FINLAND’S STRATEGIC SOCIETY

Innovation SystemFORESIGHT:

Parliamentary Committee On the Future

POLICY: Government, S&T Policy Council,

Ministries: Education, Trade & Industry, etc.FINANCING & TECH SUPPORT:

Academy of Finland, TEKES, SITRAFoundations, Sectoral Funds,

INCUBATION & START-UPTechnolpolis, Nokia, SME’s

R&D and DESIGNUniversities, Polytechnics, Research Institutes, Business, Individuals

INFORMATION & TRANSACTIONSAll data banks interconnected & accessible

30 + wireless service providers on universal infrastructureHUMAN RESOURCES

Creative, Connected left/right brainDisciplined, Team-work, 3 or more languages, International focus

EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENTCaring, Creative Arts & Making, Athletic, Collaborative, Free,

Universities & Polytechnics: Competitive entry – Learn/work/design

R&D input in some OECD countries

Source: OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators Database

A Sample of other Key Practices

Councils have catalyst role in every sector…and highly creative leadership (not suits)

Compact urban form…face to face social and economic marketsenergy efficient; buildings, vehicles, industrial processes, recycling, etc.

Demographics drive more efficient use of human resourcesParenting support

High wage/high tax/high integration/high production society

Information objectives; trust, efficiency, democracy, competitiveness

Nuclear power includes ‘innovation’ of world’s first permanent nuclear waste management deep rock storageDecommissioning and waste costs included in electricity rates

Forests are primary natural resource (no oil or gas…some copper)Privately ownership leads to long term stewardship, maximum value added products‘Digital’ management of every treeAdvanced lumbering and paper machinery made in Finland… & exportedAggressive global forest industry ownership

Heretical thoughts…

• Ontario is in a strategic crisis

• Finland and Sweden share many fundamentals

• Learn from them ASAP…multi-sectoral task force

• Prepare Ontario citizens and organizations for shocks …including

- end of vote-buying subsidies and entitlement

- caring, creative, disciplined, strategic education

- labour force efficiencies

- consumer services linked to innovation

- open information

- end of many forms of ‘correctness’

• 10 year ‘crisis management’ of innovation of a new strategic economy