President Stubb grants internationalisation awards to Orion, Sensofusion, Sandvik and Finnish Startup Community

President Stubb grants internationalisation awards to Orion, Sensofusion, Sandvik and Finnish Startup Community

The President of the Republic has granted the annual internationalisation awards to three companies and one community. Orion Corporation won the 2025 Growth Company Award. The Newcomer Company Award went to Sensofusion, and Sandvik Mining and Construction was recognised as the Long-term International Investor. The year's Community Award was granted to the Finnish Startup Community.

The annual internationalisation awards of the President of the Republic of Finland recognise internationally successful Finnish companies or communities.

Nominees are assessed for competitiveness, international engagement and profitability. The assessment also emphasises responsible practices and impacts on Finnish expertise, employment, foreign investment in Finland and raising awareness of Finland's innovation environment.

Nominations for the awards were made by a range of business and industry experts, organisations and other stakeholders. The final proposal for the awards was presented to the President of the Republic by the Team Finland network, Business Finland, Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Finnvera and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Orion's prostate cancer drug achieved global success

The 2025 Growth Company Award went to Orion Corporation, a pharmaceutical company founded in 1917. Today, Orion employs over 4,000 people, more than 2,900 of them in Finland. Orion is actively developing innovations particularly in cancer drugs, neurological treatments and veterinary pharmaceuticals. In 2024, 78 per cent of Orion's turnover was generated outside Finland, and Orion invested approximately EUR 180 million in research and product development.

The prostate cancer drug co-developed by Orion and its German partner Bayer has achieved global success, generating over EUR 1 billion in worldwide sales in 2024. Prostate cancer is the world's second most common malignant cancer diagnosed in men.

"Orion is strongly expanding as a Finnish export-driven business. Thanks to our investments and innovations, we are bringing top medical expertise to the global stage. At the same time, we are building sustainable wellbeing for all of Finland," says Orion's President and CEO Liisa Hurme.

Sensofusion provides drone detection systems and airspace security solutions on a global scale

The Newcomer Company Award went to Sensofusion, a Finnish technology company developing drone detection systems and airspace security solutions for global customers. The company was founded in 2016. Technology developed by Sensofusion in Finland detects and monitors drones in real time and, where necessary, counters them by utilising artificial intelligence, radio frequency analysis and versatile sensor technologies.

Sensofusion's solutions are used by organisations such as NASA and the US Federal Aviation Administration and by operational customers in Ukraine. The company has experienced strong growth, reaching a turnover of EUR 20.8 million in 2024, with exports accounting for nearly 100 per cent.

"For decades, Finland has been developing technologies that are world-class in their respective domains. I am grateful that we have been able to build our journey here," says Tuomas Rasila, the founder and CEO of Sensofusion.

Sandvik has invested over EUR 170 million in Finland

The Long-term International Investor Award was granted to Sandvik Mining and Construction, which is part of the international Sandvik Group, a technology company founded in 1862. Based in Tampere, Sandvik Mining and Construction has 2,500 employees. The company develops and manufactures innovative solutions for the mining and contracting industry, such as underground and surface drilling equipment, loading and hauling equipment, excavator attachments and hydraulic hammers. The company exports to over 150 countries, with more than 90 per cent of its production intended for markets outside Finland. Sandvik's products play a key role in the global mining industry and in the development of sustainable mining.

In June, Sandvik opened a new production line in Tampere for manufacturing surface drilling equipment, and by the end of the year the company will have hired some 300 new employees to strengthen its growing business. In addition, Sandvik will launch DataDrive'31, a EUR 80 million technology programme designed to speed mining industry's digital transformation through data-driven research and production development. The company has invested over EUR 170 million in its plants in Finland in recent years.

"Finland is the centre of Sandvik's data-driven production, research and development of mining technology. We are developing solutions that are driving the entire sector toward a smarter, more sustainable future, while reinforcing Finland's position as a leader in mining innovation," says Mats Eriksson, Executive Vice President at Sandvik AB and President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.

Finnish Startup Community: Growth companies generate EUR 10 billion in export revenue for Finland

The Finnish Startup Community, which won the Community Award, shapes the business environment for growth companies with the goal of making Finland the best place in the world for them to thrive. The Finnish Startup Community consists of 300 Finnish growth companies and major investors, with a total turnover of EUR 4.5 million.

The community estimates that growth companies already bring more than EUR 10 billion in export revenue into Finland. The target is to generate export revenue of EUR 20 billion by 2030. Growth companies strengthen the national economy, employment and innovation and help sustain the welfare society. The community believes that growth companies are already emerging as key players alongside the traditional export industries.

"This is a magnificent recognition of the entire startup community! It demonstrates that the jointly developed Finnish ecosystem and startups are world-class. Together, we can bring our innovations to the world with boldness. We believe that the global success of Finnish growth companies will also get Finland's economy thriving again," says Riikka Pakarinen, the CEO of the Finnish Startup Community.

Images of the awarded companies.

Official photo account of the Office of the President of the Republic.

The Team Finland network promotes the international success of Finland and Finnish enterprises. The publicly funded services provided by the network are designed to foster the internationalisation of Finnish companies, attract investment in Finland, and promote Finland's country brand globally. Read more about Team Finland and its services at https://www.team-finland.fi