Academy of Finland's and Tekes foresight project identifies key priorities for the future

13 June 2006

FinnSight 2015 experts have completed their work to identify what are considered the main focus areas in science, technology, business and industry, and society. The areas that emerged most prominently were the management of global risks, energy and environment issues, the renewal of the health care system as well as ICT and biosciences applications. All of these areas require science and technology collaboration that is based in human needs.

FinnSight 2015, a joint project between the Academy of Finland and Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, involved 120 leading Finnish experts. The project was organised into ten panels dealing with the themes of learning and learning society, services and service innovations, well-being and health, environment and energy, infrastructures and security, bio-expertise and bio-society, information and communications, understanding and human interaction, materials and the global economy. In all, the panels identified some 80 areas of expertise that Finland should focus in order to reach scientific and technological breakthroughs and new innovations.

Academy President Raimo Väyrynen says he is extremely pleased with the results of the foresight project: "The future is not created by foresighting, but by concrete action. However, foresighting is important in supporting to set and define our goals, to identify new emerging opportunities and to provide warnings about undesirable trends. Foresighting is not guesswork, but it is based on sound science. At the same time it provides guidance for the direction of basic research and its funding," Väyrynen adds.

"With respect to the practical implementation of results it is important that all the various parties from researchers to people in business and industry as well as public administration are closely involved in the innovation effort. Cross scientific approach and multidisciplinarity have the power to open up completely new opportunities. Future studies from different angles can help us strike a sustainable balance between the goals of social and economic development and identify the priority of focus areas," says Veli-Pekka Saarnivaara, Director General of Tekes.

Increased productivity is crucial for Finnish competitiveness. In this regard the development of services and service innovations as well as ICT applications in industry and services are paramount, the panel experts emphasise.

Global risk management will assume ever greater importance in the future. In particular, better control and anticipation is needed in order to contain risks related to the economy, environment, energy, infrastructure and health. Steps are needed to strengthen the application of global knowledge and cultural know-how in research and innovation activities.

Energy and environment issues are of critical importance globally, and therefore investment is needed in the development and use of new forms of energy generation, in the sustainable management of the environment and in environmental technology innovations.

Cultural competence is a major strength of the economy, society and development. The panel experts say it is important to strengthen the position of cultural competence.

Proper consideration of human and social factors will serve to strengthen the quality and competitiveness of future-oriented development work. Basic education focuses on the provision of civic skills and competence, but the life-long maintenance and development of competence is also important. Apart from general education, civic competence includes a basic knowledge of science and technology, the use of information and communication technologies and networks, the maintenance of health, dialogue and interaction skills, communication skills and social and cultural skills.

Experts underline the importance of fostering competencies that can pave the way to scientific and technological breakthroughs. It is also necessary to have scientific basic research, which provides the foundation for those competencies.

The panel members encourage business companies and researchers to adopt a strong multidisciplinary approach and to integrate expertise from different fields. The development of applications also requires an understanding of the human condition, culture, nature and society as well as of how these change. The experts also say it is important to have networked environments that facilitate close interaction between researchers and people responsible for business development.

The Academy of Finland and Tekes launched the foresight project in 2005 in line with the Government's decision in principle on the development of the public research system. The project supports the strategic work of both organisations as well as the definition of Finland's Strategic Centres of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation. The project's ten panels had the support and backing of Academy and Tekes experts as well as the HUT Systems Analysis Laboratory. This was the first time that all relevant parties from basic research through to high-level business management joined forces in a foresight project.

The panel chairs, members, the areas of expertise identified by the panels and the bulletins released by each of the ten panels are posted on the project website at www.finnsight2015.fi. The website also provides links to two project publications in pdf format: the summary report "FinnSight 2015 – the outlook for science, technology and society" and a more in-depth report on the panels' results. The summary report will be published in English in September 2006. To order or download, please contact www.tekes.fi/publications or julkaisut@aka.fi.

For further information, please contact:
Academy of Finland: Paavo Löppönen, Director, paavo.lopponen (at) aka.fi, tel. +358 50 540 7562 or
Annamaija Lehvo, Senior Science Advisor, annamaija.lehvo (at) aka.fi, tel. +358 9 7748 8404
Tekes: Pirjo Kyläkoski, Foresight Manager, pirjo.kylakoski (at) tekes.fi, tel. +358 50 5577 795 or
Eija Ahola, Research Manager, eija.ahola (at) tekes.fi, tel. +358 50 5577 806

Maj-Lis Tanner, Communications Director, Academy of Finland, maj-lis.tanner (at) aka.fi, tel. +358 9 7748 8347;
Anne Palkamo, Executive Director, Communications, Tekes, anne.palkamo (at) tekes.fi, tel. +358 50 5577 710

More information
 
- Bio-expertise needs to be turned into practical uses
- Continuous learning is crucial
- Environmental management: a new strength area
- Health care system under pressure of change
- Human interaction and understanding lay the foundation for human welfare
- Modern society involves new kinds of vulnerabilities
- Service sector offers growth potential and new jobs
- Stronger transdisciplinary cooperation in materials development
- The Global Economy panel regards innovation processes, services and global knowledge as focal areas of competence and growth
- Ubiquitous information and communication set for a breakthrough