Limited resources and grand challenges Research policy in a small country Marja Makarow, Vice President for Research 13 th Baltic Conference on Intellectual Co-operation: ERA and small countries Estonian Academy of Sciences, 28-19 January 2013 1 29.1.2013
Challenges for Finland today Small (and aging) population small markets Limited intellectual and economic resources Fragmented E&R&I ecosystem with too many universities (20>14), polytechnics (27), govenrment research institutes (16) Too few foreign students and researchers Too long time-to-degree Too slow translation of research findings to innovations, products, services, jobs Too little inflow of foreign direct investments into R&D&I Economic downturn how do we bridge to the future, maintain power of previous investments
What to build on Government decided after downturn in early 90s to systematically invest in E&R&I Outcomes within 10 years Industrial sectors changed (paper & pulp > electronics), globalised Growth of industrial production increased faster than in US Finland at top of competitiveness rankings Public R&D investment catalyzed high investments from industry Transformation from resource-economy to knowledge-economy Political tool: Science & innovation policy in every Government s Program Research and Innovation Council chaired by PM E&R&I system undergoing reform: New University Act from 2010 HOPE & WORRY: Long-term competitiveness high, short term one deficient
4 Decision makers and actors
R&D investment decreasing in Finland Government plus private, in 2011 7.2 B = 3.8% of GDP Government decrease 5% from 2011 to 2012 Source: OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators (Feb 2012), Statistics Finland 2012 5
Breakdown of government R&D expenditure 2012 Total 2.065 billion Source: Statistics Finland 2012 6
Impact on research output small countries Publications per 1 M population/y in 2003 2005 and 2008 2010 Data source: Thomson Reuters 2012. Bibliometric analyses by Raj Kumar Pan and Santo Fortunato, Aalto University 2012. Population data source OECD Statistical database 2012.
Impact on research quality Relative citation impact 2003 2010 World average level = 1 Data source: Thomson Reuters 2012. Bibliometric analyses by Raj Kumar Pan and Santo Fortunato, Aalto University 2012.
Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland Who has the best practices? The countries reviewed for this comparison have been successful in their research efforts, because they have throughout the 2000s actively and consistently developed the preconditions of and instruments for their research activities. A country cannot afford not to (try to) carry out measures adopted by a forerunner country, even in absence of strong evidence of their impacts. K. Viljamaa, J. Lehenkari, T. Lemola ja T. Tuominen: Tutkimuspolitiikan välineet ja käytännöt viiden maan vertailu (in Finnish) (Research Policy: Tools and Practices A Five-Country Comparison), Publications of the Academy of Finland 2/2010 9 29/01/2013
The State of Scientific Research in Finland 2012 Summary State of research at good international level - not sufficient relative to investment Focal points for recommendations Position of fundamental research Structural development of universities and government research institutes Recruitment and career structures of researchers National and international mobility Researcher training Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research Development and funding of, and access to research infrastructures Cooperation between research and innovation (ministries, funding agencies, universities, researchers) Publications of the Academy of Finland 7/2012 10 29/01/2013
Reform of the Finnish university system New University Act January 2010 Increased autonomy & accountability From public administration to independent legal persons with capital Either corporation under public law (public university) Or foundation under private law (foundation university) Independence Strategy, focus on strengths and potential Finances (core funding to all, lump sum) HR policy (civil servants > contractual employees) State donated buildings and premises Right for fund raising & business activities State donated 2,5 x attracted private capital Mergers: 20 universities in 2009 > 14 in 2013
Reform of university governance Board, 7-14 members (earlier University senate highest decider) Public universities At least 40% external members, chair external Other members: professors, students, staff Foundation universities All members and chair external Board takes the strategic and long-term decisions Appoints the Rector (earlier elected by staff) Rector (more power) Responsible for operations Presenting official to the Board Academic collegium Responsible for academic affairs Professors (students, staff) Appoints the Board
Aalto University Spearhead project of university reform Merger of pre-existing universities Helsinki University of Technology University of Art and Design Helsinki Helsinki School of Economics Accomplishments since 2010 Strong and strategic governance by Board Endowment 200 M (private) + 500 M (public), estates and assets 300 M Structure renovated to meet requirements of research university Strategy developed according to intl assessments of research and teaching Bachelor and Masters programs renovated (Bologna) EIT ICT Lab with Nokia and VTT + App Studio with Microsoft Entrepreneurship training for students Aalto has capitalised new freedom more rapidly and profoundly than others, why? Reinvigorating a mature university is fundamentally more difficult than changing a young one the merger has been key
Tenure track, Aalto university model Recruiting by invitation Fixed term Permanent 3 (-5) years 4 years Assistant Professor(1) Assistant Professor (2) Associate professor Professor Distinguished professor First term review Tenure decision Tenure decision Promotion decision Promotion decision Competitive recruiting Used in all professor recruitments 74% international applicants, 36% international recruites
Reforms continue Government research institutes Diverse functions: (basic and) applied research, advisory functions for government Under different Ministries High-level group s recommendations to Government Mergers between each other Mergers with University of Helsinki Part of earmarked resources to be pooled and distributed according to competition for long-term research (10y) For research on grand Finnish societal challenges Broad themes to be decided by Government Council for Strategic Research to be established under Academy of Finland, to govern research agendas and funds (200 M /y) Academy of Finland to organise evaluation, dissemination of findings and monitoring Government s decision on principle awaited soon
Grand societal challenges Board of Academy of Finland 2011 Northern Climate and Environment Sustainable Energy Dialogue of Cultures A Healthy Everyday Life for All Knowledge and Know-how in the Media Society Ageing Population and Individuals Government s priorities Urgency: export -30% since 2008, recovery to 2008 level estimated in 2023 Arctic region environment, economy, technology Growth powered by ICT (high-level group s recommendations, investment 700 M ) National open internet-based service architecture shared by entire public sector TEKES & Academy of Finland: research program for development of digital content Fund for growth companies
More information Academy of Finland: www.aka.fi/eng Finnish science policy: www.research.fi/en State of Finnish science: www.aka.fi/tieteentila2012>english 17