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Hannele Pohjola, head of department, Confederation of Finnish
Industry and Employers:
A small country's strenght is in know-how
Finland has been extremely successful in many international
comparisons that have measured know-how, learning, the application
of technology, competitiveness and even ecologically sustainable
development. The good positioning has aroused a great deal
of interest around the world. In particular, many have been
acquainting themselves with Finland's innovation system.
One main explanation for the success is the widely prevailing
and early adopted view in Finland about the strategic significance
of know-how as a prerequisite for a small country's economy
and well-being. This strategic choice requires a first-class
educational system and adequately high investment in research
and the development of technology. i.e. the Finnish innovation
system. It creates the basis for successful corporate activity
and a successful society.
Investing in research and technology long term by companies
and the public sector has created growth, more diversified
production, bigger exports, better industrial competitiveness,
and that has led to prosperity and well-being.
The recent sluggish trend in the economy has been apparent
in many companies in the form of decreased profits and redundancies.
As the threats of globalization become real and global competition
stretches to the domestic market, it will be more important
to adhere to the strategy based on know-how. There has to
be adequate investment in development, and attempts must be
made to turn the threats into opportunities. Products must
be kept at a high standard and competitive in both traditional
and new areas. At the same time attention has to be paid to
the quality and adequacy of human resources.
The strong growth in corporate R&D investment that has
continued for several years has come to a halt in the present
economic situation. Public R&D funding has remained at
the same level for years. In this situation the State's Science
and Technology Council, which is made up of representatives
from the country's government, universities, research institutes
and industry, proposed a big increase across the board in
the financing of research and innovation. The Confederation
of Finnish Industry and Employers was wholehearted in its
support for the proposal.
As far as the future is concerned, it is encouraging that
the Finnish government will be proposing in the budget for
2004 an increase in R&D appropriations that will correspond
to about 80 per cent of the council's recommendation. That
is a sign of the desire to adhere to the prerequisites of
know-how and competitiveness.
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