Tampere Region is a key locomotive for the technology based production in Finland. Its competence and resource base corresponds with the capital region. This is indicated in the profile comparison between Finnish regions where the country is divided into three: the metropolitan area, regions of high knowledge and technology and regions of natural resources. Tampere Region is located in the regions of high knowledge and technology.
Tampere Region is still doing well in regional benchmarking measured by the value added at factor cost in industrial processing and value added in general. Key indicators per capita are high: the value added at factor cost in industry is far above the nation's average and the value added per hours worked is second to the capital region (see figure: entire country = 100). The production structure aimed at export markets continues to bring income into the region. The trade balance for Tampere Region has clearly deteriorated in the years following the international financial crisis but remains significantly positive. In the capital region, for example, exports are clearly below imports.
In terms of traditional innovation indicators, i.e. R&D expenses, patent applications and Tekes R&D funding, Tampere Region is in the same league as the metropolitan area. Similarly, the high-level competence base and the portion of foreign students are indications of good regional innovation capacities.
Growing companies and entrepreneurship in general contribute significantly to regional reform. In Tampere Region, growth companies make up a larger portion of all companies than in the country on average. The proportional turnover of digital services is as high as in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, where several head offices and technological research centres are located, indicating that the region is able to respond to the digital revolution.
The term of "value network capability" refers to high economic productivity, a boldly experimental and entrepreneurial atmosphere, a global search for and connection to growth, a high level of expertise and strategically allocated funding. The graph below presents key indicators representing the performance and vitality of each region as derived from these elements.
Regions of high knowledge and technology are: Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Tavastia Proper, Tampere Region, Päijänne Tavastia, Ostrobothnia and Northern Ostrobothnia. Regions of natural resources include: Kymenlaakso, South Karelia, South Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Kainuu and Lapland.
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