Finland, a member of the European Union (EU) since 1995, has redefined itself from a quiet agricultural based economy to a trend setting, global center for technology. Finland has commercial clout far in excess of its modest 5.3 million population. Finland routinely ranks at the very top in international surveys of research and development funding, competitiveness, transparency, literacy, and education. Helsinki, a pocket-sized green maritime metropolis, will be the Design Capital for 2012; a year-long event showcasing the global influence of Finnish design and innovation. In Finland, nature reigns supreme and it is no surprise that Helsinki was the site of the first LEED certified building in the Nordics. Finland, along with all its Nordic neighbors, has a focused interest in green build and energy efficient and intelligent building products, services and technologies.