Innovations, Funding and Investments
The chemical industry operating in Finland is a growth-driven problem solver, with its own goal of becoming a nature-positive, carbon-neutral sector. Achieving this is only possible through investments that leverage new innovations and technologies. To meet the objectives of the green transition, investments in the chemical industry must multiply significantly. Even climate targets are only a few innovation cycles away. Parliamentary cooperation on RDI (research, development, and innovation) matters and the current government’s ambitious commitments create a unique opportunity to build one of the world’s best RDI infrastructures in Finland through collaboration between various stakeholders. The goal should be to elevate Finland’s research and innovation capabilities to at least their previous high levels—or preferably, to position Finland among the global leaders. If successful, this will generate both the desired growth and new jobs.
Ambitious reform of RDI policy is not just about funding instruments; it also requires innovation-enabling policies and collaboration among different actors. The foundation of innovation policy is that technologies and innovations know no borders, and our industry operates in constant global competition. Companies will invest in RDI and commit to Finland only if the country is perceived as a competitive environment. Policy must create room for development and success while also sharing the associated risks.
Attracting top talent, including leading researchers, is crucial. Immigration processes must be smooth, and top researchers need the framework to conduct high-quality research, which requires long-term, stable funding. The applicability of research in businesses must be ensured, as an innovation only becomes a true innovation when it is commercially viable. Researchers must be able to move seamlessly between universities and businesses, as commercializing inventions often requires the researcher’s involvement in a new company or commercialization project.
Barriers to innovation should be dismantled both domestically and within EU legislation. EU regulations should strive for technological neutrality, avoiding political selection of winning technologies. Any outright bans on specific technologies should be considered very carefully—especially if competing nations continue to use them. Additionally, funding policies should prioritize excellence-based principles over cohesion-based ones in as many programs as possible.
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