Science, Technology and Industry Co-operation in Finland - Technopolis: Best Practices for Science and Technology Cities - page 432

* Estimate based on queries and calculations
sources OECD, Main Science and Technology indicators AND Statistics

Finland

3 Recent Changes in Innovation Environment

A series of changes in governmental structure and policy in 2007 and 2008 reflect
a rethinking of innovation policy in Finland. It is too early to judge the results of
the new initiatives, but two departures are worthnoting: first, a new focus on
industrial sectors, or clusters, and second, increased attention to the development
of regional capabilities. In addition, a powerful new Ministry of Employment
and the Economy (MEE) was created in 2008 with responsibility for employ-
ment, regional development, industrial policy, innovation and technology policy,
energy policy and competition policy. While these changes indicate recognition of
the need for change, and some movement towards decentralisation, we do not
believe whether they are sufficient to forestall the economic shocks to the large
established Finnish corporations in forest products and ICT in the coming years.
The Science and Technology Policy Council authorised the formation of cen-
tres in the five areas: energy and environment, metal products and mechanical
engineering, forest cluster, health and wellbeing and information and communi-
cation industry and services.
In 2007 Tekes announced the launch of Forest Cluster, Ltd—the first Strategic
Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). Forest
Cluster Ltd. is a consortium aimed at coordinating top-level, longer term research
programmes that combine funds and expertise from private enterprises, universi-
ties and research institutes, with public support—primarily from Tekes and the