Green Line brings together experts in green chemistry, circular economy and clean technology along the metro line

Green Line, Finland’s leading centre of expertise in green chemistry, circular economy and clean technology will be built along the metro line in Espoo. Green Line provides operators with a platform for innovation cooperation and sharing expertise. The shared story also raises interest globally.

More and more companies in the circular economy, green chemistry and clean technology are focusing their operations on the metro line. For example, Kemira in Finnoo, VTT’s Bioruukki Pilot Centre and NCC’s future Cleantech Garden in Kiviruukki, as well as Aalto University and numerous startups in Otaniemi form a business cluster in Espoo. Along the tracks, you can also quickly access other innovation centres in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, such as the Maria 01 Startup Campus and the University of Helsinki.

The metro combines the centres physically and through Green Line the cooperation also extends to concrete operations. All competence in the field can be easily accessed along the half-hour metro ride.

"We all share similar hopes and challenges - why not join forces?" asks Enter Espoo's Miska Hakala, who launched the development of the concept in cooperation with the partners.

Green Line is a platform for startups, companies, research and development institutions, business accelerators, educators, investors, the public sector and everyone else who wants to participate in creating a sustainable future together. The area provides companies with shared laboratory facilities, support for growth and funding, as well as training in the field.

“Green Line offers a place to share expertise and activities. It makes it easy to market Espoo’s innovation story to international green chemistry and clean technology companies seeking new locations or, for example, to investors seeking circular economy growth companies,” continues Hakala.

Green Line is built in stages in cooperation with the partners.

“If we want to change things, cooperation is key. Together with the Green Line operators, we conduct research and development cooperation in Bioruukki, which also attracts new partners,” anticipates VTT’s Head of Business Development Inka Orko.

Green Line becomes stronger step by step. Since late 2024, the creation of the concept has been led by the City of Espoo and Enter Espoo together with the developer partner Crazy Town. The actors in the region actively participated in the work in various discussions and workshops organised during the year. The results were presented to a large group of participants at the Green Line Forum, in December. The forum was also the start for a joint journey. Now, the responsibility for Green Line's opportunities lies on all of us.

"The saying goes: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” sums up Toni Pienonen, developer partner at Crazy Town.

All actors in the community can utilise the shared story and communication materials to market their sustainable innovations. Visibility and finding premises as business expands is important for growing companies and developing startups in Aalto University's business accelerators, for instance.

A. Ahlström Kiinteistöt, who has been involved in the creation of Green Line from the beginning, together with its partners, is building the EriCa Green Chemistry Park in Finnoo, which will open in autumn 2025. “EriCa is a cluster of expertise in green chemistry and sustainable development, and a real source of innovations. Our goal is to also cooperate with other Green Line operators, as together we are more,” says Pia Lindborg, director of real estate at A. Ahlström Kiinteistöt. 

The green transition requires new types of cooperation between different sectors and in value chains. In addition to ongoing innovation and development cooperation, Green Line will be visible at events organised by the operators and at international fairs in 2025.

Entrepreneur, researcher, trainer, student or other innovator interested in sustainable future: Are you looking for partners? Are you organising an event on the topic for which you need speakers or participants? Contact Green Line operators(external link, opens in a new window) and follow the Espoo Epic Events calendar(external link, opens in a new window). 

For more information on the results of the autumn conceptualisation work, see the Green Line Forum presentation and the Green Line concept preliminary assessment project report, at the end of the article.