Two years after launching in Riihimäki, the Defence Innovation Network Finland (DEFINE) is poised to expand its influence across the Finnish defence and security landscape. This EU-backed initiative, which initially connected people within the Finnish Defence Forces, defence and security companies, and research institutes, is now adding six more Finnish cities to its network. The goal? To foster collaboration over competition and propel the Finnish defence industry into a new era of innovation.
DEFINE’s expansion reflects a strategic shift towards a more unified and collaborative approach in defence technology. Each new city brings its unique focus to the programme: Espoo will concentrate on deep technology innovations, Forssa on ESG impact and competence, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences on autonomous defence solutions and physical AI, Häme University of Applied Sciences on local AI solutions and training for the defence sector, Hämeenlinna on security of supply and resilience, Joensuu on digital border security solutions, and Oulu on radio technologies and 6G development—a nod to Finland’s foundational contribution to wireless communications through Nokia.
The selection of these cities was driven by their enthusiasm and commitment, according to Teemu Seppälä, Technology and Innovation Director at the City of Riihimäki, who helped establish DEFINE and will oversee the broader network. “We are making history in Finland,” he said. “From a defence business side, we will be able to provide meaningful solutions for the end users, for defence forces, and now with a bigger portfolio of startup companies, we can start selling to different countries.”
This week, the Finland-backed Sitra Fund announced its support for DEFINE, pledging a significant portion of the €2 million needed to establish business accelerators, hackathons, technical demonstrations, and innovation hubs across the new locations. The fund’s contribution, though unspecified, will be a major boost to the project’s ambitions.
“Our mission is to promote sustainable economic growth in Finland, and of course there’s also the aspect of security,” said Heikki Aura, Senior Lead at Sitra Fund. “We know well that, for unfortunate reasons, the defence sector is something that is growing very rapidly [with] billions being invested by Europe, by Finland, by everybody, into this domain. We want to make sure that Finnish companies, or companies that want to be based in Finland and working in the Finnish ecosystem, will be able to capture as much of that as possible.”
The expansion of DEFINE signals a pivotal moment in Finland’s defence technology ecosystem. Developers and innovators, previously working in silos or in competition with each other, are now recognising the advantages of collaboration. “I’m extremely happy to do something together with other cities who we have mostly been competing with,” Seppälä remarked. “We are a small country, and all these different locations in Finland have very specific strengths—very unique skills.”
With the addition of these new cities, Riihimäki will continue to serve as the main hub, focusing on cooperation with the Finnish Defence Forces. “Our goal is to build DEFINE into an internationally significant defence innovation ecosystem that brings together top expertise from Finland and around the world,” said Jouni Eho, the Mayor of Riihimäki.
This initiative not only promises to enhance Finland’s defence capabilities but also positions the country as a key player in the global defence technology market. By leveraging the unique strengths of each city, DEFINE is set to create a robust and resilient defence innovation ecosystem that could redefine the future of military technology.