Composition and meetings of the Research and Innovation Council

In line with the decree on the Research and Innovation Council, the council’s ministerial members are the Prime Minister, who serves as chair, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Science and Culture and the Minister of Economic Affairs, and one to three other ministers appointed by the Government. The terms of the council’s ministerial members are tied to their terms as ministers.

Ministerial members

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Chair
Minister of Finance Riikka Purra
Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala, 1st Vice-Chair
Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman
Minister of Education Anna-Maja Henriksson
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah

Other members, permanent experts and secretariat

Along with the ministerial members, the council has six or seven other members appointed by the Government based on a proposal by the Prime Minister’s Office. The council members provide extensive expertise in research, development and innovation activities. The Government also appoints permanent experts to serve on the council.

Other members

Riikka Heikinheimo, Director, Confederation of Finnish Industries
Ilkka Kivimäki, Partner, Maki.vc
Markku Kulmala, Academy Professor, University of Helsinki
Sari Lindblom, Rector, University of Helsinki, 2nd Vice-Chair
Vesa Taatila, Rector, Turku University of Applied Sciences
Antti Vasara, President & CEO, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Kai Öistämö, President & CEO, 3rd Vice-Chair

Permanent experts

Timo Lankinen, Permanent State Under-Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office
Olli Kärkkäinen, Strategy and Research Director, Ministry of Finance
Sirkku Linna, Director General, Ministry of Education and Culture
Juhapekka Ristola, Director General, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Paula Eerola, President, Academy of Finland
Nina Kopola, Director General, Business Finland

Secretariat

Johanna Moisio, Secretary-General, Prime Minister’s Office
Antti Pelkonen, Chief Specialist, Prime Minister’s Office
Harri Länsipuro, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Jussi Alho, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Education and Culture

Meetings

The Research and Innovation Council generally meets in its full composition, but it may also meet without its ministerial members to prepare initiatives and decisions. In addition to its permanent experts, the Council may invite other experts and expert networks or working groups to support its activities.