Business Joensuu has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Daxing International Hydrogen Energy Demonstration Zone in Beijing, China. The agreement opens new opportunities for business cooperation, investment and hydrogen development between Finland and China.
The MoU establishes a framework for long-term collaboration in the hydrogen economy and clean technologies. Its objective is to strengthen cooperation between companies, research organizations and universities while creating new business and investment opportunities.
According to Rami Alfasfos, Hydrogen Economy Development Manager at Business Joensuu, the agreement with one of China's leading hydrogen clusters will help Finnish companies access the Chinese market.
"Through international partnerships such as our collaboration with the Daxing International Hydrogen Energy Demonstration Zone, Eastern Finland is taking concrete steps to strengthen its position as a hub for clean technologies and renewable fuels. At the same time, we are creating long-term opportunities for Finnish companies and the European market," says Alfasfos.
"Finland has many of the competitive advantages needed to become one of Europe's leading hydrogen economies. The hydrogen transition is about transforming industries, attracting investment and creating new business opportunities across the entire value chain."
Through the agreement, Business Joensuu and the Daxing International Hydrogen Energy Demonstration Zone will support Finnish hydrogen, renewable energy and clean technology companies in exploring opportunities in the Chinese market while attracting Chinese companies and investments to Eastern Finland.
The cooperation also includes joint research and development projects, technology exchange, demonstration projects, business delegations, and networking and matchmaking activities.
According to Liu Yajie, Chairwoman of the Daxing International Hydrogen Energy Demonstration Zone, the partnership builds on the strong innovation ecosystems of both organizations.
"Business Joensuu and the Daxing International Hydrogen Energy Demonstration Zone are both platforms for innovation. By combining our networks, we can connect Finnish and Chinese hydrogen companies, accelerate innovation, and create long-term industrial cooperation in the hydrogen economy," says Liu.
The Daxing International Hydrogen Energy Demonstration Zone is one of China's leading hydrogen industry clusters. Alfasfos visited the zone in May and describes China's commitment to hydrogen as impressive.
The Daxing zone brings together more than 200 companies and over 30 specialized industrial parks covering the entire hydrogen value chain, from research and manufacturing to testing and commercialization.
"What stood out most was the speed of innovation and the close collaboration between industry, research, and public organizations, as well as the growing cooperation between Chinese and European companies. ," says Alfasfos.
The Memorandum of Understanding provides a strategic foundation for concrete cooperation projects. The long-term objective is to build partnerships that benefit both Finnish and Chinese companies while strengthening the position of the Joensuu region and Finland in the global hydrogen economy.
The agreement is expected to increase the international visibility of the Joensuu region, create new market opportunities for local companies, support foreign direct investment, and generate new research, development and innovation projects. It also provides a gateway to one of the world's largest hydrogen markets.
Joensuu is becoming one of Finland's emerging hydrogen hubs. The region hosts Finland's first industrial-scale e-methanol project by P2X Solutions with Savon Voima and is investing in future-ready electricity infrastructure.
Business Joensuu is advancing hydrogen business development through international partnerships, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), natural hydrogen initiatives, industrial park concepts and investment attraction in collaboration with LUT University, the University of Eastern Finland and Karelia University of Applied Sciences.
For further information:
Rami Alfasfos
Hydrogen Economy Development Manager
Business Joensuu
rami.alfasfos@businessjoensuu.fi
+358 50 573 1477