Merinova’s Strategy 2026–2030
Helping businesses grow and transform
Strength through collaboration
The Vaasa region has the expertise needed to drive the clean transition. Demand for energy technology solutions is growing, and new investments are creating opportunities for local businesses. Our role at Merinova is to look ahead, identify future opportunities for growth and help businesses seize them.
Finland has long worked to attract investment. Today, our competitive and sustainable energy production is a key strength as companies seek locations for energy-intensive operations. In the Vaasa region, major data centre investments are opening up new opportunities, while hydrogen and other emerging technologies offer longer-term potential.
Turning these opportunities into business requires collaboration between industry, research and education. At Merinova, we bring businesses and higher education institutions together in joint development projects, allowing new solutions and the expertise needed to support them to develop side by side. Through international projects, we connect local businesses with partners across Europe and open up access to new expertise and funding.
We also help businesses improve their own operations. Since Merinova was founded, we have supported hundreds of companies in achieving certification and strengthening their competitiveness. This work also contributes to the region’s growth: helping businesses adapt, improve the way they work and meet their customers’ needs.
The strength of this region lies in its ability to collaborate. Companies can compete in one area and work together in another. We have a strong culture of collaboration and a shared commitment to finding solutions together. Merinova plays a central role in developing this collaboration as part of EnergyVaasa, the largest energy technology cluster in the Nordic countries.
These joint efforts have also earned international recognition. EnergyVaasa was the first cluster in Finland to receive the ECEI Gold Label for excellence in cluster management, and in 2023 it received the Internationalisation Award of the President of the Republic of Finland. EnergyVaasa and EnergyWeek raise our region’s international profile and showcase our expertise around the world.
I believe the future of the Vaasa region will be built on the same strength that has shaped its success so far: the ability to work together. At Merinova, we will continue bringing the region’s expertise, new ideas and the right partners together to help businesses grow.
Marko Kuokkanen
CEO, Merinova
Merinova’s Strategy 2026–2030
We create the conditions for businesses to transform, strengthen their competitiveness and grow internationally. During the 2026–2030 strategy period, we will focus on strengthening collaboration within EnergyVaasa, diversifying funding opportunities and developing services that meet businesses’ needs. Our aim is to strengthen Merinova’s role in advancing the global energy transition.
A stronger cluster and international partnerships
We strengthen EnergyVaasa’s international collaboration and help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) join networks that develop and deliver the energy solutions of the future. We bring partners together for joint projects and help businesses participate in major national and EU projects. This creates new opportunities to build on the region’s expertise and expand into international markets.
A broader funding base for development
We draw on national and EU funding to support the development of businesses and the energy technology cluster. We strengthen project preparation and build partnerships that turn business needs into joint development projects. At the same time, we are diversifying Merinova’s own funding base so that we can remain a long-term development partner through changing economic conditions.
Services shaped by business needs
We develop our services together with our clients and partners. We help SMEs improve their operations, build their capacity for growth and strengthen their position within their customers’ and partners’ networks. By combining the expertise of our own team with that of our expert network, we provide businesses with support tailored to their needs.
Innovation, collaboration and responsibility guide everything we do. Developed together with our staff, owners and stakeholders, our strategy shapes both our everyday decisions and our long-term development.