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National strategic choices for research, development and innovation policy and activities The Multiannual Plan for the Use of Government Research and Development Funding states that Finland’s future success will be built on strategic choices in re...

28.5.2026 | The EU ministers responsible for competitiveness meet in Brussels on 28–29 May 2026. Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto (internal market and industrial policy) and State Secretary Kristiina Kokko (research and space) represent Finland at the meeting.

10.3.2026 | The Research and Innovation Council has launched a stakeholder survey on the implementation of the national strategic choices for RDI policy and activities. The survey will be open until Wednesday 29 April 2026. The main target group for the survey consists of key organisations for implementing the choices and putting them to use, including public and private RDI financiers, research organisations, businesses and branches of government, regional actors and other stakeholders.

20.5.2026 | The European Urban Initiative (EUI) brought together European and Finnish cities, the European Commission and national and regional authorities to discuss the changed geopolitical situation in Finland and its impact on cities and the development of innovation ecosystems. The event to support cities with capacity building was held in Oulu on 19–20 May 2026.

18.6.2025 | The Strategic Research Council (SRC) has decided the strategic research themes it proposes to the Finnish Government for 2026. Mikael Fogelholm, Chair of the SRC, submitted the proposal to State Secretary Risto Artjoki on 18 June 2025 at the Government Palace.

8.6.2026 | According to the Research and Innovation Council, increasing global competition means that Finland should make more determined efforts to stay at the forefront of research and innovation. In addition to increasing funding for research and development (R&D), Finland should continue to develop the R&D environment and support the uptake of innovations on a broad front. At the end of May, the Council ...

4.2.2026 | 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 ...

21.5.2026 | In its meeting on Wednesday 20 May, the parliamentary research, development and innovation (RDI) monitoring group discussed the role of RDI in the renewal of the public sector. The monitoring group received briefings from experts from the Defence Forces, wellbeing services counties and the healthcare sector.

19.9.2024 | In its plenary session on Thursday 19 September, the Government decided on the themes and focus of strategic research for 2025. The two chosen themes are: 1) Economy and welfare in an era of strategic competition, and 2) Skills, labour supply and migration in future Finland. In addition, the Government outlined that artificial intelligence should be taken into account in connection with the theme for 2025.

9.1.2026 | The Research and Innovation Council has outlined five national strategic choices for research, development and innovation (RDI) policy and activities with a view to boosting sustainable growth and promoting economic and societal renewal while strengthening comprehensive security. The Research and Innovation Council published a report on the strategic choices on 9 January.

16.3.2026 | In its meeting on Wednesday 11 March, the parliamentary research, development and innovation (RDI) monitoring group discussed the use of additional central government funding for research and development (R&D). Representatives of the Council of Rectors of Finnish Universities UNIFI, the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Arene and the Consortium of State Research Institutions Tulanet attended the meeting to share their views.

6.2.2025 | The Research and Innovation Council is identifying national strategic choices for RDI policy and activities before the Government’s mid-term policy review in April. As part of the preparations, the Council will hold a consultation round from 26 February to 10 March and an open stakeholder event on 28 February 2025. In the earlier stages of the process, stakeholders emphasised the need to take a long-t...

12.2.2026 | Finland is well on the path towards achieving the nationally set target for research and development (R&D) activities, but the coming years will be highly challenging. This is the conclusion of the Monitoring and Evaluation Report on Government R&D Funding. The report also shows that global competition in innovation keeps getting stronger. In international comparison there is nothing exceptional about Finland’s R&D investments, but they are an absolute necessity to succeed in global competition.

11.6.2024 | The Strategic Research Council (SRC) has decided on the research themes it will propose to the Government for 2025. Chair of the Strategic Research Council Anu Kaukovirta submitted the proposal to State Secretary Risto Artjoki on 11 June 2024 at the Government Palace.

9.10.2024 | The Research and Innovation Council will launch a two-stage inclusive and open process to identify strategic choices this autumn.

28.12.2023 | In its plenary session on Thursday 28 December, the Government decided on the main themes for strategic research in 2024. In line with the decision, the themes will be ‘Water as an element of wellbeing, security and peace’ and ‘The future of democracy’.

18.9.2025 | At its meeting on 16 September, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo lead the Research and Innovation Council in discussions on the implementation of national policies for the use of R&D funding. The Research and Innovation Council was briefed by the Research Council of Finland and Business Finland as well as two organisations that are implementing significant national R&D projects.

26.2.2025 | The Research and Innovation Council requests comments on the strategic choices for RDI policy and activities to be submitted between 26 February and 10 March. The preparation group of the Research and Innovation Council decided on the proposals for choices to be circulated for comments at its meeting on 25 February.

29.8.2024 | Assessments will be conducted to examine the impact of the measures under the CAP Strategic Plan and make sure that public funds are used cost-effectively. The information produced by the assessments will be needed to guide the implementation of the CAP Plan and, in particular, to support the planning of the next financing period of the Common Agricultural Policy.

13.6.2024 | The multiannual plan for the use of central government research and development funding focuses on strengthening cooperation between businesses and other R&D actors and encouraging businesses to step up their R&D activities in Finland. The plan also aims to improve the conditions for ambitious research that produces new skills and knowledge, to strengthen research and technology infrastructures and to promote international R&D cooperation.

27.9.2022 | The Strategic Research Council's (SRC) funding instrument for strategic research has offered diverse opportunities for organising research on social policy, developing society's functions and solving major challenges. This is according to a new evaluation report published on 27 September, which examined whether strategic research has achieved its objectives. The evaluation focused on a seven-year period between 2014 and 2020.

6.6.2025 | In its meeting on 6 June 2025, the Research and Innovation Council chaired by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo adopted a plan for monitoring and assessing the use and effectiveness of central government research and development funding. The new monitoring and assessment plan covers both the additional funding under the Act on Research and Development Funding and state R&D funding as a whole. The assessm...

23.9.2021 | In its plenary session on Thursday 23 September, the Government decided on the thematic areas and priorities for strategic research in 2022. The thematic areas are: Children and young people – flourishing future actors and Security and trust in an era of algorithms. The Government also adopted equity as the cross-cutting priority of both themes for 2022.

14.5.2024 | Finnish Defence Forces' research programme 2025 to begin Ministry of Defence Publication date 14.5.2024 9.00 Type: Press release Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has authorised the Defence Forces Logistics Command to conclude contracts regarding...

4.5.2020 | On 4 May, a report on the special features of Russia’s strategic communications entitled Govorit Moskva – Moscow Speaks will be published in the publication series of the Government’s analysis, assessment and research activities. The aim of the study is to increase understanding of Russia’s strategic communications and shed light on their background and related phenomena.

3.3.2023 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met today in Helsinki. In their meeting, discussions focused on measures to strengthen the EU’s strategic economy and other major issues in EU policy, the war in Ukraine, and Finland’s deepening allyship as the country becomes a member of NATO.

26.9.2022 | "For quite some time now, we have been living through a period where exceptions have become the norm. The twofold crisis, the pandemic and Russia's cruel war of aggression, are affecting transport and communications in different ways and at many levels. While this challenges us to make re-evaluations, it also reinforces our previous choices," said Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka at the Transport and Communications Forum on 26 September 2022.

26.9.2022 | "For quite some time now, we have been living through a period where exceptions have become the norm. The twofold crisis, the pandemic and Russia's cruel war of aggression, are affecting transport and communications in different ways and at many levels. While this challenges us to make re-evaluations, it also reinforces our previous choices," said Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka at the Transport and Communications Forum on 26 September 2022.

EU-wide Foresight Network One of the European Commission’s objectives is to develop foresight work in the EU. The Commission aims to integrate strategic foresight into policymaking and to create the conditions for EU policies that are prepared and...

16.12.2021 | At its session on 16 December, the Government approved the proposal for Finland’s CAP Strategic Plan, prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The CAP Strategic Plan under the common agricultural policy of the EU specifies the agricultural support and rural development measures to be implemented in Finland in 2023–2027 and the conditions applicable to the measures included these support schemes.

Finnish Government Government is a concept with several meanings. It usually refers to the Government of Finland composed of the Prime Minister and the other ministers. The Government has 12 ministries and usually around 20 ministers . The Governm...

Government news The ministries communicate openly about the preparation of matters, the decision-making process and the effects of decisions. News items from all ministries are available on the Government website. Ministers for sports: EU funding ...

Government Report on the Future Each electoral term, the Government submits to Parliament a Report on the Future, which aims to identify issues that will be important for decision-making and require particular attention in the future. The report a...

17.3.2023 | A panel of international experts convened by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health began its audit of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare in August 2022 and submitted its report to Permanent Secretary Veli-Mikko Niemi on 17 March 2023. The previous international audit of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare took place in 2013–2014.

3.2.2021 | A new Strategic Communications Team has been appointed at the Communications Department of the Prime Minister’s Office. The five-person team will be responsible for the Finland Forward psychological resilience campaign launched during last spring’s state of emergency and will support the authorities in preparing for and responding to information influence activities.

14.12.2021 | At its meeting on 14 December 2021, the Ministerial Working Group on Competence, Education, Culture and Innovation approved the first update of the national Roadmap for RDI. The first Roadmap for RDI of Prime Minister Marin's Government published in spring 2020 paves the way for sustainable growth and wellbeing based on knowledge, education, research and innovation.

22.2.2022 | Funding for the health sector has developed and strengthened, but the Finnish funding environment is about to fall short of the reference countries, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment publication “Report on the development of the health sector funding environment” published on 21 February 2022. The report also contains proposals for developing the funding environment.

3.2.2022 | The global economic system has entered a new era of geoeconomic rivarly. Particularly the United States and China are using economic instruments to advance strategic agendas, which poses a difficult challenge to the European Union.

15.6.2021 | Achieving a circular economy requires coherent guidance that addresses problem areas and takes into account the overall picture. Products must be more environmentally friendly, more repairable and longer-lasting than at present. In order to achieve this objective, we need national and international guidance, especially at the European Union level. The research project examined policy instruments in four key areas of product policy.

Progress of the government action plan to combat racism The government action plan to combat racism and promote equality implements the policies set out in the equality statement issued by the Government. The selected measures are based on an asse...