The Research and Innovation Council will launch a two-stage inclusive and open process to identify strategic choices this autumn.
Under the multiannual plan for the use of central government R&D funding, the Research and Innovation Council will lead a process that will engage a wide range of stakeholders to identify strategic choices. In its meeting on 9 October, the Council outlined a two-stage process for identifying strategic choices for national for RDI policy and activities.
The first stage, which will begin in autumn 2024, will comprehensively map out the existing priorities and choices that have been made in Finland's RDI system. The second stage, which will begin in early spring 2025, will make national strategic choices for RDI policy and activities. The process will engage a wide range of research and business stakeholders and will account for global and societal challenges as well as the international operating environment The process will support the Government's decision-making in its mid-term policy review session as well as long-term planning.
Strategic choices could involve, for example, systemic practices or areas for development in the national RDI system or they could involve themes based on fields of science and research, technologies, growth sectors or other phenomena. The choices will be identified with the aid of an extensive national and international knowledge base, which will be reviewed in an open and interactive process.
The Research and Innovation Council also discussed the interim evaluation of the Horizon Europe programme, the outlook for the EU’s R&D funding and the plan for monitoring the use and assessing the effectiveness of R&D funding. The Council will work with the ministries to draw up the monitoring and assessment plan and will plan and implement monitoring and assessment activities in close cooperation with stakeholders.
The Research and Innovation Council is an advisory body consisting of members of the Government and external experts. Its goal is to develop research and innovation policy that supports wellbeing, education and culture as well as economically, socially and ecologically sustainable growth and competitiveness.
Inquiries: Henrik Vuornos, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 50 408 44 22 and Johanna Moisio, Secretary-General of the Research and Innovation Council, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 295 160 625. Email addresses are in the format [email protected].
