Research and Innovation Council: Competence-based growth should be a cross-cutting strategy for Finland

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 led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo put forth its conclusions on the next steps Finland should take in its research, development and innovation (RDI) policy.

Finland’s national target of increasing R&D expenditure to four per cent of GDP supports sustainable growth. This is about more than just increasing funding – it is about promoting renewal in Finland through RDI, which in turn fosters productivity, economic growth and sustainability. The Council noted that the national goal of increasing RDI should be approached more strategically than at present. Promoting RDI should be seen as a common goal for all of public administration while ensuring that the solutions emerging from RDI are piloted and adopted in the public sector. This approach supports the need for public sector reform and creates an incentive for companies to invest in RDI.

“The RDI environment for companies should be developed so that it is internationally unique and among the best in the OECD countries. R&D investments have the greatest impact when we make sure that the RDI environment is in order. Our goal should be to make Finland a place where the world’s best researchers and innovators thrive,” said Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. 

Active approach to RDI needed in a wider variety of sectors and companies

In its conclusions, the Council highlights the need to broaden the range of sectors and companies engaging in R&D. A good way to support companies’ innovation activities and competence is by increasing funding for innovation. Measures should be taken to increase the level of expertise in the commercialisation of research and to create commercialisation incentives for public research organisations, such as universities and research institutes. In addition, any barriers to public research organisations commercialising the results of their R&D activities should be removed.

The Council’s conclusions and proposals for 2026 support policy preparation and set the course for activities in the RDI community. Some of the proposals require political decision-making, while others can be implemented by the actors themselves. 

The Research and Innovation Council (RIC) is an advisory body that supports the work of the Government. It is appointed for the duration of the government term. In addition to the Prime Minister and other ministers responsible for RDI-related matters, the Council includes key actors from the RDI field, representatives of key agencies and the Council Secretariat. During Prime Minister Orpo’s term, the Council drew up a multiannual plan for the use of central government research and development funding and set out national strategic choices for RDI policy and activities. The Council’s conclusions for 2026 complement the above-mentioned RDI policy guidelines with proposals for further measures.

Inquiries: Katri Manninen, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, tel. 0295 161 152, Johanna Moisio, Secretary General of the Research and Innovation Council, tel. +358 29 516 0625