Finland has been a pioneer in developing a national innovation system. The key components to this success are increased in research and development funding, together with a significant investment in skills and education as well as knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship.

Wide-ranging international cooperation is a feature that runs throughout the system. Focused investment in post-graduate training and strong growth in private research funding are recent development trends.

The Academy of Finland, one of the backers of the national innovation system, provides funding for basic research, while the National Technology Agency of Finland (TEKES) funds applied technical research. The Finnish National Fund for Research and Development (SITRA), which is an independent foundation, is responsible for market entry funding along with private capital investors.

Inspiring innovation strategy for the region

The basis for the new innovation strategy (2005) for the Helsinki region is to ensure that the competitiveness of Finland in the future is based only on the highest expertise, specialisation and improving on strengths. The Helsinki region has a superior concentration of expertise and therefore forms the strategic core of Finland’s competitiveness. The area’s own innovation strategy for 2005 mobilises the outstanding potential for innovation more effectively than at present.

The wide-ranging Centre of Expertise Programme, coordinated by Culminatum Ltd Oy, promotes the application of knowledge and expertise within the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Its areas of expertise include adaptive materials and microsystems, the software product business, digital media, content production and learning services, medical and welfare technologies, and genetechnology and molecular biology.

Innovation strategy for the Helsinki region (pdf)

For further information:
Academy of Finland 
Culminatum, Helsinki Region Centre of Expertise
Tekes, Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation
Finnish National Fund for Research and Development SITRA
Finnish Industry Investment
Finnish Venture Capital Association
Reserch.fi - Finnish innovation system