Since 2016, the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) has been organizing matchmaking at EnergyWeek filling a crucial function in the event. Over the years, the concept has proven fruitful – offering a possibility for the companies to book 1to1 onsite meetings and make new connections in Vaasa.
Enterprise Europe Network is a publicly funded Network, helping companies to get to international markets, for example, by finding market information or potential local partners for the company and by organizing matchmaking events where companies meet each other in prescheduled meetings.
EnergyWeek is one of the yearly events and, like the rest of the Networks services, free-of-charge for the companies. Booking meetings in advance means that the participants can ensure they have their matchmaking partners attention for 20 minutes. The matchmaking platform also gives a possibility to see who else is participating in the EnergyWeek and what they offer.
– Every year, more participants take part in the matchmaking and last year we had 334 participants from 21 countries. We have received positive feedback from the companies about being able to dedicate time for 1to1 meetings during the hectic EnergyWeek days. Although the meetings are short the discussions have been fruitful and the new connections make it easier to continue the discussion later for example about partnership, business details or offers, says Mari Kivinen, at Enterprise Europe Network
Mari Kivinen and Satu Alapiha are both working in Enterprise Europe Network and have organized the EnergyWeek matchmaking together since the beginning. In their daily work, they help Finnish companies to get to international markets by gathering market information and searching for potential local partners – all this with the help of our Network colleagues in over 50 countries.
– The highlight of the EnergyWeek Matchmaking is when all the tables in the matchmaking area are fully booked, and there’s a lively discussion ongoing between the meeting partners. We have also felt that we have succeeded in our work when we hear that the matchmaking we have organized has led to new cooperation between companies, says Satu Alapiha.
Other events organized by the Network this year include matchmaking events in Nordic Hydrogen Week (Oulu), Mobile World Congress (Barcelona), Turku Tech Week (Turku), DMEA2025 (Berlin) and World Sauna Forum (Jyväskylä).
If you have any questions about the EnergyWeek matchmaking, contact:
Satu Alapiha
satu.alapiha@businessturku.fi
Mari Kivinen
mari.kivinen@businessturku.fi
Enterprise Europe Network
Websites: https://een.ec.europa.eu and http://www.een.fi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/een-suomi
