Indicators to be developed to support renewal of wellbeing services counties – pilot project to begin in early 2026

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will launch a pilot project in early 2026 to test a nationwide model and indicators for knowledge-based management designed to support research, development, education, innovation and competence development in the wellbeing services counties.

The ministry has developed, in cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders, a model and a set of indicators for knowledge-based management which provide common practices and indicators for monitoring research, development, education, innovation and competence development activities in the counties. The aim is to strengthen national knowledge-based guidance and decision-making and to assess how well these activities support the development work of the counties and the objectives set for the renewal and growth of the sector.

Pilot produces information to support guidance and learning

In the early stages, the indicators to be piloted will focus on information that can be collected easily using the current methods. The selected indicators will describe, for example, the funding, personnel and scope of research, development, education, innovation and competence development activities.

The indicators will help expand the national situation picture of these activities and the monitoring of their development for the first time to the wellbeing services counties. The aim of the pilot is to learn how indicator data can be used to steer the counties. At the same time, the pilot will support dialogue and shared learning between the various actors.

The purpose is to further develop the activities based on the experiences gained from piloting. The pilot will also assess the possibilities to expand monitoring in stages so that, in future, monitoring would cover more broadly the outcomes and impacts of the above-mentioned activities.

Preparation based on information and cooperation

The model and indicators for knowledge-based management have been prepared based on information and knowledge and in close cooperation with various stakeholders.

“The research, development, education, innovation and competence development activities of the counties and the practices for assessing and guiding them are still taking shape. For this reason, the preparation stage included producing a comprehensive description of the current state and defining what will be measured. The key concepts, objectives, indicators and required information have been defined and compiled into a common framework to support the assessment and development of these activities at national level,” says Senior Specialist Pauliina Hyrkäs from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Piloting is part of wider national development work

The pilot, which will be launched early next year, will support the national work to create a permanent and uniform basis for research, development, education, innovation and competence development activities in the counties and the collaborative areas for healthcare and social welfare and for the long-term development and management of these activities. Common practices will be agreed upon through national cooperation, and competence will be strengthened in all counties.

The development of the indicators is also part of the RDI Growth Programme for Health and Wellbeing coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. One of the aims of this programme is to ensure that the objectives, guidance and incentives of research, development, education, innovation and competence development activities in the counties support growth and renewal in the sector.

Inquiries

Pauliina Hyrkäs, Senior Specialist, [email protected]