Helsinki has closed the Arabia Circular Hub Helsinki project, a two-year effort that ran the ARKI 135 hub in Arabianranta and built a network of more than 100 circular economy operators. The physical hub has stopped operating, but Business Helsinki will use the network and its cooperation models in the Helsinki circular economy cluster. The focus is on construction, one of the city’s designated growth fields.
What the hub offered
The project ran from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2026. It was carried out by the City of Helsinki and the innovation company Forum Virium Helsinki, with co-funding from the European Union. The ARKI 135 hub was set up in a former industrial block in the Arabia neighbourhood. For one year it served as a meeting place and showcase where companies and researchers presented circular product and service innovations. It also received Finnish and international visitor groups.
Small and medium-sized companies received expert advice and peer support for developing circular business models and processes. The project offered free training, expert coaching and research, development and innovation (RDI) cooperation to companies and experts in the Uusimaa region. Companies from the hub also took part in LOOP Forum, a Nordic circular economy business event.
Results in figures
- Network built: more than 100 circular economy operators
- Public events: 30
- Business development programmes: two, the ARKI 135 Circular Programme (autumn 2025) and the ARKI 135 Value Co-creation Lab (spring 2026)
According to project manager Mette Hiltunen of Business Helsinki, most participating companies have already taken their development ideas forward within their own organisations or with new partners. The results are compiled in a final publication in Finnish. It offers ideas and tools for organisations that want to build similar collaboration models.
What happens next
Business Helsinki plans to apply the collaboration models particularly in circular construction. Circular economy in construction is one of five fields in which Helsinki will make special growth investments during the strategy period. The aim is to enable business growth and to strengthen the city’s position as a forerunner. The Helsinki circular economy cluster consists of some 200 companies and other operators in circular construction. It supports practical trials and cooperation in the sector. Lari Sirén of Business Helsinki said the insights from the development programmes are being used in the cluster’s work. He added that the city aims to continue offering similar programmes.