How to be a leading country in the knowledge economy?
Finland has over the years risen to the top group knowledge and knowledge-based economies. This is of interest to many developing economies around the world. Finland's innovation policy and operating environment as well as their expertise in supporting its development have emerged as one of the key themes of Finland's cooperation with international financial institutions.
The lessons learned have now been documented in a book Finland as a Knowledge Economy 2.0 : Lessons are Policies and Governance. Report is intended to provide tools for change, especially in policy makers and practitioners in developing countries and emerging economies. The book offers ideas and solutions to consider- such as education or technology -based service innovations in the design, implementation and evaluation of a changing international environment.The Report has been funded by the Finnish government and the World Bank Institute. It has been written by group of international experts under the coordination of Ramboll Management Consulting.
The report highlights the importance of policy governance, investment in education, adoption of an innovation-systems approach, and creation of a shared vision along with management mechanisms to achieve desired objectives. Important factors in the way are also investing in education , government’s role as a facilitator and the creator of the framework for the development , as well as the ability to continually renew itselves , says Kimmo Halme Ramboll Management Consulting.The knowledge economy development is not a straightforward undertaking but rather a continuous renewal of policies. Similarly, the development path of every country is unique to its history and not necessarily replicable elsewhere. Written more as a 'cookbook' than a scientific study, the objective of Finland as a Knowledge Economy 2.0 report is to provide inspiration and new ideas for policymakers and practitioners in middle/low-income countries.
Launched in the fall of 2012 as a result of the joint project, the report was first published in the World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC 14.04.2014 and now in Helsinki 13.05.2014 . In addition, the key messages and the results are to be disseminated in other partner countries of both Finland and the World Bank. The report has been very well received , and in particular the practical approach is acclaimed.Team Finland's aim is to strengthen the Finnish and international financial co-operation between the Finnish point of view on key programs and themes , such as cleantech and Smart City. It aims to promote networking among actors in global networks and access by developing concrete projects , strategically important target markets mm . Asia, Africa and Latin America.
- The book is freely available for download at
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/17869
For more information: Kimmo Halme, Vesa Salminen, firstname.lastname@ramboll.com
For more information on Team Finland: Jaani Heinonen , the Ministry of Employment & Economy Team Finland, firstname.lastname@tem.fi
For more information about the Finnish development co-operation with cooperation with international financial institutions Laura Torvinen, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, firstname.lastname@formin.fi