Southeastern Finland offers a free relocation package to greentech professionals for 90 days (or more) in the happiest country in the world

The Regional Council of South Karelia in Southeastern Finland offers Japanese and Hongkonger professionals, investors and entrepreneurs on green technology the opportunity to live and work for 90 days in the happiest country in the world.

“Live Like a Finn 90 Days by Lake Saimaa, Finland” is a program by the Regional Council of South Karelia. We invite cleantech professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors from Japan and Hongkong to live by Lake Saimaa in Southeastern Finland for up to three months.

– For 90 days, we offer the possibility of living and working in the happiest country in the world, Finland. We do everything in order for the selected applicants to feel comfortable to settle down in ordinary life in Southeastern Finland, says Mr. Ding Ma, Senior Advisor of Asian Relations of The Regional Council of South Karelia in Finland. 

5–7 selected applicants will get a free 90-day relocation package for their entire family including the following:

• All the documentation needed for a 90-day stay
• Airport pickup and orientation services
• Housing consultation to find a right place to settle down
• School or daycare arrangements for children
• Top-level facilities for efficient remote work and study
• Relocation consultation during the whole stay
• In-person introductions to green technology hubs and business networks in the southeast region of Finland
• Get-togethers and Finnish experiences during the 90-day-stay
• Support for possible permanent residency application

Travel, housing and health insurance must be paid by professionals themselves. 

Reasons to choose Southeastern Finland

Finland is the happiest country in the world for the fourth year in a row, according to The UN World Happiness Report. Finland lives up to its reputation, and shows a good balance between work and life outside of work. Perhaps the reason lies in the fact that the Finnish lifestyle promotes quality of life and happiness. 

– We believe that the opportunity to balance work and leisure is valued in Asia, too. The easy-going Finnish work culture combined with getting outside and exploring nature. By the way, Finland is the country of tens of thousands of lakes. Saimaa, the largest lake in Finland, is situated in the southeast, with numerous islands and peninsulas, says Mr. Ma.

Programme for visa-free applicants

Live Like a Finn 90 Days by Lake Saimaa, Finland programme is aimed at countries in Asia whose citizens do not need a visa to Finland. These countries are Japan and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China since the HKSAR passport holders have visa-free travel to Europe’s Schengen Area. Such individuals may stay in Finland for 90 days in a 180-day period.

Researcher, entrepreneur, or student – some examples of potential applicants

– We are looking for experts of various levels specialized in green technology. The applicant can be an experienced professional, entrepreneur or investor searching for partners in Finland as well as a recent graduate or student with a green technology education.

Green tech researcher or student. The applicant can be a Japanese / Hong Kong researcher or a student who will do their own research or joint research at LUT University for three months in the co-working space and entrepreneurial society, such as Lutes of the LUT University and LAB University.

Professionals with or without family. The entire family is welcome to Southeastern Finland, too. Parents have the opportunity to work remotely from Finland, and the kids have access to a quality English-language school or kindergarden. Finnish schools are at the forefront of the Pisa Education Survey. The area offers various sports, nature and cultural activities for the whole family.

Entrepreneur or investor gets to network with local greentech companies and professionals, and find new business opportunities. Southeast Finland also has good connections to St. Petersburg, Russia.

Applying

The application period lasts until the end of February 2022 at the official campaign site www.90daysinfinland.fi  Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants must be 18 or over, and cannot currently be living in Finland.

The Asian Knowledge Hub has long been built in south-eastern Finland, and the South Karelia region wants to profile itself as the forerunner in Asian cooperation. Experts in green electrification, cleantech and IT are being attracted in South Karelia.

The idea of ​​the 90 Days (or More) in Southeastern Finland programme is to strengthen Finland's green technology sector by finding top experts in Asia.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Ding Ma

Senior Advisor, Asian Relations

Regional Council of South Karelia, Finland

Tel: +358 40 660 4015

email: [email protected]