Finland's example to other countries as a role model for research and development is based not only on the heavy investment in R&D by companies and the public sector but also on broad-based, networked cooperation. "The model has enabled both regeneration and growth and, first and foremost, a structural change in industry that has taken place at 'world record pace'," says Martti af Heurlin, the Director-General at the National Technology Agency of Finland (Tekes).

Relatively, Finland's investment in research and development compared with GDP is the third-highest in the world. Industry and business life head the field in terms of the amounts of investment.

Tekes has played an important role for decades in the development of many sectors in Finland. "Tekes has taken and also been given a recognized position as a promoter of Finnish innovative activities to help the country compete internationally," Martti af Heurlin asserts.

Tekes activates and finances challenging research and development projects being carried out by research units and companies. The programmes have in their sights society's welfare, a growth in exports, an expansion of the industrial base and creation of new companies and jobs.

Innovative environment works

Heurlin says the technology policy chosen in Finland has wide social support among political parties, business life, research organizations and labour market organizations. The vigorous interaction among the different operators at the practical operative level has built a firm base for good research and development activities.

"The proportion of companies that have cooperated compared with all the companies producing innovations is extremely high in Finland. In practice we can say that 90 per cent of Tekes projects have in one way or another been networked," Heurlin says.

"The Finnish innovative environment is dynamic and capable of reacting, including comparisons at the international level. New national programmes and initiatives can be started quickly," says Petri Peltonen an executive director at Tekes who holds responsibility for international networks.

Networking is a strength but also a natural way for a small country to operate. "Skills, technology and their effective application are, as is well known, among the most important factors in competitiveness. In a world that is globalizing, international cooperation and partnerships are being given greater emphasis in the creation of new skills and their application," Peltonen affirms.

Growth in international contacts

The international networking of Tekes's technology programmes has been strengthened over many years, as can be seen in the growth in the number of international R&D projects that have been financed. At this moment about half the projects financed by Tekes have been networked internationally, and the trend is still growing.

"Finland has been one of the most active participants in the European cooperation programmes for research and technology development. With its programmes Tekes is also involved in several European network projects for national programmes," Peltonen says.

Cooperation with countries outside Europe is also important. Tekes has strong networks via its foreign units in the R&D field in the USA and Japan. Attempts are being made to strengthen cooperation with other interesting technology countries such as China.

Looking to the future

Tekes is at present assessing its input into the technology prgrammes of the future: what skills and technologies will be needed for the needs of business life and society in a time span of 5 to 15 years.

"Our skills and technologies still need to be established on basic expertise in information and communications technology and its wide-scale application, biotechnology and its broader but more selective development, materials technology and nanotechnology," Heurlin explains.

New and renewable products, processes and business concepts will also be important themes in a global environment. These will be of particular interest when applied to the environment and energy, health, well-being and security, and work and leisure time.