If Finland plays its cards right, a new 'data economy' could be born, according to the CEO of Business Finland. Lassi Noponen, CEO of state-owned Business Finland. Image: Sasha Silvala / YleYle NewsFinland is giving away its resources to tech giants on far too modest terms, according to Lassi Noponen, CEO of state-owned Business Finland."In Sweden, for example, Meta is involved in carbon capture in the Stockholm area, and that's a completely different scale of thing than 'lights for the running track'," Noponen said. His "lights for the running track" jibe refers to how minor the conditions Finnish municipalities are setting for major companies building data centres — such as Google's promises to build saunas in Muhos and solar panels in Kajaani. Noponen's opinion carries a good deal of weight. He leads Business Finland, a part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, which advises and assists foreign companies wanting to invest in Finland. The outfit is contacted by prospective data centre builders on a daily basis. Noponen's phone rang while he was speaking with Yle. "That was about a data centre project," he grinned afterwards. According to Noponen, data centres should be required to make investments of a completely different scale for Finland's benefit, compared to current demands. Municipalities are currently negotiating with data centre companies, seeking tax revenue and local benefits — but Noponen said this would require coordination at the national level, since municipalities' bargaining power doesn't reach the level he's talking about. Beyond calls for new electricity production — which Noponen also supports — he sees the electricity connection itself as a lever. Data centres typically receive their grid connection directly from state grid operator Fingrid. A pending law change would let Fingrid prioritise which applicants are first in line to receive scarce new connections."Research and development activity, or some other condition, could move a data centre builder higher up the priority list when we grant our limited electricity connection permits."Tougher terms won't scare firms offHe further noted that companies could also improve their position by sourcing components and services from Finland — leveraging the country's strong power electronics industry, cooling specialists and wide subcontracting base. Data centre projects do bring work and income to the construction sector and local hotels — but these effects don't last long. In contrast, Noponen's proposed conditions could deliver a broader, longer-lasting boost to Finland's economy. He said that if Finland plays its cards right, a new 'data economy' could be born. Throughout the time he spent speaking with Yle, Noponen repeatedly insists that Finland has a strong hand. Data centres are being built worldwide at a staggering financial pace. According to a September report by consultancy firm PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), companies are spending more than 700 billion euros on data centre projects this year alone."Finland is one of the best places to build because of our natural conditions," Noponen said, pointing to the country's cool climate, available land and electricity access — which PwC's report named as the biggest bottlenecks for data centres around the world. Noponen doesn't think tougher conditions will scare off international data centre operators."I don't believe for a second that international data centre operators' interest in Finland will stop if we require things that build Finland's data economy over a slightly longer timeframe."So lights for the running track really won't cut it?"No, it won't."