Forum Virium Helsinki

Co-Creating Urban Futures

henkilosto_2025

Forum Virium Helsinki is the City of Helsinki innovation company. We co-create urban futures with companies, universities, public sector and Helsinki residents.

In a nutshell

Forum Virium Helsinki is the innovation company of the City of Helsinki. Operating as a non-profit strategic partner, we co-create smart, sustainable, and digital urban solutions by connecting cities, businesses, research organizations, and citizens. We specialize in managing impactful RDI projects, facilitating real-world urban living labs, and driving green and digital transitions. By bringing together international networks and EU funding, Forum Virium Helsinki turns urban challenges into practical, future-proof solutions.

Finances and decision-making

Forum Virium Helsinki is an in-house non-profit innovation company of the City of Helsinki. Forum Virium Helsinki’s strategy is in line with the City of Helsinki strategy. Forum Virium Helsinki mainly operates with external project funding. About two thirds of the company’s funding comes from financial instruments of the EU. We are one of Finland’s most efficient users of European Union innovation funding. In 2022, Forum Virium Helsinki received EUR 1.9 million in core funding from the City.

Forum Virium Helsinki’s Managing Director is Mika Malin. FVH’s Board of Directors consists of representatives of the divisions and subsidiaries of the City of Helsinki. The Chair of the board is City of Helsinki Chief Digital Officer Mikko Rusama.

We pilot and develop urban innovation in projects, the solutions of which are scaled for the use of the entire urban community. Our projects may result in new companies, new services, new data or new practices. We typically have 30–40 projects running at a time.

Key indicators

The Board of Directors sets annual performance targets and indicators for Forum Virium Helsinki. The impact of the company’s activities is monitored and reported in effectiveness reports every six months.

  2023 2024 2025
 Budget 6,7 M€ 6,3 M€ 7,1 M€
 Personnel 59 54 59
 Projects 35 37 39
    

HR and environmental responsibility

Forum Virium Helsinki currently employs 54 experts. Our employees’ job satisfaction is at a good level with a rating of 4.3 / 5.

We support carbon neutrality targets of the City of Helsinki. We prefer vegetarian food at events and avoid unnecessary flying.

Forum Virium Helsinki strategy

Values

Open cooperation, commitment to objectives, discovery. Read more about our sustainable values.

Mission

We co-create urban futures by connecting cities, companies and research partners.

Vision

As a strategic innovation partner of Helsinki, we transform challenges and international knowledge into solutions of the future.

Strategic objectives

1. Economy

  • Stable economy

2. Role and recognition

  • The activities support the implementation of the city’s strategy
  • The activities respond to the city’s future challenges and opportunities
  • Sufficient presence in international networks
  • We are a desired project partner

3. Operational success

  • High-quality project applications
  • High-quality project implementation
  • Satisfied personnel
  • Maintaining competence in external funding sources

4. Impacts and results

  • Implementing the lessons learned and results into the urban organisation

5. Creating value for stakeholders

  • Stakeholders provably benefit from FVH
  • Improving the competitive edge of companies

CEO’s annual review

Read our CEO’s Mika Malin’s annual review here.