FAIR's customers outpaced the national economy and the ICT sector — combined revenue up 76%
Finnish AI Region’s customer companies grew significantly faster than both the national economy and the ICT sector between 2020 and 2024. Their combined revenue grew by 76% and headcount by 30%, outpacing both benchmarks. A recent survey finds the strongest gains in digital capability and AI adoption. At the same time, customers’ need for increasingly technical support continues to grow.
Text by Martti Asikainen, 28.5.2026 | Photo by Adobe Stock Photos
The combined revenue of Finnish companies using Finnish AI Region’s (FAIR) services grew by 76% between 2020 and 2024, amounting to €113 million in absolute terms.
This emerges from a customer survey and statistical analysis conducted by FAIR. Headcount among FAIR customers rose 30% over the same period, from approximately 1,154 to 1,501 employees. Both figures outpaced the growth of the national economy and the ICT sector as a whole.
The customer base is heavily weighted towards small companies. Approximately 70% of registered customers employ between zero and five people. The dominant sectors are software development, management consulting, and technical services. Around three in four FAIR customers are based in the Helsinki metropolitan area, which includes Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa.
The customer base spans a wide range of development stages, from early-stage ventures to well-established operators. Around 46% had received a Business Finland grant by the time of the survey and 11% a Business Finland loan, reflecting customers’ close ties to Finland’s broader business support network.
Three in four developed new AI services
Growth during the period is explained primarily by productivity gains rather than rapid hiring. Between 2020 and 2022, revenue grew faster than employment, significantly boosting output per employee. Strong hiring from 2022 onwards has moderated this ratio somewhat, though it remains well above the national baseline.
The analysis found that growth dynamics were strongest at the bottom of the size ladder. Microenterprises — companies with one employee or fewer — grew the most in relative terms, more than doubling their headcount during the period.
Among respondents who had used FAIR’s services for up to three years, 88% reported improvements in digital skills and capability, and 73% said their productivity had grown during their time as a customer. Around 76% reported having developed new AI-related services during this period.
The most widely used FAIR service was expert consulting, cited by approximately 60% of respondents. Respondents who used consulting and piloting environments rated FAIR’s overall value higher than those who did not, indicating that hands-on, practical support is the clearest source of impact.
What customers need next
The demand for FAIR’s services is growing, and becoming more technically demanding at the same time. The top priorities for the next three years were AI adoption support, financing and investment assistance, and skills development. Respondents also expressed a desire for access to piloting and testing environments, particularly in collaboration with public-sector and municipal partners.
Around 55% of respondents consider FAIR’s current service portfolio adequate. Feedback nevertheless highlights three clear areas for development: lowering the cost barrier for early-stage pilots, opening testing environments to public-sector partners, and tailoring services more closely to different profiles and stages of AI readiness.
The results show that FAIR’s customer base has grown faster than the Finnish economy across every key measure. The key challenge now is translating demonstrated capability gains into measurable revenue and investment impact — a question facing AI adopters across Europe, regardless of sector.
Learn more about Finnish AI Region’s services here.
