you can truly sense nature in the
also the soul. Of Finnish towns, Vaasa is the one that
form of a fresh sea breeze when walking along any of the
invests most in culture. It offers two professional
town’s numerous wide boulevards. (In the aftermath of
theatres, both a Finnish and a Swedish one, with annual
the disastrous fire that ravaged the town in 1852, town
audiences totalling around 100,000. This means that
planners wanted to minimise the risk of fire, which is why
every resident from infant to centenarian visits the
Vaasa now has so many boulevards.)
theatre once a year. Vaasa also has a symphony orches-
To go boating, you simply walk down to the harbour
tra and several galleries and museums. The art scene
and if you feel like a walk in the woods, head off in the
is one of the most vibrant in Finland, largely thanks to
opposite direction. In the summertime, several beaches
three major patrons: Frithjof Tikanoja, Simo Kuntsi and
offer a welcome respite at a walking distance from the
Karl Hedman. ►
GENEROUS PATRON. Businessman Simo Kuntsi was a passionate art collector, who accumulated a large number of works during his lifetime. Today, the Vaasa museum of modern art carries his name.
STREET JAZZ OR SHOW DANCE. A few years back, Ida Jousmäki and Jenna Koivuranta won the Finnish Championship performing a hiphop duet. After time spent both abroad and in the Finnish capital, the two moved back to their home town and set up a dance school. “In its second year of operations, our school already had one thousand students and twenty teachers. We knew there was a demand, but never expected things to turn out this well.”
The opportunity to spend time in nature contributes to happiness. 24
FESTIVE. Vaasa is a genuine old town with a classic grid street plan. The grand city hall was built in 1879 – 1883.
DENSE WITH STUDENTS. If you find the street view in Vaasa to look exceptionally young, you’re quite right: one in five residents is a university student.
12,000 students studying in three languages at seven different institutions of higher education. Last but not least, people get satisfaction from the
Finland. Ostrobothnian women look forward to an ave-
ability to play a role in their community, for example,
rage of 83.8 years of life, which is the Finnish record.
by participating in politics, writing letters to the editor,
Moreover, people in the region are healthier than their
rallying and demonstrating, or choosing any which way
counterparts elsewhere in the country.
to express their opinions. A sign of the political life in and around Vaasa being exceptionally active is the
In summer 2010, Newsweek chose Finland as the
voter turnout, which has been one of Finland’s highest
world’s best country based on a number of factors,
in recent elections.
such as the education system, healthcare, quality of
A full one-third of residents hold a higher academic
life, economic dynamism and the political environment.
degree. Vaasa is a lively educational centre, with one
This was by no means the first time Finland topped a
in every five people studying at college or university.
list of this kind. Along with its Scandinavian neighbours,
The campuses are located close to the centre, giving a
Finland often ranks high in surveys of competitiveness,
characteristic look to the entire city. Vaasa is a univer-
equality and other similar matters.
sity town in the truest meaning of the word.
So, just to be clear: what is the Finnish region with
Although we said in the introduction that money
the lowest unemployment rate, the greatest longevity
does not make people happy, it hardly makes them
of its inhabitants and one of the most dynamic econo-
unhappy either. The average Vaasa resident earns
mies? Whatever positive statistical variable you choose
about the same as the average person in the country’s
to highlight, the Vaasa region always places among the
capital, Helsinki, but has much more money left over.
very best. If it is one of Finland’s strongest regions and
The price of housing, for example, is only half of that
Finland is one of the world’s best countries, what is the
in Helsinki.
conclusion? Nothing less than this: the Vaasa region is
Another sign of people in the region doing well
definitely one of the best places in the whole world. ●
is that they have the longest life expectancy in all of 27
A RIDING PROFESSOR. Pirjo Laaksonen is professor of marketing at the University of Vaasa. She lives in the country 20 minutes from the centre of Vaasa, together with her family and her horse, Leroy. Laaksonen rides practically every day. "Here it is possible to combine an ambitious riding hobby with other aspects of life. Many of our neighbours also have horses. I’ve been involved in dressage since I was 11, and the great thing is that you can still develop at this age."
PACESETTER
IN THE ENERGY
SECTOR
A Nordic leader in energy technology, the Vaasa region is home to companies producing everything from cuttingedge power plants and energy-efficient electric motors to wind and solar power components. All this thanks to an emigrant to America called John Wickstrรถm.
Every day 10,000 people in and around Vaasa head off to work to literally help save the world. They are employed
EnergyVaasa
by the region’s 120 companies specialising in energy
•
120 companies
technology. Of them, some 800 work in research and
•
10,000 employees, ¼ of Finland’s
development focused on energy efficiency or renewable
overall workforce in the energy
energy, and many of them are considered the foremost
sector •
Overall turnover ca. €4 billion
The Vaasa region houses the largest cluster of
•
Share of exports over 70%
energy technology competence in the Nordic countries
•
12% of Finland’s total technology
experts in their niche worldwide.
– one that is growing rapidly for that matter: in 2020
exports (the population in the
the companies are expected to employ as many as
Vaasa region accounting for 2%
20,000 people.
of Finland’s population) •
The 2010s is a decade characterised by global efforts
motors, power plants,
to curb climate change.
components for wind and solar
The battle isn’t getting any easier, with the world needing more and more energy while existing energy resources dwindle and prices keep rising. The challenges are partly political, but they also involve a search for technological solutions. Development in the 2010s will be driven by global development in urban environments, which function more or less independently of nations and their capitals. At the intersection of these two trends – increasing global demand for energy technology and the emergence of urban settings – the Vaasa region took a huge leap in the 21st century. ► 32
Examples of sectors: electric
power, electricity distribution, smart grids
Energy-cluster employees help save the world from the greenhouse effect. 33
Thanks to its energy cluster, the region boasts Finland’s
25 minutes the motorboat had travelled a distance that
highest employment rates and its economy and exports
would have taken one and a half hours to row.
are also experiencing fastest growth in the country.
The driver was the engine constructor – the 36-year-old John Wickström. Similar to many other
For a historical overview, let’s go back over one hundred
Ostrobothnians of the time, he had emigrated to
years in time. Vaasa has always been one of Finland’s
America as a young man and learned a great deal about
foremost industrial towns, housing everything from
new technology and engines, among other things, by
cotton plants and steam mills to sugar mills and soap
being involved in the construction of one of the world’s
factories.
first cars in Chicago. Upon returning to Vaasa as an
One of the first bricks in energy technology competence was laid back in the 1880s when Wasa Mekaniska
engineer in 1906 he established an engine factory with his brother Jakob – the first of its kind in Finland.
Verkstad began manufacturing water turbines. Even more important was an incident that took place in the
In many ways, John Wickström is a typical represen-
early 1900s.
tative of the Vaasa region. The sea has ferried people
One beautiful summer day in 1906 Vaasa residents
out into the world and brought them back again when
flocked to the beach to gaze at a radically novel idea: a
homesickness grew too much to bear. The sea has
fisherboat equipped with an engine and propeller.
brought in people with fresh ideas and conveyed export
People in the Vaasa region, and in Ostrobothnia in general, are not easy to win over. They are sceptical
The story about John Wickström and his engine
about authorities and orders from above. Novelties are
factory tells a great deal about the entrepreneurial spirit
not accepted until they have been proved to work. In
and people in the Vaasa region. It has clear parallels
other words, it was a doubtful crowd that stood looking
with current circumstances. Today, demand focuses on
at the motorised fisherboat. Could an engine really
solutions that save energy. A century back, society was
make the boat go faster than a pair of oars?
in need of solutions that increased the mobility of people
Half an hour later their doubts had evaporated. In 34
products to new markets.
and replaced muscle power with engine power. ►
FROM MOTORS TO SOLAR POWER. Vacon, which has been manufacturing variable-speed AC drives since 1993, has found new business in solar power. Ari-Jussi Uunila assembled solar panels on the roof of Vacon’s plant.
GLOBAL WORK. Katariina Pukkila-Palmunen is one of the many technology experts who has chosen to move to the Vaasa region. Transferring from a top-notch position in Helsinki, she first took up duties as a director at Wärtsilä and today works as the CEO of KGN Tool – one of over 100 globally oriented companies belonging to the region’s energy cluster. "I’d always dreamed of heading my own factory, and now that dream has come true."
TAILWIND. The Switch is one of the latest companies to join the energy cluster. Wind power is an important new sector that already accounts for a turnover of â‚Ź400 million in the Vaasa region.
Thanks to an attitude of this kind, new ideas often
engineers soon began developing their own models.
enter Finland via the Vaasa region – and not only in
The new Wärtsilä diesel engine was characterised
industry. Fur farms and greenhouses are examples of
by high energy efficiency. The ultimate international
former novelties that Ostrobothnians imported into the
breakthrough came with the legendary Vasa 32 engine.
region and that now ensure continued vitality for the
In contrast to most other engines, it ran on heavy fuel
countryside.
oil, which was inexpensive and helped shipping companies save money after the 1970s energy crisis.
There are other explanations, as well, for the energy
These days, one in every three vessels sailing
cluster springing up in the region. Vaasa is a deep-rooted
the seas around the world are powered by Wärtsilä’s
industrial town: its skilled artisans and craftsmen, along
equipment. The company’s fastest growing segment
with the relatively safe location on the west coast, made
consists of engine-driven power plants, which offer a
the town a sought-after location in the turbulent years
perfect complement to wind and solar power.
of the 20th century. The two major companies in the region today – Wärtsilä and ABB – grew up in Vaasa after
The way in which Wärtsilä developed its own engine
World War II.
is typical of the way in which things work in the Vaasa
In 1936, Wärtsilä acquired Metvikens Mekaniska
region. While major inventions have rarely been made
Verkstad, an engineering workshop, and during the war
here, the region is a global leader in adapting new
years decided to invest more in western Finland. ABB’s
technology – which is exactly what John Wickström did
predecessor, Strömberg, manufactured electrotechnical
back in time.
equipment in Helsinki at the outbreak of war. In search
of a strategically safer place of manufacture during in-
nies relocating core elements of their product develop-
tense warfare, Strömberg moved part of its production
ment to Vaasa. One such company is Wärtsilä, another
to Vaasa, to an area now known as Strömberg Park.
ABB, both of them trailing only Nokia as the companies
A major turning point took place in 1954 when
investing most in research and development in Finland.
Wärtsilä began manufacturing diesel engines in the
This must say something about the significance of the
town. Operations first took place under licence but,
Vaasa region. ►
This has led to several energy technology compa-
unhappy with the technological quality, the company’s 39
The sea has ferried people out into the world and brought them back again with fresh ideas.
The global ABB Group established itself in Vaasa in
Vaasa has always been entrepreneurially oriented. The
1988 by acquiring the operations of Strömberg, which
threshold for setting up your own company is low and
had already undergone a number of mergers in the
people are hard-working by nature.
preceding years. This gave Strömberg’s factories in Vaasa access to a global sales network.
VEO, a supplier of automation and electrification solutions, was founded in 1989, and a real success story
ABB is one of the world’s leading developers of
saw daylight in 1993 with the establishment of Vacon.
smart grids and its global product development in the
In twenty years, the company has grown into a globally
field is located in Vaasa.
significant manufacturer of variable-speed AC drives
ABB is also a key manufacturer of electric motors,
– devices that boost the energy-efficiency of electric
which are of major importance in view of the EU’s
motors. Vacon is now a listed company and a major
energy-efficiency targets. No less than a third of the
player in both the wind and solar power industries.
worldwide electricity consumption is used to power electric motors. In other words, making them more
Business development in the 2000s has been driven
energy-efficient is a great contribution to the combat
by environmental policy demands and an increasing
against the greenhouse effect.
global need for energy. Whereas traditional companies, such as Wärtsilä and ABB, have gradually changed
In the 1990s, energy-technology competence in
direction, new start-ups have immediately set their
the Vaasa region reached such heights that it began
sight on renewable energy production or energy
spawning new companies developing their own tech-
efficiency. ►
nology. Ostrobothnia has the largest number of companies per capita in Finland, and the area around
MODERN TECHNOLOGY. Finland’s first motor was manufactured in Vaasa a century ago, and the region is still active in engine manufacture. Pictured here is ABB’s new flagship product, an energy-efficient motor of 11 kW, which can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.1 tonnes annually.
History and regional characteristics of energy technology “In the 18th century, tar was Finland’s primary and most important export commodity. It was exported from Ostrobothnia, where it gave birth to a culture of trade, shipping and shipbuilding. Forest industry, important to Finland as a whole, never became dominant in the Vaasa region, since the forests had been chopped down for tar and wood products. Instead, a whole range of other industry sprouted up in Vaasa, while a robust tradition of small companies and agricultural industries took root in the surrounding villages. The tar-burning period was the first extensive wave of development in Ostrobothnia, and the set-up of small companies and industrial activities in many different sectors was the second wave. The increasing global demand for energy technology is making energy the foundation of the third wave for many decades to come.” Hannu Katajamäki, professor in regional studies, University of Vaasa.
1880 Wasa Mechanical workshop manufacture water turbines
1906 The Wickström brothers’engine factory in Vaasa launched motor manufacture in Finland
1880 Inception of energy technology. The region’s strength comes from its innovative and entrepreneurial residents.
In the 1940s, the manufacture of Strömberg’s generators, motors and transformers was transferred to Vaasa.
1936 Metvikens Mekaniska Verkstad in Vaasa became a part of Wärtsilä.
1954 Wärtsilä begins manufacturing diesel engines in Vaasa.
1940 The region draws its strength from competence and efficient production.
1988 Strömberg becomes a part of the global ABB Group.
Forecast: 20 000 jobs
10 000 jobs
5 000 jobs
The early 2000s see heightened global awareness of energy efficiency and clean energy production, as well as a stronger move to combat climate change.
1993 Vacon begins manufacturing variable-speed AC drives.
2000 The region’s strength lies in efficient technology use.
2006 Three innovative companies (Rotatek Finland, Verteco and Youtility) join forces to create The Switch, a company supplying technology for wind and solar power plants.
Over 20,000 jobs in the energy technology cluster
In 2004 – 2010, the number of employees in the energy technology cluster goes from 5,000 to 10,000. Most of them work in technologically oriented professions. The cluster has: • over 120 companies • an overall turnover of over €4 billion • an export share in excess of 70% • exports accounting for some 12% of Finland’s • overall exports in the technology industry.
2010 Solutions to global climate change and increased energy needs.
2020
INDIAN IMMIGRANTS RETURN. Munish Maggon from India originally came to Vaasa to study in his youth. Having worked in other countries for several years, he and his wife Manu decided to move back to Vaasa, where both of them are now employed by ABB. “We value the safety and peacefulness here – and the fact that our son can bike to school on his own. Of all the towns and cities we’ve lived in, this is the only one we’ve bought a home in, and that is telling.”
The share of export companies per capita is the highest in Finland, with 70% of production being exported.
The Switch, which makes generators and converters for
which is desperately looking for a new Nokia.
the wind and solar power industries, was set up in 2006, while 2008 saw the birth of Mervento, which provides
Similar to the rest of Ostrobothnia, the Vaasa region is
next-generation direct-drive wind turbines.
characterised by a strong trust between individuals, as well as companies. Customer relations and partnerships
It is no exaggeration to say that the Vaasa region is a
often develop into long and stable ones, providing a fruitful
Finnish leader in exports: 70 per cent of the products and
environment for the networks typical of today’s industry.
services it produces are exported. What is more, the per
One of the prevailing management paradigms is
capita share of export companies is the highest in Finland
based on the idea of companies focusing on their core
and the value of exports also ranks among the best in the
competence and outsourcing all other activities. Thanks to
country.
the deeply rooted entrepreneurial spirit in the Vaasa region,
All of the leading companies in Vaasa have a strong presence in China, where the market is currently booming. New product development in fields such as wind and solar power is fully focused on global markets.
production can be outsourced to neighbours, which makes for flexible cooperation. Large companies, such as Wärtsilä and ABB, have also boosted the establishment and internationalisation of
A stunning 12 per cent of Finland’s overall technology
noteworthy subcontractors. Clients pose tough demands,
exports originates in the Vaasa region, despite only two
and the supplier that can meet them is well positioned to
per cent of the population living here. The region accounts
find other global customers. Today, many of the energy
for nearly a third of the country’s energy technology ex-
cluster’s subcontractors are export companies with
ports. It is safe to say that Vaasa and its surroundings have
their own merits, such as Mapromec, Leinolat Group and
become a driving force for exports in current-day Finland,
Österberg Group.
►
45
One of the companies exhibiting robust growth since its
package, that is. According to it, in 2020 greenhouse gas
establishment in 1984 is Citec, which started off as a
emissions must have decreased by 20 per cent com-
technical design supplier for Wärtsilä, but has developed
pared to 1990, renewable resources must account for
into a supplier of engineering services and technical
20 per cent of energy consumption and energy efficiency
documentation, serving many global major customers. A
must have increased by 20 per cent. By no means do the
wide subcontractor network is also a great asset for new
requirements stop here: even more ambitious targets
companies looking to establish themselves in the region.
are in the planning. Irrespective of how the climate policy develops in
46
Every day 10,000 experts in and around Vaasa work
the next few decades, advanced energy technology
on solutions to the big challenges facing modern-day
will continue to be in high demand. The price of oil
people. The demand for energy-technology compe-
continues to rise, as does that of electricity. The world
tence will continue to be big, driven by a political agenda
needs improved solutions to raise energy efficiency and
spelled out as “20-20-20” – the EU climate and energy
new sustainable ways to produce energy.
Vaasa’s strength lies in numerous medium-sized com-
families with children attract commercial services and
panies working together around a single knowledge
appealing shops, which make the region ever more
and technology base, further boosted by the region’s
interesting.
colleges and universities. This sets Vaasa off from most other urban areas in Finland, which either rely on a single
A region that helps to save the world from global
large company or have a fragmented competence base.
warming must obviously base its own energy provision
The clustered business structure, consisting of a
on sustainability. At the 2008 housing fair arranged in
dozen or so companies big enough to survive on their
Vaasa, the city introduced a unique environmentally
own, makes the Vaasa region well equipped for cyclical
friendly heating solution for the new residential area.
changes. The city’s universities – both academic and
Heat is collected from the seabed, while gases from the
of applied sciences – focus more and more on energy
nearby old dump are used to produce energy.
technology, and as a rule, their graduates quickly find
work in the region.
plunge when Westenergy’s Waste to Energy plant will
Vaasa has one of Finland’s highest student densities,
begin to produce electricity and district heating. At the
and growing international companies bring in young
same time, the world’s first gasification facilities for bio-
people from other countries and Finnish regions. This
fuel will also come on line at the local Vaskiluodon Voima
leads to a positive demographic trend. Young adults and
power plant. ●
In 2013, the region’s carbon dioxide emissions will
47
Half the world can be found in the Vaasa region: it is home to people from over one hundred countries.
The Vaasa region grows by an area corresponding to hundreds of soccer fields a year thanks to one of the world’s fastest land rises. The archipelago is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The first thing visitors to Vaasa often pay attention
Ostrobothnia. After the ice melted around 10,000 years
to is the open and flat landscape, resembling some-
ago, the land crust, long depressed by the bed of ice,
thing levelled by a gigantic steamroller. Turning to
gradually began to rise.
the sea, the visitor notices its stoniness. It may seem
incredible that anyone could navigate the waters with
the land continues to rise 8 – 9 millimetres a year.
the thousands and yet thousands of rocks. Many rocks
This may not sound all that much, but for flat land it
are moved by the ice every winter and show up in
translates to several new hectares annually.
unexpected places in the spring. Fairways and nautical
The phenomenon, called post-glacial rebound,
charts grow outdated quickly and need to be constantly
makes the Kvarken archipelago one of the youngest
redrawn and updated. The frightful reputation that the
in the world. Most of the islands and islets in the sea
Kvarken strait had among former seamen wasn’t wholly
are geologically speaking so young they can be charac-
unfounded.
terised as still being wet behind the ears. The terrain is in
What makes this phenomenon fascinating is that
continuous transformation, with new rocks rising from Similar to the open and flat landscape, the rock activ-
the sea, islands merging into the mainland and bridges
ity is the result of the last Ice Age, which covered all
having to be moved further out. In one generation, the
of northern Europe by a thick layer of ice, at its thick-
landscape changes to such a degree that it may be
est (2 – 3 kilometres) over the area today known as
difficult to recognise in old photographs. ►
OPEN LANDSCAPE. The vast fields find a wide range of alternative use in the winters. This time it’s snowkite on Söderfjärden, a plain that came into being 500 million years ago as a result of a meteorite fall.
NEWBORN. The islands in the Kvarken archipelago are so young they can be characterised as still being wet behind the ears. This little island is called Nippon, named by the sailor who built a cabin on it. He came by the idea when working in the Japanese waters.
The Kvarken archipelago • Accepted on the UNESCO World
Heritage list in 2006
• Unique landscape formed by the
Ice Age
• One of the world’s fastest rates of
postglacial rebound: 8 – 9 mm
annually • The region annually expands by an
area equivalent to 150 soccer fields
55
This unique phenomenon awarded the Kvarken
rocky section and Thorsell suddenly stood up, took out
archipelago a place on the UNESCO World Heritage
his binoculars and after a long silence exclaimed, “It’s
List in 2006. It is the only Finnish natural site on the list,
like another planet!”
in good company with the Galapagos islands, the Great Barrier Reef and the Teide volcano on Tenerife.
The Raippaluoto island, home to a large share of the World Heritage site, is linked to the mainland by
Getting the Kvarken archipelago on the list was a
Finland’s longest bridge. This makes it fully possible
long process spanning nearly twenty years. The final
to live right in the middle of a World Heritage site and
success was partly due to the region sharing its dis-
also work for an international major company in Vaasa.
tinction with the High Coast on the Swedish side of the
Lookout towers, guided tours and outstanding hiking
gulf of Bothnia, which had previously been accepted
trails are offered to those looking to make closer
on the UNESCO list. The Kvarken–High Coast is one of
acquaintance with the site.
the few natural heritage sites crossing the boundary of two countries. If the post-glacial rebound continues at
The rocks and open landscape give a characteristic
the same rate the two regions will grow together in two
touch not only to the Kvarken World Heritage site but
thousand years or so. Today, the World Heritage site
to the entire Vaasa region. Just like the rocks, the
is growing annually by an area corresponding to 150
flatness is also an outcome of the Ice Age. Swedish-
soccer fields.
speaking Finns often call Ostrobothnia Pampas after the renowned La Pampa in Argentina. Travelling along
56
We may also have the rocks to thank for Kvarken finally
highway 8 from Pori in the south to Vaasa you can drive
getting its World Heritage status after many ifs and
for miles and miles without really having to touch the
buts. The person in charge of evaluating the area was
steering wheel – that’s how straight the roads are.
Jim Thorsell, a Canadian representative of the inter-
The flatness of the land makes for enormous fields,
national union for the conservation of nature. He is told
which are also fertile since the soil was the seabed not
to have been ferried around the archipelago for days,
too far ago. The land has been cultivated for centuries
with the hosts trying in vain to guess at his impressions.
and continues to be so today. Far from an extinct
Thorsell’s face, however, gave nothing away – until the
industry, agriculture provides an income to four per
last day when the boat ploughed through a particularly
cent of the region’s population. ►
The flat landscape makes for majestically large and fertile fields.
VITAL COUNTRYSIDE. Ostrobothnia is one of Europe’s leading exporters of cumin, the spice plant. The long and light summer nights give the spice a unique aroma. 58
Apart from the ice, the landscape has also been formed
The beaches and shores in Vaasa are full of boat places
by the Söderfjärden crater south of Vaasa, which came
and when the weather gets warm in the spring, leisure
into being over 500 million years ago as a result of a
boaters begin to cruise in the evenings and on weekends.
huge meteorite fall. Back then, the area was located in
To unwind, people take off to their summer cabins and
the southern hemisphere: the continental plates have
cottages. Just like most northerners, Vaasa residents are
moved a long way since. Söderfjärden is six kilometres in
extremely attached to their cottages and eagerly spend
diameter and clearly visible from the sky since it is used
time there even in the winter. Many live close to their
as fields. The plain is also a popular resting place for
cottages, some only a few kilometres away, but it does
migratory birds.
not prevent them from switching into the holiday mode
Funnily enough, despite the landscape being so flat,
during the journey out. A nearby holiday home also
some of Finland’s most successful alpine skiers come
makes it possible for people to extend their holidays by
from the Vaasa region. This is a good example of the
commuting to work in the spring and autumn.
results achieved with resolution and hard work even when the external conditions aren’t the best possible.
Five hundred years ago much of today’s Vaasa was
The same attitude has given rise to several prosperous
covered by water, and the sea continues to characterise
companies.
the region. The sea and nature are written into the population’s DNA, whether talking about a farmer or an
While downhill skiing may be difficult on a flat terrain,
engineer travelling around the world 200 days a year.
cross-country skiing is all the more enjoyable. On a sunny
Nature makes itself seen in daily life – as a fresh
Sunday in early spring, skiing tracks can get crowded.
breeze from the sea or a glimpse of sun in the dark
Many people describe skiing on ice as being purely medi-
winter months. At times it seems as if this place had been
tative. Those who prefer more intense activities (and
blessed by a higher power. Not only are the residents
there are more than a few of them!) can journey across
extraordinarily happy, but the Vaasa region is also one of
the ice on a snowmobile. Snowkite has also become very
Finland’s sunniest locations. ●
popular in recent years. 59
Ma tia sK oiv ula
Jo sef i na
Lรฅ n
t rรถ m gs
Ca
lle
Lis a
B
Ak se li
Pu ijo la
o aks La
os
m trö
AT THE TOP. Funnily enough, Finland’s flattest region has produced some of the country’s best alpine skiers, with Andreas Romar at the helm. In fact, the Vaasa ski club has been number one in all of Finland more than once. A big thanks for this goes to the Ostrobothnian attitude of everything being possible – the same attitude that has given rise to several prosperous companies. When the home slope becomes too small, parents begin driving their kids to bigger mountains to train.
YET ANOTHER RECORD. Finland’s longest bridge, Raippaluoto, leads to the Kvarken archipelago. Sweden is just a stone’s throw away, and if the land continues to rise at the current rate, the two countries will have grown together 2,000 years from now.
SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The articles in this publication are based on several books, articles and websites. Some of the main sources include the following: •
The Kvarken Archipelago World Heritage Site – Echoes from the Ice Age, by Tiina Hietikko-Hautala
•
Tillverkat i Vasa, Industri under fyra århundraden (Made in Vaasa, Four Centuries of Industry) by Kari Leinamo
•
Professor Hannu Katajamäki’s articles about the region’s economic history
•
Rector Tauno Kekäle’s articles in the Vasabladet newspaper on 31 October 2010 and 21 November 2010
•
Coastline 2008: “When energy took the lead”
• www.oecd.org
64
•
A great deal of inspiration in terms of perspectives and themes was obtained from the Vaasa region Christmas calendar at livochlust.fi
•
energyvaasa.fi, a remarkable database, has been of great help
•
Kimmo Saraste and Jonas Kommonen from the Vaasa urban development agency have contributed with invaluable information
•
A big thanks goes to the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, the Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce, as well as municipalities in the
Vaasa region
•
Thank you to the following people for their support and assistance in the creation of this book and for their active involvement in
regional communications: Veli-Matti Laitinen, Tarja Gromov, Matti Jakobsson, Ulla Mäki-Lohiluoma, Sture Udd, Juha Häkkinen, Mia
Brännbacka, Markus Jussila, Katarina Heikius, Stefan Råback, Eva Swanljung, Maria Backman, Rita Kuha, Marko Honko, Maria Mäkelä,
Varpu Rajaniemi, Irina Nori, Heli Haapamäki, Tauno Kekäle and Sari Mäkisalo.
•
Thank you to all of you who contributed to this publication: Tom Blom, Petra Sten-Heinonen, Rimma Heinonen, Ida Jousmäki, Jenna
Koivuranta, Pirjo Laaksonen, Katarina Pukkila-Palmunen, Ari-Jussi Uunila, Manu och Munish Maggon, Josefina Långström, Matias
Koivula, Akseli Puijola, Calle Laakso and Lisa Boström.
•
Last but not least, we wish to thank all the companies, decision-makers and residents who each in their own way made this book possible.
WORK GROUP Suvi Markko, Robert Olander, Pekka Haapanen, Mari Kattelus, Johanna Hietikko-Koljonen, Päivi Elina Alasjärvi, Riitta Björkenheim, Tuukka Turunen, Anna Jeanne Söderlund (text), Lars Rosenblad (text), Linnéa Sjöholm (layout), Katja Lösönen (photos)
PHOTOS Katja Lösönen: pages 1–15, 22–23, 25–29, 36–37, 44–47, 50–55 and 58–61. Pages 16–17 Mikko Lehtimäki, 21 Kuntsi/Lehtimäki, 30–31 VEO/Lehtimäki, 35 Roaming Oy/Lehtimäki, 38 The Switch, 41 ABB, 42–43 Mapromec Oy/Lehtimäki, 48–49 Vasa Elektriska/Lösönen, 52–53 Juha Ojanperä, 54 Mikaela Jussila, 57 Anni Kiviniemi, 62–63 Marko Kauppi.
65
ISBN 978-952-6622-02-6