thisisFINLAND

Honouring inclusivity with Finnish pronoun power

Finland is championing the gender-neutral Finnish pronoun “hän” to promote equality around the world. To get people talking about equality, the country is presenting Hän Honours to individuals and organisations that are advancing inclusivity.

Business & innovation Biotech

Finland offers stable platform for scientific research

Johanna Ivaska, biochemistry professor at the University of Turku, in southwestern Finland, tells us about her international team and the appealing working environment for researchers at Finnish institutions.

Life & society Language

Integral to the culture, Sámi languages stay vibrant in Finland

We talk to some of the people who are helping keep Sámi languages alive in Finland, and find out why that is so important. Hint: It’s a matter of communication, culture and identity.

61 letters

Longest Finnish compund word (lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas)

Source: Guinness World Records

Life & society Helsinki

Taking to the streets for a spirited Helsinki ghost walk

Halloween (October 31) is a traditional season for ghostly activity, but Helsinki’s phantom tales are spooky at any time of the year. The city’s ghost walks perpetuate eerie legends.

Business & innovation Environment

It all adds up: How Finnish towns are taking action against climate change

Many Finnish people who are worried about climate change are also doing something about it. Towns and cities across Finland are having success with various strategies in the quest for zero emissions. Even small actions can have a large cumulative effect.

Business & innovation Sports

Finnish company produces competitive esports games for mobile

Established in 2012 and based in Kajaani, Critical Force is one of only a few companies in the world that makes electronic sports games played on mobile devices.

Arts & culture Webpick

Finnish theatre tells the story of humankind

In a breathtaking feat of dramatic construction, a group of Helsinki-based theatre-makers condenses hundreds of thousands of years of human history into just 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Life & society Education

Finnish daycares emphasise nature, music, art and other exciting themes

Many Finnish daycare centres arrange their activities around music, art, exercise, adventure or other themes. The overarching goal is to contribute to a good childhood, of course.

Library books borrowed per person per year

Source: Finnish Public Libraries Statistics

things you should and shouldn’t know