Quiet disruptors – how Finnish healthtech is reshaping global care

The Finnish approach to health has long been rooted in innovation – from the introduction of the äitiyspakkaus (baby box) in 1938, which helped lower infant mortality through early intervention, to digital milestones like Polar’s invention of the world’s first wireless heart rate monitor in 1977. That same ethos – combining prevention, precision and usability – continues to shape Finland’s healthtech offering today.

The sector has quietly become one of Finland’s most dynamic export success stories. Drawing on scientific depth and design-led thinking, Finnish firms are gaining international recognition for their strengths in digital health, diagnostics and personalised care.

The United States remains the largest single export destination, with sales reaching 856 million euros in 2024 – growth supported by partnerships between Finnish companies and world-class institutions such as the Mayo Clinic. But Finnish healthtech solutions are also making inroads well beyond North America, from European clinical networks to emerging markets prioritising decentralised, data-driven care.

Many of these companies are born out of cross-disciplinary research and built with global scalability in mind.

Here are five making waves.

1. Quantum computing meets medicine – how Algorithmiq is rethinking drug discovery

The pace of drug discovery remains painfully slow – with years of costly trial and error often leading to failure. Sabrina Maniscalco, CEO of Algorithmiq, believes quantum computing can change that.

Her Helsinki-based startup is developing quantum software to simulate the complexity of biological systems at a molecular level. Its flagship platform, Aurora, was developed with IBM and uses quantum algorithms to accelerate drug design and optimise compound selection.

“We have discovered a method to combine the outcome of quantum computers with the most powerful classical method in a way that is accurate, efficient and scalable,” said Maniscalco.

After raising 13.7 million euros in 2023, Algorithmiq partnered with NVIDIA in 2025 to tackle quantum error mitigation – a critical step in making quantum applications viable for real-world problems in healthcare, finance and beyond.

By focusing on practical outcomes and deep scientific collaboration, Algorithmiq is positioning itself as one of Europe’s most credible players in the emerging quantum ecosystem.

2. Gaming with purpose – how Soihtu DTx is turning play into therapy

Many people living with depression don’t respond to standard treatments – or struggle to stay engaged with them long enough to see results. Soihtu DTx is tackling that challenge by turning therapy into something that feels less clinical and more intuitive: a game.

The company’s flagship product, Meliora, is a digital treatment that draws on neuroscience, game design and psychology. Built to improve executive functioning – a cognitive area often impaired in depression – the game invites users to explore, strategise and interact in ways designed to promote behavioural change.

“In game terms, Meliora is a combination of first-person shooter and strategy game,” said Professor Matias Palva. “Understanding the deeper nature of the enemy is a key issue in the game.”

A clinical study used the user journey method to analyse how participants engaged with each step of the intervention, from onboarding to follow-up. Results from this initial trial, focused on treatment-resistant depression, are expected to be published in 2025.

Founded in 2023, Soihtu DTx has raised more than 3 million euros. Its pre-seed round was led by Innovestor, with backing from NewFund HEKA – an international investor specialising in brain health.

3. Personalised pills on demand – how CurifyLabs is retooling pharmacy for the 21st century

For patients with rare diseases, allergies or unique dosing needs, off-the-shelf medicines often fall short. Yet the traditional process of compounding personalised drugs is slow, manual and error-prone.

Enter Charlotta Topelius, CEO of CurifyLabs, whose team has developed the Pharma Printer – a device that automates the production of customised medications directly in pharmacies and hospitals. It speeds up output fourfold while improving consistency and safety.

“There is a significant need for scalable and practical methods to produce customised drugs that precisely match a patient’s needs,” said Topelius. “We are thrilled to introduce the world’s first Pharma Ink for 3D printing of drugs.”

Backed by 6.7 million euros in funding and a one million euro loan from Business Finland, CurifyLabs is also leading RoboPharma, a 5.6 million euro EU-funded initiative exploring robotic and AI-assisted drug production.

The company is now helping transform compounding from a niche, manual process into a decentralised, data-enabled solution – one that meets the growing demand for truly personalised medicine.

4. Digital surgery guides – how Buddy Healthcare is making hospital journeys smoother

Surgical patients often feel lost between consultations, consent forms and recovery instructions. Missed steps can delay procedures, reduce adherence and increase hospital workloads. Jussi Määttä, CEO of Buddy Healthcare, saw an opportunity to simplify the process.

The company’s platform, BuddyCare, acts as a digital companion – guiding patients through each stage of their surgery while allowing clinicians to monitor progress remotely. The app delivers personalised instructions, reminders and secure messaging, flagging any exceptions in the care pathway.

“The app gives patients everything they need to navigate their surgery,” said Määttä. “Nurses and doctors can see who’s on track and who needs extra attention.”

The system is already in use across hospitals in multiple countries, helping to reduce cancellations, improve patient satisfaction and ease administrative burden.

By connecting care teams and patients in real time, Buddy Healthcare is turning complex clinical journeys into coordinated digital experiences.

5. Silence, perfected – how QuietOn made Nordic calm into a global product

Sleep disrupted by snoring, traffic or noisy neighbours is a common frustration – and a growing public health issue. Yet most sleep aids rely on white noise or earplugs, which do little to block low-frequency disturbances. That’s where Soundless Ltd, the company behind QuietOn, saw an opportunity for something better.

Its latest product, QuietOn 4, launched in June 2025, uses next-generation active noise cancelling (ANC) technology to deliver deeper, uninterrupted sleep – without introducing artificial masking sounds. The earbuds detect ambient noise, then generate precise, phase-shifted waveforms to cancel it out in real time.

“Our mission has always been to help people experience the power of sleeping in silence,” said Janne Kyllönen, CPO and co-founder of Soundless. “With QuietOn 4, we’ve taken a major leap forward – not just in technology, but in how we support better sleep and overall well-being.”

Now sold in more than 120 countries, QuietOn’s earbuds have become a go-to solution for travellers, shift workers, and light sleepers looking for portable peace.