December 6th marks the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence, and Wärtsilä is celebrating the birthday together with other Finnish companies, Finnish citizens and friends of Finland around the world. The festivities were kicked off on December 5th with a light installation decorating Wärtsilä’s headquarter building in Helsinki to honour the occasion.
The theme of Finland’s centenary celebration year is ‘Together’. During 2017 a diverse and international centenary programme - both in Finland and abroad - has been realised. The programme has emphasized Finland’s strengths, such as equality and democracy. Wärtsilä has acted as an official partner for the entire jubilee year.
Education and cleaner seas
Wärtsilä has participated in the centennial programme in many ways. We’ve donated a total of EUR 1,300,000 to Finnish universities to demonstrate our support for Finnish technology education, and in this way participate in promoting research in Finnish universities and strengthening Finland's global competitiveness.
Wärtsilä’s Finland 100 theme has been ‘the Future of the Seas’, which encompasses all our key priorities: technology, environment and digitalisation. Additionally we have reflected on how Wärtsilä has grown and developed along with its homeland, surviving war, economic turmoil, and political crisis and has overcome financial and geographic obstacles.
The Seabin Global Pilot Programme
As a concrete action for the theme, the Future of the Seas, Wärtsilä signed an agreement with the Seabin Project to join their global pilot programme. The Seabin addresses the worldwide littering problem affecting our seas in a concrete way.
The Seabin project is an excellent match for Wärtsilä as we have developed proven environmental products, such as our systems for the management of ballast water and waste water treatment and exhaust gas cleaning. Wärtsilä and the Seabin Project are continuing the cooperation also after the centennial year.
Support for the arts
During 2017 Wärtsilä also made it possible for the Finnish music institution Sibelius Academy to organize a joint three-concert-tour together with the famous New York based Juilliard School of performing arts. The tour was dedicated to Finland's 100th birthday celebrations. World-renowned Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen trained the student orchestra for the concerts.
Wärtsilä wishes Finland a happy 100th birthday and a bright future for the next one hundred years!
Wärtsilä’s Finland 100 site
http://www.wartsila.com/finland-100
Finland 100 official pages in English
http://suomifinland100.fi/?lang=en
The Seabin Project
http://www.seabinproject.com/
