A new hotspot for sustainable innovation is emerging in Kiviruukki, Espoo. At the centre of it is Cleantech Garden, a hub developed and built by NCC that will bring together leading companies, researchers and future talent in clean technology. The first phase of the approximately 50,000-square-metre campus, which will house VTT and the Kiviruukki upper secondary school, is expected to be completed during spring 2027.
Cleantech Garden is part of the Green Line
Cleantech Garden is also part of a wider story unfolding along Espoo’s western metro line. Known as the Green Line, this growing hub of green technology companies and research centres is strengthening Espoo’s position as a city where sustainable solutions are developed, tested and scaled. Cleantech Garden is set to become one of its key stops – a place where business, research and education meet.
“In Espoo, we have a unique innovation ecosystem where fruitful collaboration takes place between experts in diverse fields, giving rise to the innovations the world needs both now and in the future. The physical proximity of the different players helps companies find new solutions,” says Jaana Tuomi, CEO of Enter Espoo.
Along the Green Line, several top companies and research organisations are developing next-level solutions for the green transition.
When arriving in Espoo from Helsinki, Keilaniemi is the first stop, with major companies such as Neste, Fortum and KONE. The next stop in Otaniemi hosts the prestigious Aalto University and VTT, one of Europe’s leading research organisations, as well as an advanced startup ecosystem.
Tapiola is home to Metsä Group, Urheilupuisto to Orion Pharma, Matinkylä to the forest industry company Metso, and Finnoo to Kemira and EriCa, a research, development and collaboration hub for green chemistry.
“Then we arrive at the final stop, the developing Kiviruukki area, where a green transition hub is being built and where VTT’s Bioruukki, specialising in the bioeconomy and circular economy, is already operating. All the players along the metro line are drivers that generate a great deal of expertise and activity that will also feed into Cleantech Garden,” Tuomi says.
"The sky is the only limit"
In Espoo, the Kiviruukki area is seen as an important area for collaboration, and Cleantech Garden as a strong player for the entire area. According to Tuomi, companies now have a golden opportunity, as the ecosystem is being built around key companies.
“Cleantech Garden is looking to attract companies in the bioeconomy, circular economy, and clean energy that want to grow in the sector. The goal is to create a diverse entity covering the full spectrum of the green transition,” Tuomi confirms.
This is not merely a place with business premises. Cleantech Garden is a growth platform for future innovations in the green transition, forming part of Espoo’s innovation ecosystem.
“Cleantech Garden will grow into a strong and attractive hub that will also appeal to international players. We are truly excited about this project that brings operators close to one another, offering opportunities to grow and succeed. Here, the sky is the only limit.”
To VTT, Cleantech Garden is a dream come true
VTT Bioruukki, located in Kivenlahti, Espoo, has for years been putting research in the circular economy, bioeconomy, and energy solutions into practice.
“When VTT Bioruukki began its operations in 2015, we immediately started discussions with the City of Espoo about the nature of our activities and our commitment to the area. This provided the starting point for a new kind of development,” says Tua Huomo, Executive Vice President, Sustainable products and materials at VTT.
This gave rise to the vision of Kiviruukki as an innovation hub where research, business and education meet, supported by smooth metro connections. With Cleantech Garden, that vision is now becoming reality.
VTT Bioruukki is already one of Europe’s largest open-access pilot facilities in the field of process and materials technology. At Bioruukki, ideas can be validated, refined, and taken towards the market. In this way, it accelerates the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-wise, and competitive economy.
“Our task is to support companies in developing sustainable innovations, accelerate their journey towards commercial success, and support sustainable growth in Finland,” Huomo emphasises.
A growth platform for new innovations
VTT Bioruukki will expand its premises to Cleantech Garden. The extension will support the development of clean energy solutions, including hydrogen technologies, battery and charging systems, energy storage, and low-carbon transport solutions.
The new facilities will bring experimental activities together in one location, creating synergies and making the research, piloting, and commercialisation phases more efficient. In addition, VTT will gain modern office and meeting spaces, supporting its multidisciplinary ways of working.
“Cleantech Garden will include an industrial chemistry research laboratory serving the whole Bioruukki, where innovations are developed from the idea into functional process concepts. The focus will be particularly on biomass-based circular economy solutions and new technologies for managing and utilising carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases,” Huomo says.
Huomo is expecting Cleantech Garden to develop into a community for sustainable technologies.
“Building this kind of ecosystem benefits Espoo, VTT, and companies throughout the area. It creates a growth platform for new innovations, attracts investment, and brings together experts who are solving the major challenges of our time.”
The article is translated and compiled based on NCC’s advertorials in Finnish daily Kauppalehti.
