Science and Technology Policy Council outlined education, science, technology and innovation policies for the near future
On Tuesday, 9 December 2008, the Science and Technology Policy Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, adopted the policy report ‘Review2008’ that outlines Finland’s education, science, technology and innovation policy. The report presents the Council’s national strategies and a development programme for the coming years. According to the report, policy measures need to provide a good basis for the sustainable promotion of well-being of the population, Finland’s competitiveness and our culture, creativity and education.
National strategy
The Finnish strategy is to ensure the sustainable and balanced development of society and the economy. The implementation of the strategy calls for growth, competitiveness, high employment and top-level productivity. Policy measures need to be more closely interlinked with the key change factors: globalisation, ageing population, technological advancement and the need to ensure sustainable development.
Innovative individuals and communities are the basis for success. Research- and technology-based innovation has led the way, followed closely by broad-based innovation covering the entire society. It is user-oriented, responsive to demand and characterised by multifaceted innovation environments and the need to increase innovativeness of the public sector. Subtle combination of physical, human and social capital and international networking are key advantages in change.
Policy measures will continue to focus on the comprehensive development of research and innovation systems in a way that promotes the economy, the well-being of the population and the implementation of new development perspectives. The basic conditions to success include the ability to produce and utilise new information, high-level technology and business know-how as well as profound knowledge of the markets, especially the needs of users and customers.
Education, research and innovation boost well-being
Finland has launched several reforms which together provide an answer to the challenges. These include the structural development of higher education institutions, the national innovation strategy, the Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI), the reform of sectoral research, the national infrastructure policy, the implementation of the four-stage research career model, the internationalisation of functions and the promotion of research and innovation funding. The common goal of the reform projects is the development of the contents, structure and funding of functions to ensure well-being and sustainable development.
Content development focuses on international top level research and innovation in key areas in terms of the development of the economy and society as well as the well-being of the population. Climate change, research relating to the environment and energy are the main priorities for Finland too. Other priorities include the selections of the Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI), bio and nano technologies, new materials, knowledge-intensive services, and ICT-based applications in other areas. It is necessary to improve the innovativeness of the public sector and the production of service innovations.
In recent years, the structures of the research system have been systematically analysed in order to improve system dynamics and the ability to transform. The policy measures will be redefined on the basis of an international assessment of the innovation system that will be completed in the autumn of 2009. The comprehensive reform of universities is the most important of the ongoing reforms.
To attain the objectives concerning the content of functions, it is necessary to increase research and innovation funding both from the public and private sector. The quantitative aim - four per cent share of the GNI in 2011 - has been laid down in the Government Programme. Innovation funding must be allocated increasingly in demand- and user-oriented innovation, the implementation of experiments supporting it and in growth enterprises.
The practical implementation of results could be improved. Investments will not produce the hoped-for effects without a reform of the actions and structures of businesses and the rest of society. Broad-based partnerships between the actors operating in the public and private sectors and between various sectors will produce the best results in the increasing field of innovation. Cooperation needs to be deepened also between the national and regional levels.
The methodological shortcomings of impact assessment need to be remedied, assessment training increased and basic knowledge improved. The ineffective utilisation of the assessment results is also a challenge.
The internationalisation of our research and innovation system is inevitable. Businesses and research organisations need to seek close long-term interaction with the leading countries and key actors in the field of research and innovation. Participation in EU-level cooperation needs to be more focused and target-oriented.
Prerequisites for successful choices include adequate information, inventive foresight and decisive decision-making. The success of the development measures is based on investments in human capital and ensuring that there are enough educated, top-level experts in the key areas. It is essential that measures at various levels of education are targeted in a way that enhances the balance between education and work life. Meeting the industrial demand for doctoral degrees requires more active participation in the research and training organised within postgraduate education.
Steering and decision making
As of the beginning of 2009, the Science and Technology Policy Council will become the Research and Innovation Council. The change depicts the greater importance of horizontal innovation policy in the development of society and the economy on the basis of information and knowledge. The next comprehensive policy review by the Council will be drawn up in 2010. The new Government taking office after the spring 2011 elections will need to outline the necessary long-term development solutions in its Government Programme.
Further information: Esko-Olavi Seppälä, Secretary General, Ministry of Education, tel. +358 9 1607 7362, and Kai Husso, Chief Planning Officer, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, tel. +358 10 606 3683 and Tuomas Parkkari, Chief Planning Officer, Ministry of Education, tel. +358 9 1607 7223
