In last night's episode of Yle A-Studio titled "Mistä talouskasvua?" hosted by Petri Raivio, panelists Heli Koski, Research Director of Etla, Kai Seikku, CEO of Okmetic, and Ilkka Niemelä, President of Aalto University, discussed the crucial roles of the data economy, research and development (R&D), and ICT investments in driving economic growth. A central focus was on Finland's innovation policy and its global positioning.
The panel emphasized the strategic importance of directing investments toward innovation policy, particularly vital in the context of Finland's shrinking population. A key challenge highlighted was the difficulty in identifying which #research and #innovation activities would most effectively benefit Finland, given the traditional focus on established industries and maintaining existing expertise.
The discussion therefore tried to address how the state should strategically select and support leading innovations. The traditional dilemma of ”selecting winners” is, in my opinion, increasingly outdated in tech fields due to shifts in the principle of technological neutrality, particularly within the European Union, which now emphasizes #CriticalTechnologies in its economic security strategy. Many of these technologies also happen to be areas in which Finland has world-leading talent and innovation capabilities.
Another important topic was the interaction between universities, corporations, and experts in Finland's innovation landscape. The episode pointed out the pivotal role of top experts in driving company success and shaping Finland's global competitiveness. However, Finnish companies often struggle to offer competitive salaries compared to international standards, a situation worsened by strict immigration policies. Finnish research expertise, however, is still a competitive and globally attractive asset. We should capitalize on this advantage.
There is a clear need for Finland to more effectively integrate academic institutions into its talent development strategies, enhancing the attraction of international experts through academic collaborations in strategically important fields. The smoother transition of talent from academia to industry, compared to direct international recruitment, underscores the need for cohesive cooperation among key innovation sectors.
Strategic alignment between academic research and industrial application benefiting all parties involved. This collaboration must be robustly supported by targeted political strategies to cultivate a resilient and forward-looking economic landscape. By effectively bridging these sectors, Finland can leverage its academic strengths to enhance industrial innovation in emerging strategic sectors like disruptive technologies, driving sustained economic growth.
#ResearchAndDevelopment #InnovationPolicy #EconomicGrowth #FinnishInnovation #EducationPolicy
Absolutely. It also demonstrates that you should always look behind the numbers 😊