Bayer is the first non-Finnish company to receive the Internationalization Award of the President of the Republic of Finland in a new category, Long-Term International Investor. Bayer employs more than 1,000 people in Finland, having expanded its operations several times. It is frequently among the top of Finnish corporate tax payers and was the top payer in 2020.
 

The Internationalization Award of the President of the Republic of Finland is given annually to recognize internationally successful companies or cooperatives. It has now been awarded to a non-Finnish company for the first time in a new category. The main criteria included sustained operations in Finland and the generation of economic value for the country. 

Bayer main focus in Finland is research and development work on long-term contraception that uses polymer-based drug delivery technology. Bayer’s hormone-releasing intrauterine devices were the first Finnish medicinal product to pass one billion euros in sales, reaching 1.04 billion euros in 2016. Developed in the city of Turku, the hormone-releasing intrauterine devices have been Finland’s most exported pharmaceutical product for more than a decade.
 

“The new award for long-term investors demonstrates Finland’s interest in also recognizing foreign companies that have a major impact. Bayer has contributed to the Finnish economy through jobs created, euros invested, exports and innovations. It is a foreign-owned company that truly deserves this impressive award,” says Antti Aumo, the director of Invest in Finland.
 

Products manufactured at the Bayer plant in Turku are exported to more than 130 countries. One of Bayer Group’s largest global clinical research units is located in the city of Espoo. In addition to developing products, Bayer is developing its own operations in Finland and has expanded significantly over the years. 
 

“We are very grateful to the president of Finland for this prestigious award and proud of the recognition we have received,” says Miriam Holstein, CEO of Bayer Nordic. “Finland has for a long time been an important and propitious place for Bayer to operate and invest in. Finland has a predictable, stable and research-friendly operating environment which makes it an excellent place for an international pharmaceutical company to operate. We are proud of our footprint and its positive impact in Finland. We have unique competencies and innovation that are valued globally.” 
 

Earlier this year, Bayer announced an investment to build a new pharmaceutical plant in Turku and modernize its existing production facility at the same time. The total value of this investment is 250 million euros ($285 million). In addition, Bayer invests approximately 80 million euros in Finland each year, including research and development. Bayer’s Finnish investments over the past ten years total more than 800 million euros. Bayer was the top payer of corporate tax in Finland in 2020 and has been among the top payers for many years. The company has paid well over a billion euros in Finnish corporate tax over the past decade.

The long-term investor award was presented to Bayer by President of Finland Sauli Niinistö in a ceremony on November 19. Other recipients of the Internationalization Award were the companies Relex, Peiko and Maria 01. The award recipients were proposed to the president by the Team Finland network, which includes Business Finland, ELY centers (Centers for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment), Finnvera, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Candidates for the award were suggested by business organizations.

Additional information for the media:

Marjo Mäkipää, Communications and External Affairs Manager | Bayer
Marjo.makipaa@bayer.com 045 691 3881

Antti Aumo, Executive Director, Invest in Finland | Business Finland 
antti.aumo@businessfinland.fi 040 505 0477

Heli Hemgård, Communications Manager, Finland Promotion Services | Business Finland
heli.hemgard@businessfinland.fi 040 901 5219

Bayer in Finland

Our product portfolio in Finland includes Bayer's prescription drugs, over-the-counter products, crop protection agents and control substances. Our international operations in Finland focus on prescription drugs: research and development, production, and export of products manufactured in Finland to over 100 countries. Many of Bayer's international clinical trials are also led from Finland. *The headquarters of Bayer Nordic are in Espoo. The regional organization comprises Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Bayer employs about 1000 people in Finland. 
 

About Bayer
 

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to drive sustainable development and generate a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2020, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 41.4 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 4.9 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

For more information, see www.bayer.com and www.bayer.com/fi/fi/suomi

Invest in Finland helps foreign companies identify business opportunities in Finland, produces information on Finland as an investment destination, and enhances and coordinates national efforts to attract investment by actively networking with regional and international entities. Invest in Finland also collects and updates information about foreign-owned companies in Finland. Invest in Finland is part of Business Finland. . www.investinfinland.fi 

Business Finland is a Finnish public organization that provides innovation funding and internationalization services. It also promotes Finland as a travel and investment destination. The organization employs 760 advisers at approximately 40 locations world-wide and 16 locations in Finland. Business Finland is part of the Team Finland network.  www.businessfinland.fi