Vaasa Energy Cluster has an important role in marketing the Vaasa Region
When marketing the Vaasa region in Finland and abroad, the city's energy cluster plays an important role. This is because the energy cluster in the Vaasa region is such a significant employer, providing over 10 000 jobs, which comprise more than a quarter of the energy-sector employees in the whole of Finland. Vaasa energy cluster's total turnover is about 4 billion Euros, from which over 70 % comes from export sales.
The energy cluster in the Vaasa region is composed of companies operating in energy technology, various support organisations which provide services for them, as well as schools, universities
of applied sciences, and universities which train new experts for these companies.
Marketing Director Robert Olander from the Merinova Technology Centre has recently started his job marketing the whole Vaasa energy cluster. During his first weeks he has familiarised himself with the players in the cluster and cooperating organisations outside the region. "Even though I have worked for years within the energy industry in this region, I am impressed with the broad know-how which we have here", says Mr Olander.
Robert Olander and Suvi Markko
There are more than 800 people working on innovations in this region. Both large, international companies, as well as their subcontractors, need to enhance their processes and invest in R&D in order to maintain their competitiveness in the market. "For example, last year the first protection relay family based on the new IEC 61850 standards was launched from this region for the first time in the world", he continues.
Many of the companies in the Vaasa energy cluster develop and produce clean energy technology devices. This means that they manufacture devices which help in saving energy or producing clean energy. This is a growing business field, and the cluster of these companies already tempts other companies to establish operations here. No wonder that the employment situation in the Vaasa region is the best in the whole of Finland!
Mr Olander is going to work in close cooperation with VASEK's Communication Manager Suvi Markko, who is coordinating the Vaasa region's marketing. They both have partly the same goal, to make the Vaasa region better known beyond its borders, and in this way to attract more employers and also skilled people to work and live here. This is important also for the industry,
the education system and the municipalities.
text: Johanna Haveri