Cross-sectoral collaboration is among the key factors that make Defence Tech Hub unique, Ossi Ritvos writes in his Defence Tech Hub blog, as the hub is now integrating the Helsinki Region's deep tech companies into a single ecosystem.
In August, we launched Defence Tech Hub, the Nordics' leading dual-use deep tech hub, as the hub now expands and unites the Helsinki Region's defence ecosystem for collaboration, growth, and technology development.
What this means is that Defence Tech Hub is now connecting its 100-strong deep tech company community and consolidating the hub's operations into a single ecosystem where most of the operators are in Otaniemi, Espoo.
When we started in early 2025, Defence Tech Hub quickly grabbed the attention of the Finnish dual-use companies and defence industry. Since then, the excitement around the hub has fed into the defence industry's growing momentum. Now, with the launch, I think there’s an even more positive vibe in the community, and the hub is more prepared than ever to have a significant impact within the whole Finnish dual-use ecosystem. Here’s what Jarno Limnéll, Chairperson of Espoo City Council, Member of Parliament and Adjunct Professor at three universities, had to say in our press release:
“The Defence Tech Hub in Espoo, Otaniemi, provides an excellent foundation for this work, combining world-class research, entrepreneurship and a strong culture of preparedness. Strengthening this dual-use, deep-tech ecosystem supports Finland’s security, Europe’s technological sovereignty and our shared competitiveness."
In addition to the up-and-coming local startups, Finland's globally operating heavy hitters have increasingly seen the benefits of signing up in Defence Tech Hub. Today, our member community includes some of Finland’s most well-known deep tech companies and innovation players, such as Vaisala, VTT, ICEYE, and IQM.
Answering the demands of shifting security environments
In our Defence Tech Hub press release, Limnéll mentions that to secure Europe’s permanently changed security environment, we need tech capability, innovation, and cross-sectoral collaboration. That’s exactly what Defence Tech Hub offers.
The companies operate in sectors like satellite and space tech, quantum computing, sensors, software, AI, autonomous systems, and drone technologies, which are key technologies that prepared security environments require and that are in demand in the global defence market.
Therefore, what makes Defence Tech Hub’s collective capability unique is that the community can offer deep tech dual-use solutions and tech development opportunities that are adaptable across sectors, including the traditional defence sector.
Our Defence Tech Hub launch event again showed how willing the companies are to working together. Now that the hub is consolidating its operations into a single ecosystem, Defence Tech Hub can also serve its members better and, as a collective, attract more defence-focused technologies and companies to Otaniemi, Espoo.
Defence Tech Hub in the UK and Korea in September
Together with Finnish partners, Enter Espoo is taking a deep tech delegation, with Defence Tech Hub as a headliner, to Cambridge Tech Week on 15-16 September to build on existing relationships and spark new collaborations between the UK and Finland. ICEYE, Kvanttinova Ltd, and Millennium Technology Prize join us at the booth in Cambridge.
Meanwhile in Korea, together with Helsinki Partners, Defence Tech Hub is speaking and presenting at the Try Everything 2026 event in Seoul, with Defence Tech Hub member companies Metaktik, AiBEN, and Broadbit Batteries joining us at the booth. During the trip, there are also several meetings between Enter Espoo and investors, corporations, and other innovation players interested in Defence Tech Hub.
Defence Tech Hub has great momentum both in Finland and abroad, so please get in touch with us and subscribe to our Defence Tech Hub newsletter if you'd like to get involved in the hub's activities.
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