Herring, reindeer and forests may spring to mind when Helsinki, Finland’s capital and largest city, crops up in conversation. Times, however, have changed. The last decade has seen Finland’s economy transition from forestry-based to technology-based industry. Dubbed ‘Design Capital of the World 2012’ by Icsid and ‘World’s Most Liveable City’ by British magazine Monocle in 2011, Helsinki is nowadays more synonymous with clean tech brands such as Nokia, and sleek design lines such as Artek, than it is with the reindeer-patterned cable-knits of yesteryear. Even the country’s gastronomy has undergone a makeover; the New York Times recently described Helsinki’s cuisine as ‘inventive and playful’. Fast becoming a major political, educational, financial, cultural and research centre in Northern Europe, roughly 70% of foreign companies operating in Finland can be found in the Helsinki region, making the city a rich and cosmopolitan experience for those living there.