Finland’s priorities for international technology policy

The accelerating technological development and the growing importance of technology as a tool for geopolitical and economic competition have put technology at the heart of foreign and security policy. International technology policy influences both global policy and cooperation in the field of technology. Drawing on reports on foreign and security policy and reports on international economic relations and development cooperation, this document defines the key objectives and measures of Finland's international technology policy.

Towards a more goal-oriented international technology policy

The accelerating technological development and the growing importance of technology as a tool for geopolitical and economic competition have put technology at the heart of foreign and security policy. While the technological transformation creates new opportunities for boosting the economy and people's wellbeing, it also poses challenges to competitiveness, national security, democracy and human rights. Finland's status as a technologically advanced country creates both opportunities and needs for exerting influence globally. 

International technology policy influences both global policy and cooperation in the field of technology. Drawing on reports on foreign and security policy and reports on international economic relations and development cooperation, this document defines the key objectives and measures of Finland's international technology policy.

Finland's internationally renowned technology ecosystems, long-term approach to basic research, strong industrial base and plethora of high-tech growth companies are the foundation of our global influence. International technology policy can create opportunities for collaboration, new markets, regulation and standards that support Finnish companies abroad. 

We need international cooperation and partnerships to exert influence efficiently and in a way that serves our interests. While the European Union will remain a key frame of reference for Finland, we will also build partnerships directly with allied and like-minded countries. Finland's NATO membership will increase our opportunities to advance security risk management and build defence technology capabilities. 

To implement the objectives, Finland will establish a closer dialogue with key partner countries, laying the foundation for strengthening bilateral relations and for deepening technology partnerships. We will work for strengthening the European Union's digital and cyber diplomacy to better serve Finland's objectives and national interests. We will seek to facilitate deeper technological cooperation between democratic countries. We also need to engage in a dialogue with developing countries and countries whose views are further away from those of Finland. 

Achieving our objectives requires close cooperation at the national level, not only within the Foreign Service but also between central government and major national stakeholders, such as the private sector, civil society and the research community. While the implementation of international technology policy requires capability building, it also creates opportunities to play an active role in a changing world. We will need new skills, tools and networks to enhance our activities. Broad-based cooperation will be necessary for fostering knowledge-based, inclusive and effective international technology policy. A rapidly changing environment will also require continuous assessment of policy objectives and operations.

Active international technology policy creates favourable conditions for: 

• ensuring the security of technological development and applications,
• supporting the growth and internationalisation of Finland’s technology sector,
• enhancing the ability of the rules-based system to manage risks related to technological development, and
• harnessing technology to support sustainable development. 

We provide technological security

Technological development brigs along new kinds of threats. Understanding and managing security risks associated with new technologies is more important than ever. Similarly, understanding the meaning of critical technologies for Finland's comprehensive security is crucially important. While NATO membership bolsters Finland's defence security, it also creates new expectations and obligations. 

In addition to threats to national security and defence, economic security and research security must be taken into account. Critical technologies are related to the strategic interests of securing supply chains, managing technological dependencies, and developing self-sufficiency. Finland will invest in improving the production and availability of critical raw materials to ensure technological development and security of supply. 

We strengthen cybersecurity and ensure trustworthy digital infrastructure

Recent EU and national regulation have helped strengthen Finland's cybersecurity. Finland has expanded and deepened international cooperation and collaboration in cybersecurity and cyber defence. We aim to employ initiatives and cooperation with like-minded countries to prepare for and respond to cyber threats to our national security and to improve our collective cybersecurity.

Finland's technological handprint across the world offers opportunities for developing the security of digital societies and economies, especially for ensuring the security and trustworthiness of the digital infrastructure. It is therefore natural for Finland to promote partnerships that develop and deploy network technology and, even more extensively, to focus on the digital infrastructure, considering the role of financing in achieving this objective.

We develop export control policies

Export control plays a key role in preventing technology leakages and in securing and facilitating responsible technology exports. A responsible export control policy supports the transfer of high-tech products to Finland and Finland's participation in key international development and cooperation projects. Exports of such products is of growing economic importance. 

In a changing situation, we must bear in mind how significant common and equitable rules are for the competitiveness and innovation of companies. To make such rules, we must intensify cooperation in export control and actively contribute to the development of multilateral export control regimes.

We support the growth and competitiveness of Finland's technology sector

Finland is a technology-oriented, highly digitised country with excellent capabilities to produce competitive high-tech products and services. National RDI investments, which will grow rapidly during this decade, will lay a strong foundation for developing Finland's international role. 

Finland's strong technology sectors include wireless information networks, artificial intelligence, microelectronics, photonics, quantum technology, new materials and biotechnology. The importance of the space sector, dual-use products and the defence industry is growing. Finland is well positioned to promote the digital and clean transition globally. 

We open up markets and seek partnerships

International technology policy will open markets for the Finnish technology sector and forge partnerships in technology areas that are important for Finland. In this respect, we should focus especially on export promotion, financing, and bilateral technology partnerships. The Team Finland reform will create new opportunities for synergies between policy advocacy and export promotion. We can help attract expertise and financing by raising Finland's profile and strengthening our networks. 

Cooperation in technology areas can strengthen not only our skills and knowledge, but also the efforts to build reliable operating environments globally. Regarding technology partnerships outside the EU, priority countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. Finnish companies must succeed in these markets, in addition to seeking growth and partnerships in the developing markets, where ensuring a competitive supply will be particularly important.

We enhance the EU’s competitiveness in a changing world 

Finland's success is tied to developing the EU's technological capabilities and competitiveness and to strengthening its global role. The EU plays a key part in influencing the wider international environment, including technology regulation and standardisation. The regulatory convergence of other countries with the EU will support the ability of Finnish businesses to grow in the global market and promote the interests of the EU and Finland. Keeping world trade and the EU trade policies as open as possible and improving the rules on digital trade will enhance the conditions that help Finnish companies succeed.

In critical technology areas, we should prepare for global differentiation and external shocks in the coming years and increase our resilience in the technology sector. To improve economic security, it is essential that companies develop their geopolitical competence and risk management in cooperation with the public and private sectors. 

We advance value-based technology governance

The technological competence, economic strength and position in global value chains of each state is linked to the ability to define the rules of technological development and exchange. Geopolitical competition requires closer cooperation between like-minded countries in developing global technology governance. At the same time, we must seek to share the benefits of new technologies and the digital economy with developing countries in a way that reinforces consensus building.

Various forums are taking different approaches to managing and regulating disruptive technologies. For example, international cooperation on artificial intelligence focuses on areas such as monitoring technological development and its risks, coordinating regulation, developing technical standards, research and technology infrastructures, sharing open models and data, as well as reducing the risks of dual-use, i.e. risks related to weapons of mass destruction and unwanted military use.

We anticipate and prevent risks

Finland promotes responsible and value-based technology governance to anticipate and prevent risks related to new technologies and to strengthen the harnessing of new technologies in accordance with international law. With regard to critical technologies, it is appropriate for us to promote reliable partnerships and build safe operating environments for technological cooperation. We will need multi-stakeholder partnerships to ensure that our operations are effective. 

The Internet will remain an essential infrastructure for the global economy and the functioning of societies, which highlights the need to defend its freedom, trustworthiness and security. We must respect human rights both online and offline. Finland has long supported multi-stakeholder governance of the Internet to achieve these objectives.

We defend Finland’s fundamental values

New disruptive technologies can be used for both authoritarian and democracy-supporting purposes. They can serve as a tool for both strengthening and weakening fundamental and human rights. Disruptive technologies also involve unforeseeable risks. It is crucial to promote Finland's key values, including human rights, equality, democracy and the rule of law.

Finland is committed to a cross-cutting approach to incorporating human rights and gender equality into our digital cooperation and supports the work of civil society and human rights defenders in digital issues. Both states and companies bear the responsibility for respecting human rights. We will continue to support full and meaningful participation of women and girls in the digital transformation to eliminate gender-based digital divide.

We harness technology to support sustainable development

The ability to develop and apply new technologies and innovations will increasingly determine the conditions for social and economic development. However, new technologies are spreading unevenly and at different speeds. The global digital divide has narrowed, but not disappeared. Shortcomings in regulation and its implementation increase the risks associated with the use of technology in developing countries. 

New technologies also play a crucial role in solving global environmental challenges: climate change and biodiversity loss. At the same time, it is important that we manage the growing impact of digital technologies on climate and the environment. The transition towards a low-emission economy will create demand for clean energy, environmental technology, as well as bioeconomy and circular economy solutions. However, the ongoing technological transformation will also increase competition in these markets, related technologies and raw materials.

We support the digital transition

Finland supports the digital transition in developing countries in a way that lies the foundation for development, secures the realisation of human rights, builds a sustainable environment for digital economy and society, as well as bridges the digital divide with safe connections and services. In addition, it is important to speed up especially private sector investments and the secure use of data to improve productivity, innovations and services. 

Finland's partnerships will promote closer commercial and economic relations with our partner countries, opening up demand and investments in Finnish technologies and solutions. EU cooperation, multilateral cooperation and Finnfund's investments in particular will advance this objective. Finnish expertise and solutions will play an important role in these efforts. We will make full use of the implementation of the EU's Global Gateway strategy and its funding and cooperation opportunities.

We offer solutions 

Finland can offer reliable solutions in areas such as secure network technology, satellite systems, high-performance computing and artificial intelligence, data economy, digital learning, clean energy and circular economy. We are one of the world's leading countries in public sector digitalisation. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will invest in harnessing Finnish companies' technological solutions and Finnish expertise to support sustainable development.

Technology-related issues have been incorporated into the United Nation' development agenda. The UN's Global Digital Compact defines the principles and objectives for global digital development that should guide the work of the UN, its Member States and other participants. Finland advocates putting technology and innovations on the multilateral agenda and supports the implementation of global objectives and commitments in a manner that takes into account the interests of Finland and the EU.