Finland - Jyvaskyla Region - Final Self-Evaluation Report.pdf

eferring to the regional development targets decided at the national level. Decisions about the "RegionalStrategic Programmes", debated on with the main public and private regional actors, and also discussed withthe national level to ensure overall coherence, are made by the different regional councils. The "AnnualImplementation Plans" detail financing from committed sources (EU, national, municipalities, and privatesector), taking into account the regional development programmes defined at the national level. Each actor,at different levels of government can thus express their views, with the regional council actively coordinatingthe preparation and elaboration of the strategic documents that it is to adopt, thus defining itsregional development goals, measures and means of implementation.Regional policy based incentives. Parliament enacts laws on education and decides on the generalprinciples of education policy. The Government and the Ministry of Education implement these principles atthe level of central government. The Ministry of Education has an active role in guiding and supporting theHEIs regional contribution. The Ministry of the Interior, in cooperation with other ministries and the regionalcouncils, is responsible for the formulation of national targets for regional development. In addition, theMinistry of the Interior is responsible for coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the preparation andimplementation of regional strategic programmes and other programmes in accordance with the RegionalDevelopment Act. The Ministry of Trade and Industry ensures that the operating conditions of enterprisesare favourable. A competitive operating environment is developed with both national and regional measures.The Ministry is also responsible for the policy on technology and innovation. The Science and TechnologyPolicy Council of Finland, chaired by the Prime Minister, advises the government and its ministries aboutquestions relating to the strategic development and coordination of Finnish science and technology policy aswell as about the national innovation system as a whole. Tekes, the National Technology Agency is the mainpublic financing and expert organization for research and technological development in Finland. Tekesfinances industrial R&D projects as well as projects in HEIs and research institutes. Tekes’ funds come fromthe state budget via the Ministry of Trade and Industry.PRIVATEPUBLICAcademyof Finland185Universities976 (443)From abroad158VTT213 (63)Tekes395Ministries,TE-Centres,sectorial research302 (229)R&Dat companies3,528BusinessAngels387Venture capitalists:Private 294Industry Investment Ltd 40(additional gov. investment 42)Sitra 32Innofin5 (4)Finpro31 (19)Finnvera364 (41)BASIC RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH BUSINESS R&DBUSINESSS DEVELOPMENTMARKETINGINTERNATIONALISATIONFigure 7.2 Total extent of funding from different organizations in million euros in 2003 17 (Source: Tekes)The Centre of Expertise Programme represents one of the main tools of the Finnish regional innovationpolicy. The objective is to increase cooperation between HEIs and enterprises, develop top-level expertise,attract investments and talents to the region and improve the regions' ability to generate R&D funding.Furthermore, the principal objective of the Regional Centre Programme specifically stresses the17 In parenthesis the share that is funded from the State budget. The funds of Tekes, the Academy of Finland and Innofinare funded entirely from the State budget.98