Pauli Marttila
firstname.lastname@sitra.fi
+358 294 618 415
firstname.lastname@sitra.fi
+358 294 618 415
To succeed internationally, Finland needs healthy and sustainable businesses. Sitra promotes this by investing in innovative companies with development potential.
Sitra launches innovative projects that aim to find solutions to challenges facing Finland. Capital investments serve as a tool for achieving Sitra’s strategic goals.
Sitra does not grant subsidies to companies. It invests in shares and contributes to the development of companies as an active owner.
Sitra’s portfolio consists of shares in approximately 40 companies in a variety of sectors, such as energy, biotechnology, IT and environmental technology as well as industrial production and services.
Sitra uses investment as a tool for sustainable well-being through social change. In other words, in addition to making a profit, we aim to make a difference in society by investing capital in companies in selected key areas.
We invest in shares and convertible loans. We maintain a seat on the board and take an active role in developing the companies. Our goal is also to bring new private capital to the companies by involving at least one funding partner in the very first round of our investments.
Despite the high risk profile, we have achieved a satisfactory return on our invested capital over time.
Investment areas
As laid out in our strategy, Sitra targets its new capital investments at the following areas:
We also use investments to facilitate new business ecosystems in Finland. These investments do not need to represent the areas listed above.
When selecting companies, we emphasise the skills and experience of the entrepreneur and key employees, sector-specific knowledge, competitive abilities, market potential, cash flow, financial potential and expected return as well as the possibilities for withdrawing from the firm. We also pay attention to the potential the company offers for social change in accordance with Sitra’s strategy.
We make socially responsible investments. As a long-term capital investor, Sitra is an active owner committed to developing the company for an average of four to ten years. We exit the company in accordance with a specific plan, factoring in the company’s stage of development and need for further financing.
Sitra prepares an annual investment plan, which is approved by the Board of Directors. The Supervisory Board confirms the general guidelines for funding operations. All investments within Sitra’s programmes are prepared and made in cooperation with capital investment teams and investment specialists.
Energy technologies and services
We focus on energy efficiency, buildings, communities, traffic, industrial processes and the production of clean energy as well as the transfer, distribution and storage of energy. Initial investments typically range from EUR 0.5 million to 2 million. In our portfolio companies, we act as an active minority shareholder. For more information, please see our energy section or contact:
Mechanical engineering
We make capital investments in cooperation with other investors. We seek strong, growing companies with a turnover of EUR 10 million to 70 million. Sitra acts as a minority shareholder in these companies. For more information, please contact:
Municipal services and public administration
Through our investments, we aim to create new service structures, enhance customer-focused approaches and ensure more choice and influence for the public. All of our investments and projects are related to the five focus areas of Sitra’s Municipal Programme. For more information, please contact:
Public Leadership and Management Programme
We help municipalities and state administration develop their operations from a leadership perspective. We focus on practical experiments, but we also facilitate service structure reforms through new companies and innovative business models. We invest in growth companies that contribute to the renewal and versatility of public services. For more information, please contact:
A vital countryside
Our investment operations aim to create new business that is based on demand and makes use of the new opportunities offered by the countryside. We strive for product and service concepts that are easy to reproduce. Moreover, we boost profitable business operations that are based on local solutions and the green economy. We develop and test new local food models, local energy service solutions and local bioeconomy models. We make commercial capital investments in innovative small and medium-sized growth companies in our key areas. For more information, please contact:
For more information on other capital investment operations, please contact:
In addition to direct investments in companies, we invest in domestic and international funds that promote the objectives of our key areas.
Sitra also provides case-specific project funding for research and experimental projects by companies that support Sitra’s strategy. For more information, please consult our Project funding page.
Sitra does not give grants or subsidies to individual companies. Please visit Enterprise Finland for more information on services and funding available for small and medium-sized businesses.
See also
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