Besides the contrasts provided by nature, newcomers may also be surprised by the technological development they come across and the innovations that use it. The social structure functions just as well in freezing hard conditions as in a summer heatwave, and the level of automation is top-class. Transactions with a bank or government agency can be carried out easily over the data networks. The quality of people's everyday life is enhanced by innovations that make good use of high technology.

The varying natural conditions and Finns' pragmatic basic character are a powerful source of the innovative spirit and progressiveness of modern business life. A good example of this is the generation of energy: effect-ive energy solutions have had to be developed for the cold winter, long distances and the needs of the energy-intensive forest and metal industries. Today Finland leads the world in the combined generation of electricity and heating, which uses the energy content in a fuel to as full an extent as possible and also helps in reducing the creation of greenhouse gases. At the same time the proportion of wood-based biofuels, such as waste wood chips and sawdust, in relation to the overall consumption of energy, is the best of the industrialized countries.

The unspoilt natural surroundings and living environment are close to Finns' heart in other ways, and this can be seen in the development of business life: environment-friendly production technologies, eco-efficiency and an absence of pollution are areas where many Finnish companies succeed as a result of their innovative solutions, including on the export market.

Several of the most recent international comparisons have shown Finland to be one of the most competitive countries in the world. There are probably many reas-ons for this good development, but occupying a key position are the quality of the education system and an efficient innovative environment. The close cooperation among companies, universities and research institutes, in which top experts are networked and ideas feed off each other, is a basic prerequisite if a country with five million inhabitants is to remain at the top. Apart from one other country, more is spent per capita on research and development in Finland than anywhere else in the world - a considerable amount of this by companies.