DEFINE's operations expand nationwide – city government gives green light to Sitra-funded project

At its meeting on Monday, September 29, 2025, the Riihimäki City Board discussed, among other things, the initiation of corporate sponsorship activities and the city's participation in a project funded by Sitra and coordinated by the city, which aims to expand the operations of DEFINE (Defence Innovation Network Finland) nationwide.

The city government decided that the city will participate in the DEFINE expansion project funded by Sitra. The project aims to build DEFINE, which originated in Riihimäki and Kanta-Häme, into a national, multi-actor defense and security innovation ecosystem that connects cities, companies, universities and authorities.

DEFINE, or Defence Innovation Network Finland, is a network in the defence and security sector launched by the city of Riihimäki. Sitra is a fund supervised by the Parliament, whose mission is to promote Finland's well-being and accelerate sustainable economic growth.

The city and RTOY establish a business support fund

Thanks to the project, DEFINE's funding has been secured for the next two years. The total budget of the project is almost two million euros, of which Sitra's share is 800,000 euros and other partners' share is 510,000 euros.

The City of Riihimäki is the main implementer of the project. The city's self-financing share of the project is 650,000 euros, of which the city covers 150,000 euros for the salary costs of the technology and innovations responsibility area. The remaining 500,000 euros will be allocated to the project by the city government from the business support fund, which the City of Riihimäki and Riihimäen Tilat ja Kehitys Oy (RTOY) will establish. Both the city and RTOY will contribute 250,000 euros to the fund.

On Monday, the government decided to propose to the council additional funding for the establishment of a business support fund. The additional funding is intended to be covered by utilizing the returns on the city's investment assets.

The City Government's decision regarding the project is conditional and its implementation requires that the City Council allocates the necessary funds to establish the fund and that RTOY decides to commit to the fund.

Read more about the defense and security network on the DEFINE website.

Delegates have their own sponsor company

In addition to the project, the board discussed launching a business sponsorship program. The city board proposes to the council that a business sponsorship program be launched. City councilors interested in the business sponsorship program would receive a randomly selected business sponsorship from Riihimäki. In the operating model, the business sponsorship program would meet with the entrepreneur or company representative once or twice a year.

If the city council decides to start corporate sponsorship, the city will match the sponsor and the company by drawing lots. The term of office of the corporate sponsor would be the same as the city council term, i.e. until May 2029. The model is based on voluntary participation for both city councilors and companies.

The council will discuss the start of corporate sponsorship activities on Monday, October 6, 2025.

Read more about corporate sponsorship activities in the city's press release.

Check out the city council's agendas and minutes on the city's website.