Project activity

Invest in Vaasa conceptualization and development project

The goal for both the City of Vaasa and the entire Vaasa Region is to maintain its position as a significant innovation hub for energy technology at the European level, and to further strengthen its position by 2030. The development and growth of the energy technology innovation hub, require new companies to establish themselves in the area.

The project promotes the development of the business sector in the Vaasa Region and supports the goal of becoming carbon neutral. During the project, conditions for investments are created, particularly those strengthening the EnergyVaasa cluster in the region. Investments are especially promoted in areas such as energy storage, hydrogen technology, offshore wind power, companies establishing themselves in GigaVaasa and contributing to a clean battery value chain, as well as ICT and industrial services supporting these areas.   

The result of the project will be an efficient and successful Invest in Vaasa concept. An operational plan and rules have been developed, and the network-based approach is working smoothly. Through the project, a broad group of stakeholders in the region has been engaged in the operation. A material bank is available for actors in the region and for those planning an establishment, making information more accessible.

For those considering establishing themselves in the Vaasa Region, the operation is simple, smooth, and secure.

The project is carried out as part of the innovations ecosystem agreement of the City of Vaasa.

Project duration: 1.9.2023-31.12.2025

Project partners: Oy Merinova Ab, Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, and Vaasa Facilita Oy Ab

Through sustainable battery value chain innovations towards investments

Vaasa aims to create the world’s greenest battery ecosystem in Finland. The GigaVaasa area offers a sustainably implemented industrial environment for actors in the battery value chain. The goal has been to attract sustainability-committed actors in the battery industry to establish themselves in the area. In addition to sustainability, the provided industrial park environment, and its infrastructure aims to ensure the competitiveness of companies well into the future. The project aims to promote the next phase of the GigaVaasa concept as it moves forward from land reservations and permits to the implementation phase on the project site.  

The project aims primarily to deal with development areas identified as critical at this stage. These include: Developing a customer management system for actors who already have a plot reservation, communication regarding the progress of the area, as well as preparedness for a growing workforce demand in the region. The project also involves preparations for managing traffic from the GigaVaasa area to the sea and railway network.

The result of the project will be a customer system to support operations. An attractiveness campaign has been planned in collaboration with other stakeholders, ensuring that the needs of the battery value chain are taken into consideration in the campaign. The goal of the project is to create an event concept to support the development of the battery value chain in the GigaVaasa area. During the project, the event concept has been created and piloted. Through the concept and developed communication plan, the most essential stakeholders connected to the development of the GigaVaasa area can be reached. Additionally, the project aims to promote the logistics connections from the GigaVaasa area to the port and main roads, as well as Finland’s railway network. The role of the project representatives is to provide strategic and visionary material to support official work based on the developed GigaVaasa area strategy model.

The project is carried out as part of the innovations ecosystem agreement of the City of Vaasa.

Project duration: 1.1.2024-30.6.2025

Project partners: Oy Merinova Ab, Vaasanseudun Kehitys Oy VASEK, and Vaasa Facilita Oy Ab

Battery Value Chain in a New Market Reality – Towards Sustainable Profitability

The City of Vaasa, together with the Municipality of Mustasaari, has been developing the GigaVaasa area since 2017. Over the years, the area has been zoned and the infrastructure required for the battery value chain has been planned for the area. Battery value chain operators have been attracted to locate in the area. However, the market situation in Europe regarding the battery value chain has changed dramatically during the year and battery value chain operators are struggling with the profitability of their projects. This has led to many projects, especially in Europe, being delayed. However, the battery market continues to grow and now is the time to update the GigaVaasa area strategy to respond to the market situation in order to ensure that investments in the area are launched.

The aim of the project is to be able to develop the competitiveness of the GigaVaasa area due to the changed market situation. The aim will be achieved by:

1. Promoting the operating conditions with customers who have reserved a plot in the GigaVaasa area to ensure profitable business.
2. Finding new operators for the GigaVaasa area.
3. By investigating the added value and potential synergy benefits brought by other energy-intensive industries in terms of the competitiveness of the GigaVaasa area.
4. By developing logistics solutions for the area, including special transport
5. By developing the service concept for the GigaVaasa area in cooperation with potential customers and service providers
6. By updating the GigaVaasa communication strategy and measures in line with the changed market situation.

Project duration: 1.7.2025-31.12.2027

Project partners: Oy Merinova Ab, Vaasanseudun Kehitys Oy VASEK, and Vaasa Facilita Oy Ab