Helsinki

What's so special about Helsinki?
Helsinki is the spiritual home of the world's number one mobile-maker Nokia. The mobile giant maintains its HQ in the neighbouring Finnish city of Espoo, part of what is known as Greater Helsinki.

High tech is in the blood for Helsinki dwellers - most of whom have internet access at home - internet use in Finland is among the highest in Europe. Meanwhile, the city's main university, the eponymous Helsinki University, counts Linux kernel creator Linus Torvalds among its alumni. Which probably earns it enough tech cred to last out the rest of the millennium.

As Tech Hotspots judge John Higgins comments: "Even though Nokia has outsourced much of its development, Finland remains a hub of mobile development and its population is highly sophisticated in its use of mobile telephony."

The Helsinki University of Technology - also located in Espoo, presumably to bathe in the electromagnetic glow emanating from Nokia's HQ - has been dubbed Finland's MIT and counts former CEO of Nokia Jorma Ollila among its alumni. Unsurprisingly the university's mobile comms research and teaching is considered to be among the best in the world.

With all this research clout to its name, Helsinki is "the number one European destination for the development of new technologies", according to Tech Hotspots judge Luke Mellors.

Key tech companies Nokia.

Key institutions Helsinki Stock Exchange, Helsinki University, Helsinki Institute for Information Technology, The Rolf Nevanlinna Institute, Helsinki University of Technology located in Espoo.

Local salaries Software engineer, $60,000.

Famous faces Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux kernel; Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO of Nokia; Jorma Ollila former CEO of Nokia.

Population 560,000.

iPod cost $225 Source: CommSec, Apple.

Time zone GMT +2 hours.

Voltage and plugs 230V 50Hz two-pin European style.

How to get there Fly into Helsinki Airport.

Watch out for Icy pavements - seasonal.

Places to stay, eat or drink Radisson Sas Plaza Hotel, Hilton Helsinki Strand, Scandic Simonkentta.

What you might not know There are an estimated two million saunas in Finland so don't be surprised or afraid if you are invited to get your kit off with your business contacts after a meeting. Refusal of such an offer is considered bad form.