Government working group for the coordination of research, foresight and assessment activities

The Government working group for the coordination of research, foresight and assessment activities (TEA Working Group) enables the Finnish ministries to cooperate and exchange information smoothly.

It serves to strengthen horizontal oversight of research, foresight and assessment activities, improve the information base for decision making and develop new ways of disseminating information on research, foresight and assessment activities to decision-makers and society at large.

The working group consists of representatives from all ministries

The term of the working group, appointed by the Prime Minister's Office, is for an indefinite period and includes representatives from all ministries. It is subject to an annual assessment by the Prime Minister's Office. It serves as the collective contracting body for the coordination of the analysis, assessment and research activities of the Government and its ministries.

Objectives of research, foresight and assessment activities

Research, foresight and assessment activities support the Government in pursuing its strategies and in attaining its objectives. They also help identify the needs and future challenges in society and how these are mirrored on the planned measures and objectives in each administrative branch.

Research, foresight and assessment data provide a basis for proactive and timely decision making while also improving the quality, effectiveness and productivity of decision making.

  • Foresight activities refer to an organised and participatory process for collecting, assessing and analysing information and for drawing up reasoned projections and scenarios of the future in the medium and long term.
  • Research activities help develop the competence and expertise needed in the field and produce information that serves as a basis for legislation and political decision making.
  • Continuity in the development of society is ensured by making sure that the experiences and effectiveness data collected from earlier policies consistently guide political decision-making procedures.

Working group tasks

The responsibilities of the Government working group for the coordination of research, foresight and assessment activities are to:

  • give a proposal to the Prime Minister’s Office, on an annual basis and through horizontal cooperation between the ministries, for an analysis, assessment and research plan in support of the Government's decision-making procedures;
  • guide the analysis, assessment and research process of the Government in the respective ministries;
  • coordinate and monitor the implementation of the analysis, assessment and research plan and achievement of its objectives;
  • take part in the dissemination of information and knowledge created in the respective ministries and administrative branches;
  • prepare a joint proposal for the Government for a decision on the thematic areas and priorities for strategic research on an annual basis, after consultation with the Research and Innovation Council and based on an initiative of the Strategic Research Council;
  • coordinate the drafting of a description of the context of operations and other foresight work as a basis for the futures reports of the ministries; and
  • facilitate the utilisation of analysis, foresight, assessment and research knowledge and public information repositories in political decision-making prodecures.

Composition of the working group (e-mail: [email protected])

The working group for the coordination of research, foresight and assessment activities liaises with other bodies that use, finance and produce research, foresight and assessment data.

Chair

Jouni Varanka, Ministerial Adviser, Prime Minister's Office

Vice chair

Sari Löytökorpi, Secretary-General of the working group, Prime Minister's Office

Members

Kaisa Oksanen, Senior Researcher, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Vava Lunabba, Head of Unit, Ministry of Justice

Eeva Koivunen, Specialist, Ministry of the Interior

Marikaisa Tiilikainen, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Defence

Tuomas Laiho, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Finance

Aleksi Kalenius, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture

Mikko Peltonen, Research Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Tuire Valkonen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Transport and Communications

Päivi Järviniemi, Labour Market Counsellor, Ministry of Employment and the Economy

Saara Leppinen, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Laura Höijer, Research Director, Ministry of the Environment

Personal deputies

Sari Löytökorpi, Chief Specialist, Prime Minister's Office

Maria Ågren, Desk Officer, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Saara Sahinoja, Data Analyst, Ministry of Justice

Hanna-Miina Sihvonen, Chief Specialist, Ministry of the Interior

Terhi Ylitalo, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence

Sami Napari, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Finance

Iiris Patosalmi, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture

Elina Nikkola, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Johanna Särkijärvi, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Transport and Communications

Tiina Tikka, Director of Development, Ministry of Employment and the Economy

Kati Takaluoma, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Juha-Pekka Maijala, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of the Environment

Secretaries

Sari Löytökorpi, Secretary-General, Chief Specialist, Prime Minister's Office

Risto Alatarvas, Professional Secretary, Senior Specialist, Prime Minister's Office

Ossi Piironen, Professional Secretary, Chief Specialist, Prime Minister's Office

Changes to the secretariat may be made by a decision of the Prime Minister's Office.