PoriES x Suomi Areena 2025: Technology Without Borders

Another year, another SuomiAreena week wrapped – and once again, we were thrilled to bring meaningful conversation into the spotlight.

This year's side event, Technology Without Borders, co-hosted by Crazy Town Pori and supported by Wolt Market Pori, brought together professionals, students, and changemakers to explore the intersection of technology, innovation, and international talent in the Satakunta region.

From AI-driven tools to cultural mediation and onboarding strategies, we unpacked the question: Why international talent matters for the future of work and innovation?

Regional snapshot & Economic strength

Population & Economy: Satakunta has approx. 217,000 people, of which 8% non-Finnish citizens. A powerhouse in energy — 25% of Finland's electricity, 6% of food sector, metal, engineering, maritime, and bio-economy industries.

Discussion and Solutions

1. How Can Finnish Companies Better Attract and Retain Global Talent?

1. Language support — Companies should offer Finnish language lessons during work hours
2. Look local before going global — There's untapped international talent already in Finland
3. Integrate people and their perspectives — True inclusion isn't about people adapting to existing culture
4. Build gradually and with feedback — Start by hiring one international trainee
5. Accessible internal communication — Clear, inclusive messaging means Selko-Suomi
6. Give talent big problems to solve — Without challenging work, talent leaves
7. Shadowing and cross-department learning
8. Strategic onboarding — Help them understand the why, the who, and the how
9. Align with municipal needs
10. Rethink foreign experience — Foreign work experience is often undervalued

2. How Can Technology Support Integration in the Workplace?

1. AI-enhanced communication
2. Real-time translation tools
3. Spoken-language learning apps
4. Community-building through social platforms
5. VR onboarding & orientation tools
6. Global innovation, local solutions
7. Mediation – a must, not a nice-to-have

Final Thoughts

Technology Without Borders wasn't just a side event — it was a roadmap for what Satakunta (and Finland) needs to do next.