National strategy

Long-term investment in science, technology and innovations (STI) has been crucial to Finland’s success in the international competition and as a part of the global open economy. Finland has succeeded in combining the economic development with the development of society and the environment as well as increasing the well-being of the population. The success is based on the high education level of the entire population and the extensive development and introduction of science and technology. The Council considers it important that these national strengths will be retained also in the future.

The pivotal factors for the implementation of the strategy are increasing employment, high productivity and international competitiveness. In this context, research, development of technology, exploiting their results and strengthening social and technological innovation activities play a crucial role.

The strategy is being implemented in a global environment. The aim is to reinforce Finland’s position in the international division of labour in many forms. Despite high-level competence and a world-class innovation environment, Finland still attracts relatively few investments particularly in the fields of industrial production and high-tech. It will be particularly challenging to improve the overall functionality of research and innovation activities as well as the entire innovation system in a way that promotes converting competence into productive business activities, new enterprises and jobs.

The more versatile and renewable the business sector is, the better are realised the positive effects of research and innovation activities on the economy, employment and well-being. The central development area in this context is the creation and consolidation of high-quality innovation environments and infrastructures bringing together different parties in the field. The development activities combine need- and customer-based approaches alongside with international top quality.

The aims of the development measures presented in the report are: 1) to promote the innovation system’s overall functionality and ability to renew itself; 2) to enhance the competence base; 3) to improve the quality and focusing of research; 4) to promote the introduction and commercialisation of research results; and 5) to secure adequate economic prerequisites for the activities. The continuous development of human resources will ensure top-quality competence also in the future.

Development programme

In the near future, the resources will have to be allocated in an increasingly focused manner. One of the most significant foci of co-operation between public and private sectors will be the Strategic Centres of Excellence in STI, which are due to be established. They are international high-level centres of STI in fields that are crucial to the future of the Finnish business sector and society. The Science and Technology Policy Council has decided that concrete steps must first be taken in the following theme areas: 1) energy and environment; 2) metal products and mechanical engineering; 3) forest cluster; 4) health and well-being; 5) information and communication industry and services. The Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Education will appoint a committee to steer and evaluate the implementation of the measures.

The structures of the research system have to continuously be developed in accordance with the Government resolution of 7 April 2005. Views expressed aim at getting the funding for STI, the funding mechanisms and the structures of research organisations to correspond to each other and to support content-related objectives set for research. Co-operation between financiers and pooling of resources comprise one line of development. Another is the development of the structures, financial management and administration of research organisations.

The goal of creating a genuine researcher career system requires long-term investments in the different phases of researcher careers, i.e. the phases after PhD graduation and prior to professorship. The aim is to implement the four-tier researcher career model proposed by the expert group appointed by the Ministry of Education. The first priorities include increasing the number of posts for young researchers in the Academy of Finland and the universities as well as developing the structure of university posts in a direction that promotes researcher careers.

Novel financing procedures and resources are needed to develop national infrastructures – research equipment and stations, collections, databases, etc. Finland has lacked a national infrastructure policy and thereby the mechanisms, which are suitable for the evaluation and funding of these kinds of infrastructures. Therefore, urgent actions need to be taken to catch up on the head start given to other countries with respect to advanced research infrastructures. In the first phase, the current national-scale infrastructure, the needs for its reform and development as well as the opportunities to utilise international infrastructures have to be charted. For the basic work, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Trade and Industry will appoint a committee, which assesses long-term needs and gives expert opinions on new infrastructure projects. The committee will be composed of representatives from both the public and private sectors.

Programme for Increasing Public Research Funding 2007–2011

In its strategy document, the Government has set a goal of increasing R&D intensity (research investments as a proportion of GDP) from the current 3.5 per cent to 4.0 per cent by the end of the decade. In order to support this decision, the Council presents in its report a programme for increasing public research funding. The most important funding targets include the Strategic Centres of Excellence in STI, development of researcher careers, basic funding for universities, infrastructures, research and education in the field of technology, and competitive S&T funding.

The content-related and functional objectives cannot be reached only by increasing investments. At the same time, we need to be able to implement structural changes and bring fragmented resources together so that demanding large-scale research can be tackled either nationally or through international co-operation.

Further information:
Mr. Esko-Olavi Seppälä, Secretary General, Ministry of Education,
tel. +358 9 1607 7362
Mr. Kai Husso, Chief Planning Officer, Ministry of Trade and Industry,
tel. +358 9 1606 3683
Mrs. Marja Pulkkinen, Chief Planning Officer, Ministry of Education,
tel. +358 9 1607 7223

Information on the Council can be found at:
www.research.fi and
www.minedu.fi/OPM/Tiede/tiede-_ja_teknologianeuvosto/?lang=en