Paving the Way for Green Business: Päijät-Häme & Cantabria
Paving the Way for Green Business: Päijät-Häme’s Bilateral Matchmaking with Cantabria
The global shift toward sustainability and clean energy has fueled innovation, with electric mobility at the forefront. In this context, Päijät-Häme, Finland, hosted a Bilateral Matchmaking session with OPE Cantabria, Spain, focusing on business development. A key highlight was the presentation by Pekka Komu, Business Development Manager at Lahti GEM (Green Electrification of Mobility Cluster), offering insights into the future of electric mobility and sustainable transportation.
Lahti’s Green Commitment: A Model for Sustainable Cities
Lahti, named the European Green Capital in 2021, is a leader in sustainability, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2025. The city operates on 100% renewable energy, has eliminated fossil fuel energy production, and boasts a 99% municipal waste recovery rate. Central to this transformation is the Lahti GEM cluster, which drives electric mobility innovation, focusing on heavy-duty vehicles, automation, digitalization, and software.
The GEM Cluster: Collaboration and Innovation
Lahti GEM’s cluster model includes 43 companies involved in electric mobility. Participation is free, but companies contribute expertise and collaborate. The cluster was built organically through media outreach and networking, emphasizing a shared vision and industry improvement.
Kempower: A Success Story in Electric Mobility
A standout GEM cluster member, Kempower, produces EV charging solutions and has expanded internationally, opening a production facility in Durham, North Carolina. This facility, located in the Research Triangle Park, focuses on manufacturing DC fast chargers for EVs, buses, trucks, and industrial machines. Kempower’s expansion highlights the importance of international business networks in scaling innovative companies.
Strengthening International Collaboration
The session underscored the value of global partnerships. Finland, particularly Lahti, has strong ties with Japan and the UK but seeks to expand collaborations with Ireland, Spain, and France. Cross-border EV clusters can foster knowledge exchange and establish a global green mobility value chain.
Lahti GEM companies also emphasized the need for better incentives to attract talent and startups. While London remains a key innovation hub, Finland must enhance fiscal incentives and infrastructure support to become more appealing to entrepreneurs.
The Role of Education and Research
A crucial factor in Lahti’s electric mobility growth is its partnership with LUT University, which has a professorship in electric transportation systems and a Master’s program in electric transportation. The Kempower Electric Mobility Research Centre (EMRC) further enhances Lahti’s research capacity, driving interdisciplinary innovation in electric mobility.
Overcoming Challenges in EV Infrastructure
Despite advancements, EV charging infrastructure faces operational, regulatory, and financial challenges. The need for faster, larger chargers is growing, as is the challenge of managing traffic congestion. Lahti’s participation in the EU-funded Climate KC project aims to address these issues through zero-emission zones and sustainable urban planning.
Conclusion: Advancing Green Collaboration
The Bilateral Matchmaking Session between Cantabria and Päijät-Häme marked a step forward in fostering international partnerships in the green business sector. Cantabria can draw inspiration from Päijät-Häme’s approach to collaboration, green entrepreneurship, and business-friendly policies.
With a strong commitment to sustainability, advanced green technology, and an entrepreneurial ecosystem, Päijät-Häme continues to drive economic growth while supporting Europe’s green transition. Through shared knowledge and collaboration, the Cantabria-Päijät-Häme partnership can help accelerate the global shift to a sustainable future.
For more information on the Green Electrification of Mobility Cluster, visit Lahti GEM and Kempower.