Business Finland is reforming its program activities – strategy implementation is progressing
Business Finland’s new strategy is progressing as planned, and the next concrete step is the reform of program activities. The goal is more impactful, customer-oriented operations focused on the thematic growth areas selected in the strategy.
More information
Risto
Vuohelainen
Executive Director, Growth Services
Mirja
Kaarlela
Senior Director, Thematic Management
Thematic growth areas as the foundation of our work
In the future, Business Finland’s work will be built on strategically selected thematic growth areas. We are committed to promoting the growth and renewal of 22 thematic growth areas over the long term.
The most suitable services and actions will be selected to advance these growth areas in each situation. Program activity will continue to be one key instrument, but not the only one. This enables more flexible and more precisely targeted support for the growth of companies and ecosystems.
Analysis of the growth areas is currently underway. The first growth area plans will be confirmed this spring, the next ones before summer, and the rest during the autumn. Implementation of[MM18.1] actions will begin as soon as the analyses are completed.
Current programs will end in their current form in a controlled manner – support for customers will continue
Plans have been prepared for closing the current programs. However, customer and stakeholder engagement will not end: customers will continue to receive Business Finland services, such as advisory services and funding. Customers will also play a central role in the preparation of program activities and services based on the needs of the new growth areas. Active customer work will continue with companies and ecosystems – the way it is carried out will be renewed to better meet future needs.
Renewed programmatic activities are starting
Under the new model, Business Finland will have both Business Finland-led and partner-led programmatic activities. Preparation of the new programmatic activities is underway in selected growth areas, and the aim is to launch the new types of programmatic activities in the autumn.
Toward more focused and impactful work
The reform of programmatic activities is a significant change that will be implemented in phases.
Its objectives are to:
- focus resources on strategically important growth areas
- increase Business Finland’s impact
- provide customers with clearer and more impactful services by combining funding-, attraction-, growth- and internationalization services into unified service path in our program activities
We will communicate regularly about the progress of the reform, the growth areas, and upcoming opportunities.