International visits deepened the understanding of the development of industrial areas

The thematic lead project for battery chemistry organized a study visit to Germany and Belgium between May 19 and 20, 2025. The Finnish delegation visited the industrial park in Knapsack, Germany and the second largest port in Europe, the Port of Antwerp. The visited sites are part of the European Chemical Site Promotion Platform (ECSPP) network, just like Kokkola Industrial Park. Some of the delegation continued to Rotterdam, on May 21, to take part in the world’s largest hydrogen event, World Hydrogen Summit.

In accordance with the project plan, the aim of this visit was to find out more about international flagship areas and strengthen the cooperation with European operators. The visits provided valuable perspectives and new contacts to support the development of industrial areas at both national and regional levels.

“The visits highlighted how important it is to understand the development in a fast-changing world, even though countries have different approaches, cultures and history. Logistics efficiency and the availability of electricity and energy were identified as key factors that contribute to business establishment. The Port of Antwerp has the largest port area in Europe, but the limited space requires careful strategic planning for new establishments. It was also inspiring to see how an industrial area can be aesthetically beautiful and pleasant – it challenges us to think about how the areas can be developed more comprehensively. The trip confirmed the observations we made in our workshop series in 2024 and that have been compiled in the report Best practices for industrial areas,” says Hannu-Pekka Pukema, project manager of the lead project for battery chemistry in the City of Kokkola.

The trip sparked lively discussion among the participants and provided a great deal of inspiration for future development work.