Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment presents Government’s growth and employment package
With the aim of strengthening Finland’s economic growth, speeding up investments and improving employment, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has prepared a growth and employment package in line with the Government’s decisions. The package will be funded by redistributing unused funds from the investment aid programmes in the branch of Government of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The estimated total amount of funds will be EUR 156 million.
Investment aid will be allocated on a one-off basis to four entities: support for large demonstration projects in new energy technology, Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI), significant investments by SMEs and an employment voucher for young people. The youth employment voucher was already included in the third supplementary budget for 2025.
“The Government is strongly committed to promoting growth and investments. Without growth, companies will not invest nor provide jobs. The Government will therefore take every available measure to boost growth. Fortunately, there has been a lot of positive news about investments across Finland throughout the year. This needs to continue. That is why the growth package and the allocation of at least EUR 160 million to encourage investments and conditions for growth are so important. At the same time, our decision to fund a youth employment voucher with EUR 30 million will help those young people who have been unemployed for a longer period to find a job and gain work experience,” says Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen.
“Meanwhile, the IPCEI initiatives will contribute to new technologies that are strategically important for Europe as a whole. Participation in them will help renew Finland’s economic structure and offer our companies a link to European value chains,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto.
“The grant for the Economic Development Centres will enable them to support investments by SMEs throughout the country in order to accelerate growth and employment. This funding would be used for investment projects of SMEs that contribute to their growth and exports, especially within new clean technologies. These investments will focus on the development and introduction of material and energy efficiency as well as innovations in battery technology and the circular economy in different industries,” Puisto adds.
“As part of this package, the investments that the aid for large demonstration projects in energy technology would help launch would total approximately EUR 300–750 million, depending on the final amount of aid and the eligible projects. Aid can be flexibly targeted at projects with considerable potential for energy generation and exports. These include hydrogen fuels, electrofuels and other renewable fuels in transport, such as biogas, as well as energy storage and energy efficiency technologies,” says Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala.
Inquiries:
Teresa Salminen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Employment, tel. +358 295 047 318
Lars Aikala, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, tel. +358 50 401 6410
Lyydia Ylönen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Climate and the Environment, tel. +358 295 250 402