Public Research and Technology Organisations in Transition—The Case of Finland

Abstract

National innovation systems and policies are confronted by many interrelated factors, including large socio-economic structural problems, globalisation, pressure to provide public research funding and changes in research communities driven by the Mode 2 paradigm. These changes challenge sectoral public research organisations (PROs). The role of universities and other policy organisations in innovation policy has been studied at length but there has been little investigation of PROs, despite their significance in developed and developing economies. This article fills this gap by exploring PROs in Finland, an open, industrialised and export-dependent economy. It draws several conclusions about the current state and future prospects of PROs in Finland. PROs are in transition in terms of their organisational, managerial and funding structures and their role in the internationalising national innovation system. Their rationale, legitimacy and strategies are also changing due to national innovation driven missions and internationalisation strategies. All PROs in Finland now engage in international cooperation. However, despite increasing funding from international sources and the globalisation of many aspects, PROs are still national organisations subject to national policies and governed by national bodies. Finnish PROs need to redefine their strategies at the international and European levels without forgetting their national role.

Research and technology organizations’ mobilizers of the regional environment

“…The RTOs have several challenges to overcome: to strengthen their internal capacities, through the convergence of different technologies and disciplines (Leijten, 2007;Leitner, 2005), build networks to cope with reduced funding and the cost of the research (Loikkanen et al, 2011), and improve their relation with universities and other innovation actors (Callejón et al, 2007;Mrinalini and Nath, 2008).…”

Sustaining strategies in RTOs. A contingent model for understanding RTOs’ perfomance

“…They must strengthen their internal capacities integrating diverse technologies and disciplines (Leijten, 2007;Leitner, 2005). They must build networks to cope with reduced funding and increasing research costs (Loikkanen et al 2011;Mas-Verdú, 2007). Thus, they must improve their relationships with universities and other innovation actors (Leijten, 2007;Loikkanen et al 2011;Mrinalini and Nath, 2008).…”

“…They must build networks to cope with reduced funding and increasing research costs (Loikkanen et al 2011;Mas-Verdú, 2007). Thus, they must improve their relationships with universities and other innovation actors (Leijten, 2007;Loikkanen et al 2011;Mrinalini and Nath, 2008). Fur thermore, RTOs which are able to overcome these challenges are entering a process of internationalisation with fur ther barriers and challenges.…”

A Tuned Value Chain Model for University Based Public Research Organisation: Case Lut Cst

“…Innov. 2012, Volume 7, Issue 4 Finland has been executed like the transition of public research and technology organizations (Loikkanen et al, 2011) and the evaluation practices in public research organizations (Lähteenmäki et al, 2006).…”

“…Innov. 2012, Volume 7, Issue 4 Finland has been executed like the transition of public research and technology organizations (Loikkanen et al, 2011) and the evaluation practices in public research organizations (Lähteenmäki et al, 2006).Because the interest of this study is closely linked to chemical engineering (and any other capital intensive industry where the actions are similar) the studies of Kannegiesser (2008) are essential.Bin and Salles-Filhoa (2012) studied the contributions to a methodological framework in science, technology and innovation management and an interesting case study from Brazilian university where the focus was orientation towards sustainable innovation is reported by Löbler et al (2012). …”