Aker Arctic is designing a polar research icebreaker for the Chinese Polar Research Institute

With the country’s reputation as a centre of excellence for innovation and its northern most territories reaching the Arctic Circle, Finland has successfully combined its knowledge based economy with its desire to continue to develop its maritime sector.

“We have been developing and designing icebreakers and other vessels for more than 50 years,” says Mikko Niini, Managing Director of AARC. “Our third-generation ice model testing facility is the most advanced in the world and in addition to model and full scale testing services, we offer consulting, design and engineering services, training and services associated with technologies used in sub-zero conditions.”

Mikko Niini,  Managing Director,
Aker Arctic Technology Inc

The state-of-the-art arctic offshore vessel Vitus Bering in Saint Petersburg, Russia in January 2013.

As a permanent member of the Arctic Council and one of eight countries with territory extending beyond the 66th parallel north, Finland has a vested interest in the Arctic region. Helsinki has a long history of building Arctic Ocean-going vessels and through innovation and technology, the tradition continues today.

“We are a world leader in the development of technological innovations for Arctic Ocean icebreakers and special offshore vessels,” says Esko Mustamäki, Managing Director of Arctech. Research and development and material and production technology are crucial to delivering vessels which can withstand the harsh Arctic conditions. In the offshore industry, the latest icebreaking vessels are often built to perform additional tasks such as oil recovery.

“We recently delivered ahead of schedule two multifunctional icebreaking supply vessels to Sovcomflot in Russia,” explains Mustamäki. “The vessels were built for the Sakhalin-1 Arkutun-Dagi gas field in Far East Russia and will serve as supply vessels for Exxon Neftegas’ platform. The vessels will supply the gas production platform while protecting the installation from ice sheets.”

‘As we move forward, we intend to secure orders from Asian customers.’

Esko Mustamäki,
Managing Director,
Arctech

GS-Hydro technology is often used in the offshore segment

Recognized as the global leader in non-welded piping solutions, GS-Hydro is committed to delivering high quality projects, service and product solutions to customers and suppliers worldwide.

“Considering the challenging nature of the offshore industries, it is vital that companies use durable, high quality equipment and piping systems in their offshore drilling and production installations,” says Pekka Frantti, President and CEO of GS-Hydro Corporation. “We have developed into a highly experienced service provider with a wealth of knowledge regarding the offshore industry. Our projects include delivering solutions to over 200 drilling rigs and numerous gas platforms around the world,” he says.

‘Through our office in Singapore, we intend to develop our Singaporean and Asia Pacific customer base.’

Pekka Franti,
President & CEO,
GS-Hydro

Finland is building on its reputation as a global leader in information and communication technology. The country invests almost 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product into research and development initiatives. Finnish companies are exporting innovative, cutting edge solutions to international markets, including emerging economies in Asia Pacific where markets for telecom and information technology systems continue to show strong signs of growth.

The Asia Pacific region’s global external spending for telecom IT systems is the second highest in the world after Western Europe. Rather than developing in-house solutions, Asian telecommunications companies are purchasing software and services from external suppliers and are increasingly partnering with Finnish technology companies.

“With over three decades of experience within the telecommunications industry, we have established ourselves as a leading global provider of information technology solutions”, says Tatu Tahkokallio, Group Marketing Director of Tecnotree. “Our solutions enable our clients to successfully manage products, customers and revenue across all the markets in which they are active”.

With its convergent Tecnotree Agility^TM suite of products, the company partners with leading communication service providers. Tecnotree’s innovative business support IT-solutions enable clients to monetise their service bundles, provide a customized user experience and create value within the customer lifecycle. The company’s services include solution design, systems integration and deployment, maintenance, support and managed services.

“Our vision is to grow our business in partnership with our clients,” explains Tahkokallio. “We have already designed and delivered solutions for over one hundred service providers in over seventy countries and work with tier one companies including Celcom in Malaysia and Indosat in Indonesia.”

 Tecnotree has over 1,100 telecom professionals in fourteen countries including Singapore and research and development centres in Finland, Ireland, Argentina and India.

Tatu Tahkokallio, Group Marketing Director, Tecnotree

As communication service providers shift from telecom-only services to total solution providers – or Digital Marketplaces –, Tecnotree is continuing to support its clients as they monetize their bundled fixed, mobile and broadband services to include media and entertainment content, mobile applications and internet services.

 “On-going developments within the global telecommunications industry present numerous challenges for companies and as a niche solutions provider, we have the necessary expertise and competence to support the larger companies within the industry,” says Tahkokallio.

Kim Väisänen, CEO and Co-Founder, Blancco Oy Ltd.

Secure data erasure management is becoming more critical around the world according to Kim Väisänen, CEO and Co-Founder of Blancco, the global leader in data erasure and computer reuse solutions. “Data Erasure Management is an important process of any organization’s data lifecycle management. With the data explosion and its lifecycle getting more defined due to regulatory compliance, no longer should we only be focusing on data erasure during IT assets’ end-of-life but rather implementing this process as and when data is no longer required,” Väisänen said.

“In Southeast Asia there is an increasing demand for secure data erasure as awareness grows and legislative initiatives focus on the use of personal information for commercial purposes.” The Singapore Personal Data Protection Act was passed in 2012 and became effective in January of 2013 to regulate the collection, use, disclosure and retention of personal data and to impose obligations on how businesses manage that data, how long they keep it and how they dispose of it.

Against this backdrop of legislative reform, effective data erasure is becoming a key component of data protection practices, and Blancco is responding by making its solutions available to a broadening user base worldwide.

Data erasure is a software based method that completely destroys electronic data residing on a hard drive or other digital media. It removes all information while leaving electronics operable, preserving IT assets and the environment.

While beginning as a small start-up in Joensuu, Finland in 1997, Blancco has grown into a multinational company erasing tens of thousands of IT assets worldwide each day with offices in 15 countries. A Southeast Asia office opened early this year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“We’ve seen a growing need for permanent data erasure as electronic devices are retired or refurbished,” Väisänen continued. “Increased storage of sensitive data coupled with rapid technological advances and shorter IT asset life spans have driven this trend. A rise in corporate information theft and fraud has also contributed.”

“The digital universe doubles every 18 months while the spectrum of device platforms becomes more fragmented, so secure data erasure will become more challenging. But, Blancco is committed to working together with organizations to help them manage these challenges. In particular, our Southeast Asia office is ready to serve customers in Singapore.”