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The perfect match
One of the new businesses presenting
its ideas at Slush this year was
PolarSol, a Finnish company that
develops and fabricates heating and
cooling systems based on renewable
energy for industry, consumers and
the public sector.
Erik Raita
, PolarSol’s marketing
and communication director, was
more than satisfied after spending
two intensive days at the event.
“This was our first time attending
Slush. We expected a lot from the
event beforehand because it brings
together customers, investors
and other important players. The
investor matchmaking sessions offer
a great opportunity to create new
contacts for companies specialising
in energy, the environment and clean
technology.”
PolarSol’s innovation is a
new-generation heat exchanger
that can be used effectively for
applications such as collecting waste
heat from industrial condensation
waters. Its products are manufactured
at a factory located in Joensuu, Finland.
Raita presented PolarSol’s
business to
Esa Laurinsilta
in the
‘Speed Dating for Circular and Clean
Solutions’ session. Laurinsilta, Director
for Strategic Partnerships at UPM,
agrees that the event is an excellent
opportunity to make new contacts
and hook up with potential business
partners.
“It also allows us to spotlight green
themes and boost the growth of the
bioeconomy and circular economy.
We want to challenge startups to
develop new ideas and opportunities
for using sludge, ash and, in particular,
waste heat derived from the pulp and
paper process,” says Laurinsilta.
Forests of opportunity
The Green Stage – in which UPMwas
a key partner – brought biomaterials,
healthcare and transportation into
the limelight this year.
Elisa Nilsson
, UPMVice President,
Brand and Communications emphasises
that digitalisation will not undercut the
role of biomaterials and sustainable
products. On the contrary, in the future
they will matter more than ever.
“Slush strengthens our faith in
the future of promising new ideas,
technologies andmaterials. I feel it’s our
task to remind everyone here that the
forest is full of new opportunities. Slush
is the perfect place for UPM to broadcast
its message.”
Digital gateways
This year UPM– now attending the
event for the second time – presented a
tangible challenge to app developers.
“Working together with the Guides
and Scouts of Finland, we are looking for
mobile game developers to create a game
that motivates younger generations to
learn about forests and the opportunities
they offer from a fresh new perspective,”
says
Paula Savonen
, Marketing &
Customer Support Manager for UPM
Wood Sourcing and Forestry.
UPM is also engaging in startup
collaboration in the field of forestry and
wood sourcing.
“We want to create a service for forest
owners combining different online data
sources andmobile technology. We
want the service to be easy to use and
understand, our ultimate goal being to
help small-scale forest owners to realise
the value of the forest they own,” she
adds.
As much as 30% of Finland’s forested
area has gone for thirty years without
any forest management, thinning or final
felling.
“There is potential to increase the
area of privately owned forest designated
for forest management and sustainable
felling. New approaches are needed
to activate the private woodmarket,”
concludes Savonen.