The single European market is also important to us. Having long had an economy based on forestry, we also want to play a part in any discussion of environmental issues, and again it is far easier for the European Union to present a united case to the global forum than a host of individual countries. More importantly however, the programmes offer a platform for companies to network and interact. We have found that research collaboration frequently leads on to other forms of international collaboration, for example marketing partnerships, and this is a very tangible benefit in terms of competitiveness. For example, the state has never dominated the telecommunication sector in Finland, unlike most European countries.
Competition is a good driver for technical innovation.
We have also been blessed by the presence of a number of visionaries within the industry who have had the foresight to see where the future lies, and ensured that we have always been moving in the right direction. Good ideas are not enough on their own of course, and one of the main factors for success has been continuous investment. Collaboration has also been an important factor, particularly regarding standards. Together with the other Nordic countries, Finland worked hard in the early days to ensure that money and effort was not being ploughed into technologies that would quickly become obsolete. In terms of its impact, the policy is working well.