Collecting, preserving and exhibiting industrial and technological heritage have been scattered and specialised in Finland. The main reason for this is that the Finnish State has not been interested in setting up its own museums of science and technology and has hardly pursued any other policy than granting financial subsidies to institutions in this field. The Finnish science and technology (S&T) museums have been established and owned by private foundations, associations, private enterprises, municipalities or universities.

The paper examines the main categories of S&T museums in Finland and their focuses and specialities. Many of them were founded by private persons - often amateurs or retired engineers who have run their museums mainly by regional donations or subsidies. Although there are some rather prominent museums of technology in big cities, a typical Finnish museum of technology is a reasonably modest institution in a small town or rural municipality. A standard museum focuses on exhibiting the history of some significant local industry or craftsmanship, such as a Lace Museum in the City of Rauma on the western coast.

By cross-country comparison, the paper also highlights peculiarities of Finnish S & T museums, while it also analyses causes to these idiosyncrasies.