Opportunities for Cooperation between Estonia and ... - Valitsus

Currently, Finland invests 3.5% of its gross domestic product in research and
innovation. For years now, Finland has ranked among the top countries in
international competitiveness studies; in 2007, for example, Finland finished
sixth in a comparative study of 131 countries carried out by the World Economic
Forum, and in a 2005 technology index comparison, Finland was ranked second
bested only by the United States. However, success in the competitiveness
surveys has not attracted major investments to Finland or resulted in the
hoped-for increase in living standards and wealth.
Compared with the world at large and the rest of Europe, Estonia and Finland are
small states with limited resources. In this respect, the two countries are very
much in the same position. We have to choose the sectors we wish to develop
and invest our limited resources in areas that offer the highest probability of
reaching the top. At times, the lack of resources may be a blessing – it compels
us to look for innovative and unorthodox solutions.
Both countries look to the future. The Finnish government is expected to adopt
a new national innovation strategy before long. Recently, Estonia launched
a programme for strengthening the knowledge base of the economy for
2007–2013.
Estonia and Finland need to acquire new knowledge and skills possessed by
talented students, research and top experts from across their borders. We have
to struggle to make the countries interesting and attractive to such people. As
it is, Estonia and Finland and the conditions here are largely unknown to the
world and, to some extent, even Europe.
However, it is important to point out that while intensifying competition,
globalization has also opened up new opportunities to small countries like
Estonia and Finland. What we have to do is identify them. This and utilizing new
opportunities may be tough, calling for a determined and strategic approach.
In many cases, it would be advisable for Estonia and Finland to work hand in
hand to tackle this undertaking.
The development of information and communications technology has enabled
the use of worldwide information sources. In these conditions, the importance
of the country of origin of ideas, knowledge or technologies diminishes. What
is important is how to absorb new knowledge and make use of it.
The engine of an innovative economy and society is entrepreneurship and
cooperation between organizations, entrepreneurs and citizens. Individual
countries and nations have different approaches to these issues or different
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