Welcome to Huld Manu, Henry, Mikael, Viktor & Jari!
Manu Kujala, Hardware Designer, Seinäjoki
Henry Jaakkola, Trainee, Espoo
Mikael Zelikman, Senior Software Designer, Espoo
Viktor Måsala, Software Designer, Vaasa
Jari Pimiä, Software Trainee, Tampere
Huld – Bold Ideas with Humane Touch
We are a technology and design house full of independent thinkers and keen learners with humane hearts and bold attitudes.
Whether conquering space, reshaping consumer behavior, or innovating in forest industry, we take on every project with pioneering thinking, technology, and design.
Our doors are always open for humane and bold professionals. Check out our open positions.
Huld is thrilled to announce that the instrument for the Copernicus Sentinel-5 (S5) mission is now ready to be shipped to its launch site from Airbus’s facilities in Toulouse, France, where it was on display to the media just a few days ago.
The Sentinel-5 instrument flies on the MetOp-SG A satellite which is part of EUMETSAT’s EPS-SG programme.
The S5 instrument is a nadir viewing push-broom spectrograph with a spectral range covering ultraviolet (UV) to short wave infrared (SWIR). It aims at measuring the atmospheric composition: amounts of trace gases and aerosols. The instrument hosts two telescopes (UV/SWIR and UV2VIS/NIR), and five spectrometers, each with their own detector. The UVNS detectors are split frame frame-transfer detectors, which allows for different exposure times for two different wavelength regions.
Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) is the Prime for developing the S5 instrument and under this contract is tasked with defining the L1 algorithms and delivering the L1b prototype processor and associated reference test data sets. ADS has subcontracted the development of the L1bPP software and generation of the L1 reference test data to Huld.
The results of the Level 1 processing are the L1b products: Earth radiance, Solar irradiance and Calibration products. These are distributed to users and used as the input for Level 2 processing to generate atmospheric composition products.
Huld has been developing the L1b prototype data processing software (a data processor) since 2015. In recent months, Huld team has been working more closely than ever with the Customer team to make final tuning to the L1b processing and get ready for the launch in August 2025.
Mikko Vepsäläinen, S5 L1bPP Technical Lead from Huld commented:
“It is exciting to see everything finally come together, with the instrument calibrated and integrated into the satellite, and the entire data processing chain operating together to generate data products for users. We have worked for a long time refining algorithms, calibrations and interfaces, and processing increasingly accurate simulated data and finally real instrument data recorded on-ground. Yet after sorting out all the details, the instrument will be observing something very concrete: the air we breathe.”
In August 2025, the updated EU Radio Equipment Directive (RED) will enter into force. The directive brings stricter information security requirements for manufacturers, importers and distributors of wireless smart devices. The update is due to the explosive growth of smart devices and the new information security threats they create, which do not only extend to individual products.
Essentially, the updated directive is about ensuring that smart devices do not damage data networks or other devices connected to the network. For example, in autumn 2024, Nordea faced major denial-of-service attacks. These attacks used hijacked devices from people’s home networks as part of a botnet.
Iikka Taanila, a cyber security expert from Huld, says that raports of such attacks are increasing. They often target poorly protected smart home devices like surveillance cameras, routers, or washing machines
Smart Device Risks – What Has Changed?
Taanila explains that cybercriminals have increasingly been using smart devices for denial-of-service attacks, a trend that’s growing due to people’s desire for comfort. More and more smart devices are being used in homes to make daily life easier.
“For example, having a cleaning robot that keeps your kitchen floor clean every day is great. But if there’s even one vulnerable device in your smart home, you could unknowingly become part of a botnet, which could, in the worst case, disrupt important services like online banking,” says Taanila.
Taanila also notes that the risks of smart devices go beyond denial-of-service attacks. Poorly secured devices, like home security cameras, can expose your daily life to cybercriminals. This information could potentially be used to break into your home.
Iikka Taanila emphasizes that the purpose of the updated directive is to strengthen the security of smart devices and data networks.
Vulnerabilities Pose Threats to Companies
In addition to households, companies are also increasingly using smart devices. According to Taanila, access to the company’s business-critical systems is a much greater threat than a denial-of-service attack. For example, in 2017, a vulnerability was discovered in a smart aquarium in a Las Vegas casino. It allowed hackers to gain access to the company’s network and steal a significant amount of customer data.
“Many devices are designed for quick and easy use, but not enough effort is always made to ensure their long-term safety. There are unfortunate examples on the market where a smart device manufacturer has stopped software updates within a few years of the product launch, even though the device may have a ten-year lifespan,” Taanila comments.
The updated Radio Equipment Directive, effective in August, will strengthen information security requirements for wireless smart devices and increase manufacturer responsibility. In the future, devices like home surveillance cameras, cleaning robots, and industrial wireless measuring tools must follow strict security standards. This includes risk assessments, security testing, and considering information security throughout the product’s life cycle.
“As a result, consumers and businesses won’t have to guess if a smart device meets top security standards. Only devices that meet these requirements will be allowed in the EU market,” says Taanila.
Information Security Is a Shared Responsibility
The security of smart devices is not only up to manufacturers. Consumers and businesses, including system administrators, must also ensure devices are kept up to date. Without regular software and security updates, devices become vulnerable to cyberattacks.
“A smart device bought six months ago may have a vulnerability that hackers can exploit if the necessary update hasn’t been installed,” Taanila warns.
He emphasizes that security updates aren’t just recommendations – they are essential. Updates protect against attacks and ensure device security. If not installed, the risk extends beyond the device itself, putting your environment, company, and customers at risk of cyber threats.
“Fortunately, some manufacturers have already made devices that update automatically without user action,” he adds.
However, no information security is completely flawless. Security experts keep on working hard to protect devices, as criminals continually find new ways to breach protections.
“I believe that new information security regulations will lead to more secure devices, making networks more reliable. As consumers become more aware of information security, everyday life and the use of smart devices will become even safer,” says Taanila.
Jegor Rysskin, Security Consultant, Espoo Marjana Leppäaho, Security Consultant, Espoo Joona Sundell, IT Specialist, Tampere Niko Rantalainen, QA Competence Lead, Tampere
Huld – Bold Ideas with Humane Touch
We are a technology and design house full of independent thinkers and keen learners with humane hearts and bold attitudes.
Whether conquering space, reshaping consumer behavior, or innovating in forest industry, we take on every project with pioneering thinking, technology, and design.
Our doors are always open for humane and bold professionals. Check out our open positions.
We have updated our strategy to better reflect the changing market. As part of the implementation of the strategy, the new CEO will be appointed.
Juha Virtanen will start as Huld’s new CEO as of 1.8.2025. His goal is to strengthen our position, especially as a prominent European expert in the fields of space and defense. According to Virtanen, the market will grow strongly in the coming years with new investments, and Huld is in an excellent position,operating in these sectors for a long time.
Virtanen is looking forward to taking on his new duties.
– I have been able to get to know Huld as a board member for three years now. The company has a great current customer base and huge potential to become one of Europe’s leading players, especially in digitalization and product development in the space and defense industries. We will continue to focus on the development of high-quality, safe and sustainable technology together with our customers.
Virtanen has worked for Gofore Plc for the past 18 years, most recently responsible for the digital services business. In addition, he has been a member of Huld’s Board since May 2022, participating in the company’s strategic development. When taking on the position of CEO, he will also leave Huld’s Board.
Juha Virtanen will start as Huld’s CEO on August 1, 2025, as Mika Kiljala joins Huld’s board.
Current CEO joins the Huld Board
The current CEO and founder of the company, Mika Kiljala, will leave his position as CEO on 1.8.2025 and become a member of Huld’s Board. In addition, he will support the new CEO in the transition phase as an advisor.
– I have had the honour of leading and growing Huld for 20 years. Now, it’s the right time to move into a new role on the Board to support the company’s next phase of growth. Huld has developed significantly over the years, and I am proud of what we have achieved together. Juha Virtanen knows the company well and has a strong vision and experience of managing a growth company. I leave the CEO’s duties to him with confidence and look forward to supporting Huld’s development as a member of the Board and a shareholder, Kiljala says.
Johan Wentzel, Chairman of the Huld Board, also comments on the change:
– Under the ownership of Sentica Oy since 2017, Huld has developed into a recognised and established operator in its field. A big thank you to Mika Kiljala for his long and successful career as Huld’s CEO. Juha Virtanen’s appointment as the new CEO supports the next phase of our strategy, which aims to grow especially around our strong space and defense competencies.
More info:
Johan Wentzel, p. +358 40 733 9925 Mika Kiljala, p. +358 40 545 3760 Juha Virtanen, p. +358 50 413 3136
Huld Oy is a technology company that employs 400 people in Finland and Czechia. Huld offers a unique combination of software and product development expertise. We have decades of experience in providing secure, high-quality and sustainable solutions from space to medical devices and industry. Together with our customers, we build smart solutions that last until tomorrow – and beyond.
Sustainability in supply chains is more critical than ever. Globalization, technological advancements, and unforeseen crises have transformed the landscape. So, how do you select the right partners to ensure they support your company’s goals?
Sustainability measures and models have developed in a more diverse direction year by year. The reason lies in the changes in the industry and management, as well as globalisation. Advanced logistics and technology have diversified the market and opened up new delivery opportunities worldwide.
As an example – for years, we were able to live without worries until COVID came and stopped air traffic in 2020. This forced companies to re-evaluate their value chains and assess risks and vulnerabilities as the availability of components became more difficult. Who should we continue our cooperation with?
Trust and Values Guide Choices
Companies want to be responsible members of society and bear their responsibilities outside their organisation as well. Thus, sustainability in supply chains has become increasingly important, and companies are choosing reliable partners to join their business network.
Successful business needs to be surrounded by stakeholders who share the same ethical values. When the whole supply chain is in order, there are good conditions for business continuity. Cooperation with a reliable partner is smooth – and not only secures the company’s cash flow but also increases the company’s innovative activities and product development.
But what happens if the same values do not match in the supply chain?
Risks and Responsibility Go Hand in Hand
It’s good to remember that every collaboration always involves risks. However, risks can and should be avoided by doing thorough research when choosing a new partner. A company is only as responsible as its network. If your company’s sustainability measures are excellent, why destroy the work by choosing irresponsible partners?
When making procurements, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance)should be taken into accountas a whole, not just partially. So, if you don’t want any surprising reputational damage to your company, let alone risk the quality of your products by always choosing the cheapest option, you should take the time to choose the right partner. In the worst case, even one poorly chosen cooperator can cause customer losses, reputational damage, a deterioration and slowdown in the level of service, and a loss of trust.
How to Choose a Responsible Partner
Before choosing a new partner, think about the following questions:
Is the company’s tax footprint where it should be?
Is the company producing a positive result?
Does the company have a sustainability report?
Does the company and its operations follow equality?
Does the company aim to support the well-being and healthy life of its employees through its own operations?
Does the company take the environment into account?
Does the company’s operations cause negative environmental impacts?
Good cooperation should be considered from versatile points-of-view, and with time. You shouldn’t go for the price first – you can’t get a Mercedes for the price of a Lada. So, take your time to find out the responsibility of your stakeholders.
At Huld, we are committed to promoting responsible business, also as your partner. Feel free to contact us, if you want to hear more about our sustainability actions!
The FORUM mission, ESA’s 9th Earth Explorer, is set to revolutionize climate science by filling a critical gap in far-infrared spectral observations. Huld plays a key role in developing data processing software and ultimately contributing to the mission success.
The Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring (FORUM) mission, selected as ESA’s 9th Earth Explorer in 2019, aims to fill the gap in far-infrared spectral observations. Its goal is to provide a complete spectral characterization of the Earth’s Outgoing Longwave Radiation.
FORUM will fly in loose formation with the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Instrument Next Generation (IASI-NG) on the Meteorological Operational Satellite – Second Generation (MetOp-SG). This mission will enhance our understanding of the climate by evaluating the role of far-infrared in shaping it. By doing so, FORUM will help reduce uncertainty in future climate change predictions.
Huld Expands Contribution to FORUM with New ESA Contract
Since October 2022, Huld has been contracted by Airbus Defence and Space Ltd. to build Forum End-to-End Simulator (FEES) Level 1, L1 Operational Processor, and Instrument Monitoring Facility.
Recently, Huld has won a new Contract with European Space Agency (ESA) to deliver Forum L2 software engineering support. The project started on March 10, 2025.
The three main objectives of this activity are to:
Support the Level-2 science activities that define the theoretical basis for L2 processing by providing robust software engineering practices,
Develop the Level-2 Processing Module (L2PP) and the Performance Analysis Module (PAM2) for the FORUM End-to-End Simulator (FEES),
Integrate all current FORUM Level-1 (developed by Huld as part of other activity) and Level 2 modules into a cohesive FEES.
The goal of the activity is to ensure data accuracy and successful module integration. It also aims to maintain high standards in software development. This ensures a reliable and efficient assessment of FORUM mission performance.
“It’s very exciting to be working on such a ground-breaking project, which will be the first mission to measure Earth’s outgoing spectrum in the far-infrared at high resolution. Huld’s extensive expertise in Level-1 data processing will now be utilized in supporting Level-2 science activities. I look forward to working with ESA to contribute my expertise on this mission.” –Sara Jokela, Project Manager, Huld
”To complete an end-to-end system including both Level-1 and Level-2 modules will certainly be an interesting challenge. The collaboration involved in this project hopefully provides new insights to Huld with respect to understanding the needs in generating scientifically valid results from raw instrument data.“ –Teemu Laakso, Design Lead, Huld
MIELI Mental Health Finland has awarded Huld the Hyvän mielen työpaikka® badge for the third time. This recognition is granted to companies that demonstrate long-term and continuous commitment to promoting mental well-being in the workplace.
The Hyvän mielen työpaikka® badge serves not only as an incentive but also as a tool for advancing mental well-being in Finnish workplaces. It helps assess how mental health is considered in the work environment and encourages concrete actions to support it in daily operations.
“Promoting mental health in working life requires systematic efforts and collaboration. Huld has boldly experimented with different ways to enhance mental well-being. Strengthening positive aspects is always beneficial. Open discussions about mental health enable the use of different methods and flexibilities before anyone becomes overly burdened. It’s great to see Huld highlighting these opportunities and incorporating them into everyday work.” – Saija Koskensalmi, Mental Health Expert, MIELI Mental Health Finland
Huld is committed to continuously supporting mental well-being in the workplace and normalizing discussions around mental health and resilience. We are also part of the Piece of Mind network, which aims to make mental well-being a visible part of everyday life at Huld.
“We are all unique individuals, and work can, at its best, support our well-being. Our goal is to increase courage and openness in discussions about mental health. I have been reflecting on where the line lies between discretion and indifference – do we, out of politeness, avoid asking how someone is doing, when in reality, not asking might feel like a lack of care? Each of us, through our behavior and actions, can strengthen and develop a positive work community. Let’s have the courage to care for one another.” – Susanna Pirinen, CPO, Huld
The Hyvän mielen työpaikka® badge is maintained by MIELI Mental Health Finland. Its goal is to encourage the development and solutions that promote mental health and well-being in workplaces.
In February, we announced that Huld Certification has been sold and will continue under Into Security with a new name: Into Certification.
After the news, the company has already achieved its first goal by being the third company in Finland to receive the Katakri 2020 TLIV and TLIII certifications as an information security assessment body.
“Many thanks to the entire Huld team for a smooth transition. We are now ready to help companies, public administration organisations and all actors who have an impact on national security to improve their cyber security and strengthen their operational reliability.”Niki Klaus, CEO, Into Security
Into Certification’s new website has now been published, you can check it out here.
More information
Niki Klaus
CEO, Into Security
+358 50 394 8996
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