Finland on its way to becoming a global leader in women’s health

Coordinated by the regional development company Business Turku, the network targets multibillion-euro export markets and attracts international investment. Suzanne Innes-Stubb, Spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland, participated in the launch event in Turku on May 22, 2025.

Women’s health has long been underfunded in research and innovation, with only about one percent of funding directed toward female-specific diseases (excluding cancers), despite women making up half the world’s population and facing many health challenges that currently lack sufficient solutions. Women's health is now among the fastest-growing global market sectors.

“Our goal as a network is to address this immense need and provide solutions to advance health equity. For companies, this represents a market opportunity worth over €100 billion*,” explains Jyrki Lehtimäki, account manager at Business Turku.

Established in 2024 in Finland’s pharmaceutical development capital, Turku, Women’s Health Hub Finland brings together private and public sector actors to develop and pilot solutions for unmet health needs specific to women.

The network is expanding nationwide, welcoming participants from across Finland. At the same time, collaboration efforts are being extended globally.

“We aim to move from silos to an ecosystem whose collective impact on women’s health and Finland’s economy will be significant,” says Lehtimäki.

The launch event took place at the University of Turku on May 22, 2025, attended by distinguished guests, including Spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland Suzanne Innes-Stubb and several ambassadors from Africa and the Middle East. Innes-Stubb opened the art exhibition “I was born a girl” by Minna Pietarinen, which will be on display in the Tiedonkolu space between Medisiina D and the Lighthouse Hospital from May 24 to June 11, 2025.

Supporting Finland’s Export and Investment Strategy

Women’s Health Hub Finland brings clear benefits for both women’s health and Finland’s economy. Investments in health equity could have a global annual economic impact of up to €1 trillion by 2040**.

According to Tarja Enala, Program Director of Business Finland’s Health 360 Finland initiative, networks like Women’s Health Hub Finland are a key part of Finland’s strategy to promote exports and attract investments in future health technologies.

“Women’s health is a rapidly growing global market. Finland can position itself as a pioneer by combining strong research expertise, technology, and healthcare practices. The network also acts as a gateway for international actors to access Finland’s top-tier expertise and functional ecosystem, particularly in the Turku region’s life science cluster, already home to several international pharma and diagnostics companies,” Enala states.

Industry Sees Major Leaps Forward in Women’s Health

Several leading companies have already joined Women’s Health Hub Finland, including Turku-based pharmaceutical and diagnostics firms Bayer Oy, Orion Oyj, Revvity/Wallac Oy, Organon R&D Finland Oy, and Uniogen Oy, along with Roche Diagnostics Oy, Abbvie Oy, Takeda Oy, and Isla Terveys Oy from the Helsinki metropolitan area. Research groups from the University of Turku and Turku University of Applied Sciences contribute expertise and accelerate innovation.

“Women’s Health Hub Finland is an excellent platform to promote Revvity’s values for a healthier humanity and to highlight our three decades of experience as pioneers in women’s and newborn health,” says Lotta Siutla, Head of Global Prenatal Screening Business at Revvity.

Bayer, which has made significant investments in Turku in recent years, has promoted women’s health globally for over 100 years—from contraception to menopause. The company’s production facility in Turku exports intrauterine devices to over 130 countries, valued at more than €1 billion annually.

“Bayer’s investments in women’s health also support Finland’s development policy goals. We believe that by expanding collaboration, we can achieve significant progress in promoting the rights and reproductive health of women and girls worldwide,” says Tomi Penttilä, Director of Bayer’s Turku production facility.

Women’s Health Hub Finland also strengthens research, expertise, and the attractiveness of the health sector and accelerates the adoption of new solutions in healthcare. The University of Turku and Turku University of Applied Sciences support these goals as members of the network.

“Through the network, the monitoring and treatment methods we develop can improve women’s health directly within the healthcare system, rather than remaining just academic publications lost in cyberspace,” says Professor Anna Axelin of the University of Turku’s Department of Nursing Science.

“A good life is a strategic focus area for Turku University of Applied Sciences. Women’s Health Hub Finland strengthens our collaboration with a broader and more international network of partners, with the shared aim of promoting the possibilities for women to lead good lives,” states Vesa Taatila, Rector of Turku University of Applied Sciences.

Turku – Finland’s Pharmaceutical Capital – Is the Hub’s Home Base

Women’s Health Hub Finland is rooted in Turku, a natural and strong center for pharmaceutical development in Finland. Most of the country’s newly developed and approved drugs in recent years originated in Turku. The region is home to 50 percent of Finland’s pharmaceutical and diagnostics industry, as well as over 100 life science companies.

Turku’s location, strong universities, and companies’ significant investments in research make it an ideal location for a national and international health network. Women’s Health Hub Finland strengthens Turku’s position as a national leader in pharmaceutical development with a focus on the future of women’s health.

“As the capital of pharmaceutical development in Finland, Turku takes a major step in becoming a global center for women’s health. Turku has the power, expertise, and collaborative spirit to lead this transformation,” says Mayor of Turku Minna Arve.
 

Sources:
*Boston Consulting Group 2025 –  Improving Women’s Health is a $100 Billion–Plus Opportunity | BCG
** McKinseyn Health Institution 2024 – Closing the women’s health gap | McKinsey