The coupling of technology and business with social responsibility is a special characteristic of the Finnish information society, note Prof. Manuel Castells and Dr. Pekka Himanen in their recent study. In their study, Castells and Himanen rank the Finnish model the highest in comparisons with its international references -- Californian Silicon Valley and Singapore.

Prof. Manuel Castells and Dr. Pekka Himanen have published a study on the special characteristics of the Finnish information society. The study comprehensively takes apart factors behind the "Finnish model " that has attracted widespread international interest. The Finnish information society model differs greatly from other similar models according to the study, but it is at least as successful as its international references, namely California's Silicon Valley and Singapore, in terms of all relevant information society and economic measures.

Castells and Himanen point out several indicators that attest to Finland's technological leadership. The UN 's index of technological advancement (TAI) recently placed Finland as the most technologically advanced country in the world. Finland has been at the top of International Data Corporation 's information society index (ISI) since 1996, the year of its creation. Finland has lead statistics on the number of Internet servers in relation to population, together with the United States, throughout the 1990's, and has meanwhile also been at the top of cellular phone penetration statistics.

Competitiveness combined with social responsibility

The analysis notes the coupling of dynamic technology and vibrant economy with social responsibility as a particular characteristic and strength of the Finnish model. Castells and Himanen describe the Finnish information society as open and welfare-based. Unique to Finland is its stated goal of including everyone in the new information society, and its welfare system serves to strengthen its competitiveness. The Finnish model proves that the arrival of a global information society need not mean the exclusion of large numbers of people from progress.

Castells and Himanen also pose challenges for the Finnish information society. These include the sizable gap between the old and new economy and the integration of a strong national identity into a multicultural world.

Professor Manuel Castells is a member of the Academy of Europe and a professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is particularly noted for his three-part series entitled The Information Age. Pekka Himanen, PhD, is one of the best known information society researchers, whose book The Hacker Ethic and the Spirit of the New Economy has been translated into more than ten languages

RELATED FINNFACTS ARTICLES:

>> UN Report: Finland the most technologically advanced country in the world (26.9.2001)

>> UNICE´s benchmark report: Finland's success in the new economy better than European average (7.9.2001)

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