Metropolitan strategies for global innovation networking: the case of Helsinki

Innovations have become indispensable in global intercity competition. Local actors must be able to forge links to different domains of global innovation in order to be able to gain access to and benefit from global flows of values. In this article, we analyse metropolitan governments' strategies for global innovation networking, drawing empirical evidence from the case of the city of Helsinki, Finland. Helsinki focuses in its global innovation networking on three activities: participating in international city networks, utilising networks to attract innovative companies and talent to the city, and connecting the local innovation environment to global innovation ecology. Helsinki relies on learning by doing in its quest to reap benefits from innovation networking. Its special challenges are to cope with the multidimensionality of global innovation networking, develop a shared vision, and create collaborative mindset in order to get rid of obstacles caused by institutional silos and enclaves.