Metsä Group has been selected as the most startup-friendly company in Finland in 2021. The award is presented by the entrepreneurial and startup community Tribe Tampere.

“Metsä Group has actively developed its cooperation with the startup field, most concretely by establishing the innovation company Metsä Spring about four years ago. We are very grateful and proud that our determined contribution has led to this recognition,” says Erik Kolehmainen, who is responsible for Corporate Venturing operations at Metsä Group.

Selection criteria for the award include a strong startup attitude and actions in a wide spectrum, including supporting the actors in the startup ecosystem. This year the emphasis was on the companies’ actions that have been carried out to tackle challenges during the pandemic and its unprecedented consequences to the world around us.

“Metsä Spring has shown great dedication in supporting the startup scene in Finland and presented the information in the competition in a clear and detailed format”, the award jury comments.

Metsä Spring invests in promising startups and early-stage companies with a visible path to the Metsä Group business ecosystem. Metsä Spring has come across thousands of new ideas and has thus far assessed more than 500 potential wood-based innovations, five of which it has since invested in. The three startup investments (Woodio, Montinutra and Innomost) have in common that their own production is based on side-streams from Metsä Group’s production units. The other two investments are Metsä Spring’s own demo projects, related to novel textile fibres and 3D packaging products. You can read more about our active projects on Metsä Spring’s website.

Metsä Spring has currently two roles in its operations. According to its original role, Metsä Spring seeks and develops new business opportunities for Metsä Group. This role also involves active cooperation with startup companies. In 2021, Metsä Spring’s role was expanded by establishing a Group-level R&D function within Metsä Spring. The aim of this function is to support and promote R&D activities in Metsä Group’s existing business areas.

For further information, please contact:
Erik Kolehmainen, VP, Corporate Venturing, erik.kolehmainen@metsagroup.com

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