ARI PIISPANEN founded his first business Konetuote Piispanen in 1989. Since then, he has founded many new businesses and invented new technologies. Now, the serial entrepreneur is driven by the desire to beat the climate change. 

Piispanen enjoys having his office adjacent to LUT University.

“Finding new talent is easy with the university next door,” he says.

“Collaboration with the business incubator Business Mill, located on the university campus, is also going really well.”

Greenreality Network webinar ‘Internationalization – what’s entrepreneurial ecosystems got to do with it?’ gathered some 30 people to hear and share how networks and collaboration creates a platform for international growth in our current time of increasing remote and digital connections.

Green electrification, which refers to replacing energy generated using fossil fuels with electricity generated using renewable energy sources and using renewable energy in transport, work machines and various industrial sectors, is an important step towards a carbon-neutral future. The City of Lappeenranta and the Town of Imatra have signed an agreement with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment regarding the strategic allocation of funding to green electrification product development and innovation work in 2021–2027.

The City of Lappeenranta is one of the first cities to join the EU Green City Accord. In Finland, the agreement has previously been signed by three cities and in Europe by 18 cities in total.

The Green City Accord is a new initiative in the EU which encourages cities to promote environmental protection and to work towards more sustainable, cleaner and healthier cities.

Apply for a special nomination of the "New names in fashion" contest CIRCULAR FASHION

Lappeenranta Energy’s new green district heating system has been well received by the market. The Lappeenranta Student Housing Foundation LOAS was one of the energy company’s first customers to switch to carbon-neutral green district heating. Other customers wishing to reduce their carbon footprint are expected to follow suit soon.

The New Year’s Eve celebrations will be organised safely in Lappeenranta in virtual format, and a magnificent light art show will replace the traditional fireworks display. The virtual celebrations also kick off Lappeenranta’s “Europe’s greenest city” theme year as the winner of the European Green Leaf Award 2021.

“Perhaps the most important network in the region” – Greenreality Network elects new Steering Group

South Karelia is one of the first regions in Finland to actively pursue carbon neutrality, and Lappeenranta has just been chosen as the greenest city in Europe. The City of Lappeenranta is heavily involved in an initiative called the Greenreality Network, which was set up in collaboration with local businesses ant LUT Group to promote growth and create new business opportunities for its members and the entire region.

Lappeenranta has appointed a core team to implement the European Green Leaf Year 2021. The Green Leaf project manager will be Kati Korhonen, who currently coordinates international affairs in Lappeenranta’s corporate administration.