The Ecosystem

Cold Will connects defence primes, national integrators, dual-use technology companies, research and education institutions, testing and validation environments, manufacturing and subcontracting networks, and relevant national authorities.

The initiative provides a clear entry point into one of Finland’s most capable defence and security environments: the Tampere region. The ecosystem is designed to support co-offering, joint development, investment opportunities, export growth, and faster access to validated solutions.

The Tampere region combines strong industrial capability with advanced research in areas such as semiconductors, chip technologies, space technologies, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems. Many of these capabilities have direct defence applications, particularly when combined with deep expertise in design, research and development, manufacturing, and systems integration.

Cold Will also offers a practical pathway from “paper to battlefield,” supporting the journey from research and early concepts through prototyping, testing, validation, user insight, and deployment. The region’s expertise in testing, operational environments, and end-user engagement helps partners develop solutions that address real operational needs.

Finland’s security environment contributes a strong understanding of Arctic conditions, resilience, crisis management, peace and conflict research, and modern man-made threats. This mission-driven perspective supports the development of solutions that are relevant, robust, and internationally applicable.

Cold Will is more than a network. It is a platform for building trusted partnerships, developing competitive defence and dual-use offerings, attracting international investment, and advancing the Finnish defence industry as part of global security value chains.

Cold Will brings together the capabilities needed to move defence and dual-use innovation from concept to deployment.