Finland and Chile have initiated a long-term collaboration aimed at accelerating the development of sustainable technologies and creating new business opportunities. The Chile–Finland Binational Platform for Development and Technology Transfer offers Finnish companies and research organisations the opportunity to co-develop, pilot, and scale their solutions within Chile’s innovation ecosystem. The platform focuses particularly on sustainable and circular mining, hydrogen and Power-to-X solutions, and forest bioeconomy.
The official launch event took place at Team Finland House in Helsinki in early November. The platform is jointly implemented by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the innovation centre Fundación Chile. Chile’s development agency CORFO will provide USD 20 million in seed funding to kick-start pilot projects. After this, the platform will pool public and private co-funding from Chile, Finland, and international sources, significantly increasing the total funding beyond the initial amount.
“This platform is about doing, not just discussing. Our aim is to develop de-risked pilot projects and concrete solutions that meet the needs of both Finland and Chile with the potential for global application,” says Jussi Manninen, Executive Vice President for Carbon Neutrality at VTT.
The shared objectives include achieving competitive global decarbonisation, building joint value chains, and positioning Chile and Finland as leading providers of green transition technologies.
The collaboration platform supports joint development between companies and research institutions, knowledge transfer, and the adoption of new technologies. Large corporations, SMEs, start-ups, and research and development organisations are invited to participate.
“We strongly believe in the power of international cooperation when it comes to advancing science, technology, and impactful innovations. Joint funding, agile management models, and access to production facilities and other sites will help accelerate companies’ research and development activities. With CORFO’s public funding, we can combine Finnish technological expertise with Chile’s production potential and create sustainable solutions to shared challenges,” says Andro Lindsay, Business Development Manager for Carbon Neutrality at VTT.
Testing clean energy in southern Chile
The Magallanes region in southern Chile, near Cape Horn, serves as a concrete example of the opportunities offered by international collaboration. The region has launched the NEMa innovation platform, where VTT and Fundación Chile, together with local universities, companies, and other stakeholders, develop and pilot clean energy solutions such as green hydrogen, maritime decarbonization, and circular economy and energy solutions for data centres.
“Magallanes pairs world-class wind with real ambition, ideal for Finnish–Chilean innovation. We’re moving beyond energy pilots to regional impact that lifts people’s quality of life, with clear urban, social, and environmental benefits,” explains Andro Lindsay.
Opportunities for Finnish industry
The platform aims to leverage the countries’ shared strengths and capabilities into exportable technology solutions, attract investment, and drive economic, social, and environmental development for both countries.
Through the collaboration platform, companies can develop, pilot, and scale impactful technologies together with Chilean partners. They will gain a foothold in growing sustainability sectors and network with actors from public, private, and regional ecosystems, strengthening Finland’s innovation brand globally.
Key focus areas for the first year include:
- Sustainable and circular mining
- Hydrogen and Power-to-X solutions
- Forest bioeconomy, bio-based materials, and timber construction
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Image: Delegations of representatives from Finland and Chile (Image source: Entreprenerd Media)
