May Cluster Newsletter
Spring at Biocluster Finland is progressing with a wide range of themes. The award nominees for the Green Transition Business Competition have been selected, and the competition’s Gala event where the winner and the audience favorite will be announced is approaching. In addition, the cluster has gained its first supporter.
In this overview, we present the award nominee companies and our supporter collaboration, as well as compile current funding calls and events:
- The award nominees for the Green Transition Business Competition 2026 have been selected
- Vestia Oy is the first supporter of our continuously operating cluster
- Current funding calls for SMEs and startups
- Opportunities in the Circular Economy – Workshop for Entrepreneurs in Oulu, May 25, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 3:15 PM
- Events
The award nominees for the Green Transition Business Competition 2026 have been selected
The jury selected 7 innovative and growth-oriented young companies from among all applicants. This year’s nominees are (in alphabetical order):
- Betolar Oyj
- Emission-Eye Oy
- Inosence Polyol Oy
- NPHarvest Oy
- Reduciner Oy
- Sulapac Oy
- Volare Oy
The winner and audience favorite will be awarded at Biocluster Finland’s Green Transition Gala. At the event, the award nominees will pitch their operations to the jury and the audience.
Read more about the award nominees 2026
Vestia Oy is the first supporter of our continuously operating cluster
Biocluster Finland has started operating as continuous cluster after the EU-funded planning project. The first supporter of the cluster is Vestia Oy. Vestia’s operations concentrate on Central and North Ostrobothnia where the company is responsible for household waste management and for maintaining the recycling point network in its owner municipalities.
We asked Olavi Soinio, CEO of Vestia Oy, why Vestia wanted to support cluster activities that promote green and digital transition as well as safety, already from the previous preparatory project. Soinio explained that Vestia wanted to be involved in enabling activities that support the development of companies and regional vitality in the long term, and that collaboration with Biocluster Finland is a way to promote the circular economy, low-emission solutions, and business renewal more broadly than just within the boundaries of their own organization. In addition, Soinio highlighted the importance, impact, and potential of cluster collaboration in the current operating environment, which presents new kinds of preparedness challenges for stakeholders.
Read more about our collaboration with Vestia
Current funding calls for SMEs and startups
There are currently several funding calls available for companies that support growth, business development, and investments. Below, you will find a selection of current funding opportunities:
Sprint Grant for small companies seeking rapid international growth | Business Finland (Application period 2.3.-31.8.2026)
Research, development and piloting SME’s or midcap’s | Business Finland (Continuous call)
Scaling biobased solutions in Agrifood and Energy-intensive Indusries | international EU-clusterproject BIONetZero (Application period 9.4.-9.6.2026)
Opportunities in the Circular Economy – Workshop for Entrepreneurs in Oulu, May 25, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 3:15 PM
Join a workshop that provides concrete tools for developing circular economy business!
The workshop is open to everyone interested in the topic, but is particularly aimed at entrepreneurs or those planning to start a business who are looking to identify new growth opportunities, reduce costs, and develop products or services.
The workshop will be held at Kiertokaari Oy in Oulu on Monday, May 25, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 3:15 PM and is free of charge.
The event is organized by the Biochar Era project, Kiertokaari Oy, the Kiertokumppanit project, and the Kiertola project.
Read more about the program and register by May 20, 2026
Events
May 22, 2026 Yritysturvallisuusvartti Extra: Yrityksen varautuminen ja riskienhallinta kyberturvallisuuden näkökulmasta | Prizztech (online, the language of the webinar is Finnish)
May 27, 2026 Tutkimusorganisaatioiden ja pk-yritysten yhteistyö -rahoitushaun info | Business Finland (online, the language of the webinar is Finnish)
May 27.5. Science Startup Day 2026 | Business Finland (Team Finland House)
June 3, 2026 Suomen akkuteollisuuden tulevaisuus – tavoitteet ja teot | Akkuteollisuus ry ja Business Finland (Finlandia House, the language of the event is Finnish)
June 3–4, 2026 EU Green Week 2026: Investing in a nature-positive economy | EU Green Week (hybrid participation)
June 10, 2026 Miten vahvistamme TKI-yhteistyön vaikuttavuutta Suomessa? | Sitra (online, the language of the webinar is Finnish)
June 10, 2026 One Market, One Europe: Unlocking the digital single market | Sitra (hybrid participation)