Northern Future Forum puts forward ideas for growth in the creative industries and the future of public services

This year the Northern Future Forum brought together the Prime Ministers of the Nordic countries, the Baltic states and the United Kingdom in Reykjavik on 28 and 29 October. In the seminar hosted by the Prime Minister of Iceland, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, the Prime Ministers and 80 experts from nine countries exchanged ideas on growth potential in the creative industries and public sector innovation. The Prime Ministers participated in thematic debate sessions, where informal discussions were introduced by experts.

”Today’s discussions were very interesting. I am particularly interested in the potential offered by digitalisation in public administration for instance to support decision-making and in the context of new learning environments. The joy of learning as an element of study motivation and the development of teacher education were highlighted in the discussions. Finland has a lot to offer in this connection. One of the Government’s key projects is to focus on teacher education. Teaching methods can be reformed by using games and learning by doing, for example,” Prime Minister Sipilä said.   

”The meeting with Startup entrepreneurs emphasised the fact that access to financing has clearly eased in some sectors, but by the same token, the pressure to succeed in the short term has mounted. Together with the experts, we discussed how especially in the creative industries it is possible to make entrepreneurship easier by reducing the regulatory burden”, Sipilä said. 

The Finnish experts accompanying Prime Minister Sipilä at the seminar were able to present their ideas in a high-level seminar.

”NFF was a great experience. I felt that the Prime Ministers were genuinely interested in how new ways of learning can be applied in teaching in the future to fuel creativity. I established many important contacts that I’m sure will be useful in the future”, said Christopher Thür, whose business, Yousician, uses a mobile application to teach guitar playing.  

”One of the core objectives of the event was to clarify the potential of growth. From the point of view of the operation of my own business it was great to see the importance of sustainable development. My understanding of opportune target markets became much clearer,” praised Outi Luukko, who produces work clothing from recycled material in her Touchpoint enterprise.  

”NFF provided a unique opportunity to have a dialogue with leading experts and heads of state on how to promote cooperation between small businesses in the creative industries and public administration in the future. From the perspective of entrepreneurs, this is highly motivating and inspiring. The whole event was structured in such a way that it invited you to participate and network for two days”, Jani Ahonala of Noona Healthcare said.

The delegation led by Prime Minister Sipilä included the following participants Enevo, The Finnish Immigration Service, Noona Healthcare, the Ministry of Education and Culture, Sitra, Touchpoint and Yousician. The next Northern Future Forum will be held in Norway.

After the seminar, Prime Minister Sipilä held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Sigmundur Davið Gunnlaugsson of Iceland.

More information on the seminar at nff2015.is.

Inquiries: Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen, Special Adviser (International Affairs), tel. +358 40 7483 867 and Pekka Sinko, Secretary General of the Economic Council, tel. +358 295 160 189, Prime Minister’s Office 

English translation of the press release published on 30 October 2015