Business sector innovation challenges in Finland

This chapter discusses the main economic and innovation challenges that the Finnish business sector is encountering today. It analyses the main features of the Finnish industry, its economic structure and business demographics, and their recent evolution, as well as current trends in terms of firm productivity and different types of business investment in innovation. The analysis reflects on the ability of Finnish businesses to engage in more radical innovation, and current efforts to strengthen small and mediumsized enterprises’ involvement in R&ampD and innovation. The chapter further discusses what new economic competences for global markets and value-chain integration are required to facilitate access to (global and public) markets. In concludes by examining industry-science collaboration and how growth of young innovative firms and start-ups can be effectively enabled.