Finland

One key document setting out research and innovation policy is the latest Government Programme for the four-year parliamentary term published in 2019 (Government Communications Strategy). The main thematic areas in this are:

• Carbon neutral Finland that protects biodiversity; 
• Global influential Finland and policy on Europe;
• Safe and secure Finland built on the rule of law;
• Dynamic and thriving Finland, transport networks and agriculture;
• Finland built on trust and labour market equality;
• Fair, equal and inclusive Finland;
• Finland that promotes competence, education, culture and innovation;
• Governance. 

On 21 April 2020, the Ministerial Working Group on Competence, Education, Culture and Innovation adopted a National Roadmap for Research, Development and Innovation (RDI). The roadmap aims to make Finland the most attractive and competent environment for experimentation and innovation in the world, producing sustainable solutions to societal challenges.

Key Transport Policy strategies and initiatives in Finland 

• Finland has been following a ‘Strategy for Intelligent Transport’ since 2009, and this strategy sets down the transport policy guidelines and objectives up to 2020. 
• In March 2009, the administrative sector’s climate policy programme was prepared, which set out how Finland can decrease greenhouse gas emissions from transport up to 2020.
• The Finnish Government Report on Transport Policy set out policy for the years 2012-2022.
• The latest Government Programme emphasises that transport policy should be linked comprehensively to the framework of economic, financial, employment and regional development, and underlines the importance of intelligent transport. Effective transport policy can only be made in cooperation between different ministries, and looking at one sector is not enough; measures are needed to improve overall social effectiveness. Particular focus is to be placed on steps to deepen cooperation between the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Employment and the Economy and Ministry of the Environment. 
• The National Transport System Plan (2021-2032) guides the maintenance of the Finnish transport system and its development into the distant future. The plan will include an assessment of the current state and future operating environment of the Finnish transport system, the objectives for the transport system and the measures for meeting the objectives. National transport system planning will become a continuous process, which makes the development of the Finnish transport system more predictable and effective.
• The Sustainable Growth Programme for the Transport Sector 2021-2023 is an update of the National Growth Programme for the Transport Sector. The published sustainable growth programme promotes business-driven innovation, internationalisation, and growth based on sustainable solutions in the transport sector. The aim of the programme is to promote investment and international growth in the sector through ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable solutions.
• Transport Infrastructure 2030: Meeting the Challenges of Concentrating Population and Industrial changes.
• Transport 2030: Major challenges, new directions - the civil service view of the choices facing a future transport policy.
• Vitality all of the shipping sector is of primary importance for Finnish competitiveness. In an effort to safeguard a good operating environment for shipping, a broad-based national strategy will be drafted for the sector. As far as transport is concerned, the strategy will focus on adaptation to the tightening environmental regulations, issues around support policy, reform of fairway dues, procurement of icebreaker fleet together with port and shipyard questions.
• A separate strategy is also to be prepared for air transport with the purpose of examining its future prospects and assessing the appropriateness of Finland's airport network together with the role of the State in arranging air transport services. 
• The Roadmap to fossil-free transport includes a three-phase programme to reduce Finland's domestic transport's greenhouse gas emissions. Finland's aim is to achieve an entirely fossil-free transport sector by 2045. 

(Last updated: 31/08/2023)