Implementation of national strategic choices for RDI policy begins

The Research and Innovation Council has kicked off the implementation of the national strategic choices for research, development and innovation (RDI) policy and activities by inviting key actors to take part in a joint discussion. The stakeholder event on Wednesday 4 February brought together business leaders, researchers, representatives of higher education institutions and research institutes and other key actors to explore opportunities for cooperation in implementing the Council’s strategic choices.

The national strategic choices for RDI aim to boost sustainable growth and promote economic and societal renewal while strengthening comprehensive security. The Research and Innovation Council outlined the strategic choices in a report published on 9 January.

“The strategic choices set the priorities for Finland’s RDI activities. The choices will be used to pool and direct public and private resources and investments and provide a path for cooperation between all RDI actors over the long term. With the choices, we aim to strengthen both EU and international partnerships and improve Finland’s ability to make use of the Union’s RDI and growth funding,” says Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie, who serves as Vice-Chair of the Research and Innovation Council. 

Research Council of Finland and Business Finland to implement choices through funding

The strategic RDI choices offer a common direction for strengthening RDI resources and raising the level of competence and provide opportunities to build cooperation and partnerships. The Research Council of Finland and Business Finland, for example, are implementing the choices in their own funding activities. For the Government and ministries, the strategic choices provide an opportunity to allocate R&D funding in processes related to the General Government Fiscal Plan and the Budget, and serve as a starting point for developing the regulatory environment.

At the stakeholder event, President of the Research Council of Finland Paula Eerola and Director General of Business Finland Lassi Noponen shared their views on the role of the strategic choices in the work of R&D financiers. The panellists at the event, who represented businesses, the research field, ministries and private equity investors, discussed how to proceed in implementing the strategic choice related to climate, the environment and the Arctic dimension and how to strengthen RDI cooperation in the defence sector.

The national strategic choices for RDI policy are:

• data and data-based value creation 
• disruptive technologies 
• health and wellbeing 
• climate, environment and the Arctic dimension, and  
• security, resilience and defence.  

Along with the strategic choices, the Research and Innovation Council has outlined two spearheads for developing the RDI system: increasing risk-taking capacity in RDI and attracting RDI investments to Finland. 

The Research and Innovation Council is an advisory body led by the Prime Minister. Its goal is to support the Government in developing its long-term comprehensive research and innovation policy, present initiatives for national strategic choices and put forth proposals for the allocation of R&D funding. The Research and Innovation Council is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the strategic choices.

Inquiries:  Emma Hannonen, Special Adviser to Minister of Science and Culture Talvitie, tel. +358 295 330 077, Johanna Moisio, Secretary General of the Research and Innovation Council, tel. +358 295 160 625