We are publishing articles on our website from the “Vision 2040 – When Things in Finland Were Done Boldly and Without Prejudice” essay collection. Supercell’s founder, Ilkka Paananen, envisions that a future vision for Finland should be implemented in Parliament, with all parties committing to it across electoral terms.
In 2040, Finland will be a global economic hub that other countries look up to. This development has been primarily driven by Finland becoming the best place in the world to start and grow a technology company – even surpassing Silicon Valley. In 2040, all of the world’s 10 most valuable companies are technology firms, and one of them has come from Finland. Additionally, Finland has a remarkably large share of the world’s top 100 valuable technology companies, relative to its size, even more than Israel, which in the 2020s had the most valuable tech companies compared to its GDP.
The goals were achieved because Finland prioritized making the country the best place for the world’s top talents. It was understood that internationalization would bring new and positive developments, thanks to the skilled individuals who have come to Finland and the study and work experiences Finns have gained abroad. In Parliament, a common vision for Finland’s future was created between the government and the opposition, with all parties committing to it beyond electoral terms. The vision was based on the idea that Finland is the best place to live and work, and it was acknowledged that new citizens and residents would need to come from outside Finland’s borders.
Finland’s image improved dramatically as newcomers were welcomed with enthusiasm and understanding, with simple pathways established for immigration, employment, and integration for people coming to Finland for various reasons. The government implemented a two-week service promise, which included everything from residence permits to personal identification numbers and bank accounts, as well as school placements for children of arriving families. A significant step was making English the country’s third official language. This sent a strong signal abroad that Finland is welcoming to talent, even to those who do not want to commit long-term or learn the language. In practice, this also meant increasing the availability of English-language schools and daycare options. Employers were encouraged to adopt English as a working language, making it easier for non-Finnish-speaking talents to find employment.
Supercell’s business developed tremendously between 2024 and 2040, with the release of several new games and other entertainment products. The gaming industry grew into a type of entertainment and community media, similar to social media giants, but instead of fierce competition, it focused on finding shared standards of responsibility in the sector.
Supercell began its efforts to attract top talent to Finland in the 2010s and has continued at an increasing pace, as the concentration of specialists in Finland is a self-reinforcing positive cycle. It helps companies to invest more in places where the talent is, and new talents are drawn to areas where there are others already and where interesting innovations and job opportunities exist.
Of course, new top talents do not only come from abroad; Finland has also invested in high-quality education and actively sought various educational pathways to meet workforce needs. In 2019, Supercell founded the coding school Hive to ensure there would be enough coders for the future job market. Anyone can apply to study at Hive, regardless of their educational background, so that everyone has the opportunity to train as a future expert. By 2040, hundreds of coders have graduated from Hive, who, with their skills, have been developing the business of many companies and creating innovations and other significant solutions to the world’s pressing problems.
Ilkka Paananen, Supercell
(Picture: Vision 2040 launch event 19.8.2024.)