In 2025, the importance of research and innovation was highlighted in a context where Finland’s economic growth has remained modest for a prolonged period and the operating environment has stayed uncertain. The parent company’s net turnover increased to EUR 198 million (2024: EUR 189.7 million), and research activities generated a wide range of new results. At the same time, VTT-originating startups continued their strong development: in 2025, six startup companies raised ca. EUR 400 million in funding.
VTT’s mission is to support the renewal of Finnish industry through research and technology. The research organisation helps companies develop and scale innovations and create new business. VTT is actively involved in EU research and innovation programmes and collaborates with more than 4,000 partners. Customer satisfaction remained at a high level (NPS 81), reflecting the value of research and collaboration for companies.
“Finland’s growth cannot be achieved without long-term investment in research and innovation. VTT’s role is to accelerate Finland’s growth by creating startups and supporting scaleups, renewing industry and strengthening resilience. It is encouraging to see that startups and technologies originating from research are also finding their way into industrial production and new investments,” says Kalle Härkki, President and CEO of VTT.
VTT startups attracted significant investments and new growth companies emerged
VTT’s financial performance remained stable in 2025. Other operating income of the parent company amounted to EUR 110.6 million (2024: EUR 106.7 million), of which government grant accounted for EUR 99.7 million (EUR 93.6 million). The parent company’s comparable adjusted operating profit was EUR 3.6 million (EUR 2.2 million). At VTT, the parent company figures represent the organisation’s operational activities.
The impact of VTT’s activities is also reflected in the creation of new companies and the commercialisation of technologies. More than 60 startups have originated from VTT, employing nearly 900 people in total.
In 2025, six VTT startups raised a total of ca. EUR 400 million in equity funding. At the same time, several growth companies progressed towards industrial-scale production, for example in biotechnology, food technology and energy solutions.
New research and piloting environments strengthen customers’ competitiveness
In 2025, research and innovation activities continued in a challenging international operating environment. Geopolitical tensions, trade policy uncertainty and cautious investment behaviour affected companies’ operating conditions. At the same time, the importance of research and technology for Europe’s competitiveness and strategic autonomy became even more pronounced.
“As the world is changing rapidly and technology companies act as global drivers of growth, the importance of research and technology continues to increase. VTT’s role is to help companies and society build solutions that strengthen competitiveness and sustainable growth in the long term,” Härkki says.
VTT also continued its investments in research and piloting environments that support the development and commercialisation of new technologies. Finland has strong expertise in areas such as microelectronics, photonics, quantum technology, biomaterials, biotechnology and energy solutions.
Kvanttinova, currently being developed in Otaniemi, is a research and business ecosystem focused on microelectronics, photonics and quantum technology. In addition to Espoo, research and investment projects have been advanced in Tampere, Oulu and Jyväskylä. More than 140 companies, as well as a broad range of research organisations and other partners, are already involved.
During the year, VTT also updated its sustainability targets and continued its work on developing sustainable technological solutions. Research focuses, among other areas, on the energy transition, circular economy, biomaterials and low-emission industrial processes, helping companies reduce emissions and build more sustainable business.
The number of scientific publications increased
In 2025, VTT published a total of 646 scientific articles (2024: 598). A total of 276 invention disclosures and software disclosures were received (255). The results are generated in close collaboration with companies, universities and international research networks, and support the development of new technologies and their utilisation in industry.
At the end of the year, VTT employed 2,349 people (2024: 2,387), of whom 1,487 (1,475) were research staff. This broad base of expertise enables research across multiple technology areas and close collaboration with companies and international research networks.
“Once again, 2025 demonstrated how essential research and technological expertise are for Finland’s renewal and growth. VTT’s research helps companies develop new solutions and build competitiveness in a rapidly changing world. At the same time, strong research collaboration both in Finland and internationally lays the foundation for future innovations and new growth areas,” Härkki says.
The results for 2025 have been compiled in the Annual and Sustainability Report, which is available on our website. The site also provides access to the financial statements and the report of the Board of Directors, as well as disclosures on the tax footprint, governance, salaries and remuneration.
