Introduction
Kimitoön is the heart of the Archipelago Sea – here, we don’t just live by the sea, we live with the sea. With over 700 years of history, a rich cultural heritage, and unique natural surroundings, Kimitoön is both a vibrant place to live and one of Finland’s most popular destinations for visitors.
With one of the highest concentration of cottages in Finland, our community is vibrant and
dynamic throughout the year. Our business landscape is diverse, dominated by
micro-enterprises in trade, construction, tourism, the boat industry, and hospitality.
Here, the archipelago and countryside come together, supporting the strong tradition of
artisan food an local food production. The blue economy is increasingly seen as a natural part
of future sustainable development.
What is Kimitoöns mission and your unique approach to reclaim the sea regions?
Kimitoön has been selected as one of three pilot areas in Finland within the Government’s
Archipelago Sea Programme – an ambitious initiative to improve the condition of the
Archipelago Sea and reduce nutrient emissions to waterways and the marine environment.
Our mission is clear: to safeguard the vitality of the Archipelago Sea while enabling
sustainable growth and innovation.
Our unique approach lies in integrating the blue economy into our local development strategy.
We see businesses as active partners in restoring and maintaining healthy marine ecosystems.
By combining traditional strengths such as boating, fishing, and tourism with new solutions in
circular economy, cleantech, and sustainable aquaculture, Kimitoön positions itself as a living
laboratory where environment and economy reinforce each other.
What does the A’Pelago Ecosystem enable for Kimitoön?
The A’Pelago Ecosystem connects Kimitoön with a broader regional and international
innovation network. It enables us to strengthen our role as a hub for sustainable marine
solutions by providing platforms for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and cross-sector
experimentation.
For Kimitoön, A’Pelago brings the opportunity to showcase our assets – unique nature, a strong
entrepreneurial spirit, and our designation as a national pilot area – to stakeholders who are
committed to sustainable business development. It allows us to attract investments, talent,
and innovative projects that support the restoration of the Archipelago Sea while creating
economic opportunities for our community.
How does Kimitoön collaborate with A’Pelago to drive innovation in the Blue Economy? What specific services does Kimitoön provide to A’Pelago stakeholders to support the development of sustainable business solutions and financing opportunities?
Kimitoön collaborates with A’Pelago by serving as a testbed and facilitator for blue economy innovations. Together, we promote projects that combine ecological restoration with viable business models. Our role is to make it easier for entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors to
develop, pilot, and scale solutions directly in the Archipelago Sea environment.
Specifically, Kimitoön provides:
- Advisory services: Guidance and expert support for companies looking to establish or
expand within the municipality.
- Local business networks: Connections to our diverse micro-enterprise ecosystem in
tourism, boating, food production, and services.
- Pilot opportunities: Access to real-life environments for testing sustainable technologies
and practices within the Archipelago Sea.
- Facilitation of funding: Support in identifying financing opportunities at municipal,
regional, national, and EU levels.
- Partnership building: Bridging stakeholders across academia, business, NGOs, and the
public sector to accelerate innovation.
