High-tech exports have increased rapidly. They totalled EUR 8 billion in 1999 and accounted for 21 per cent of total exports. The percentage of high-tech exports has increased rapidly. A rapid increase in the number of domestic patent applications indicates that the investments made in technology have borne fruit.
Technology forms an essential part of Finnish economic policy.
The national technology policy has maintained its active role. Modern and advanced society up in the north Finland's main strengths lie in its advanced high technology environment, its high quality communications and information technology infrastructure, its internationally competitive rates of corporate and capital income taxation and its highly educated population. Finland was the first country to launch a digital network for mobile communications. Today the country's mobile phone penetration exceeds 60 per cent, and most mobile phones are digital. The mobile phone itself has transformed into a multipurpose communicator or WAP phone.