Cultural exports and market entries

The cultural and creative sectors constitute a medium large sector in Finland’s national economy, both as regards the value added and the number of employees. However, the domestic market in Finland is rather small and achieving the objectives set for the promotion of cultural exports, in particular increasing the number of jobs, necessitates export of cultural goods and services to international markets.

The State grants allocated by the Ministry of Education and Culture for the promotion of cultural exports can be used for packaging, marketing, networking and branding, i.e. to the phase when a cultural good or service is reaching consumers.

Most of the businesses and other actors carrying out cultural exports are small and they usually do not have sufficient resources to do marketing etc. Accessing private funding for this phase has proved to be challenging. The State grants allocated by the Ministry of Education and Culture seek to alleviate this market failure.

Grants for the promotion of cultural exports can be allocated for both economic and non-economic activities. The EU rules on state aid are being applied to grants for economic activities and such grants are allocated as de minimis aid.

Contact information

Kimmo Aulake, Ministerial Adviser 
Ministry of Education and Culture, Kulttuuri- ja taidepolitiikan osasto (KUPO), Division for Copyright Policy and Audiovisual Culture Telephone:0295330067   Email Address: