This autumn, the Business Whisperers campaign connected with 516 companies in Joensuu, identifying needs to support business development. Discussions with entrepreneurs revealed recurring themes such...
The Joensuu Region's Economy is Thriving: Major Investments and International Success
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City of Joensuu
A new factory is being built in Kitee with €29 million in funding, Valio is creating 100 new jobs in Joensuu, and Kelluu Oy has gained international recognition through NATO's DIANA program. Additionally, the bioeconomy sector in Eastern Finland is receiving significant support from sustainable growth funds.
Aisti Oy's factory in Kitee secures €29 million in funding
The Jyväskylä-based company Aisti, which develops acoustic panels from wood fibers, has raised €29 million in funding to establish an industrial-scale factory in the Puhos area in Kitee. Production is expected to begin in 2026, and the factory is projected to employ 30–40 people initially, according to YLE.
The company's innovative technology can also be used to produce products for thermal insulation, packaging materials, and composite panels. The production facility in Kitee will be the company’s first factory and is set to manufacture acoustic panels for the Nordic market. Read Aisti's announcement here.
Valio Centralizes Operations – Around 100 New Jobs in Joensuu
By relocating operations, Valio aims to improve production efficiency and profitability. Location also plays a key role: the Joensuu plant is situated in a vibrant dairy production area and already produces cheese that is transported to the Vantaa plant for packaging.
“Over 40% of the cheese processed and packaged in Vantaa comes from Joensuu. The productivity of manufacturing and packaging lines will improve when products from two plants are consolidated into one. This also reduces the need for transportation,” explains Juha Penttilä, Valio’s Operations Director, in Valio’s press release.
The majority of Finland’s dairy farms are located in a region stretching from Ostrobothnia to Eastern Finland. The Joensuu plant receives milk from 800 dairy farms, mostly in North Karelia, and produces one-third of all Valio cheeses.
Kelluu Selected for NATO's DIANA Program Among Over 2,600 Applicants
The Finnish company Kelluu Oy, specializing in environmental data collection using airships, is one of 75 companies chosen for NATO's DIANA program for 2025. Out of over 2,600 applications, only three companies from Finland were selected. Read the news here.
€2,474,000 Allocated for New Bioeconomy Initiatives in Eastern Finland
The growth program is part of the implementation of the Eastern Finland Program outlined in the government plan, aimed at boosting the region's vitality and mitigating the negative impacts of the closed border with Russia.
“This funding, aimed at sustainable development and increasing regional vitality, seeks to enhance both national and international awareness of Finland's bioeconomy opportunities. It supports companies' investment potential, internationalization, and exports,” stated Minister Rydman in a press release from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
You can read more Good News from Joensuu in the December edition of the Good News from Joensuu newsletter. To stay updated on positive news from the region, subscribe to the newsletter here.
