Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

22involves interaction and planning. Fully developed e-work will build on all these competencies.And as you remember, the traditional industrial structure in Finland barely gave opportunities forthis. The network economy <strong>of</strong>fers great potential in this respect.The government has a particular project dealing with entrepreneurship. All ministries areparticipating in it in a horizontal fashion. We have given strong emphasis on entrepreneurialinitiatives at the regional level. The ICT has met with a lot <strong>of</strong> interest at regional meetings. I thinkit is fair to say that the network model is seen as an important one with regard to bringing thedisadvantaged regions closer to the more advantaged ones.ICT has been much criticised for not meeting the expectations with regard to regional development.In Finland we have seen some examples <strong>of</strong> traditional telework models. There is room for morenew operation models <strong>of</strong> this kind, which technology renders possible every day.The government has not been advocating any particular business model or engaged itself inmarketing services <strong>of</strong> this kind. In the future the main emphasis will also have to be on the level<strong>of</strong> regional administration or entrepreneurs themselves. The government feels that it should nottry and replace the real business mission holders. Similarly, the government has switched the focusonto the development <strong>of</strong> the general business environment instead <strong>of</strong> directed subsidies.One <strong>of</strong> the problems with technology policy is undoubtedly that it tends to be supply-oriented.High-tech solution development is supported, casting the main challenge <strong>of</strong> technology diffusionor use to a lesser role. New measures are planned to improve the present situation. Still, I believethat enterprise policy is functioning at its best when it <strong>of</strong>fers a platform for deepening knowledgeand for co-ordination <strong>of</strong> different measures. Local adoption <strong>of</strong> this knowledge is most important.We will need to somehow deliver the best practice and leading edge solutions to the local level.Mr. Chairman, In this respect this Conference on e-work is an important and valuable exercise.We all recognise that the new work organisation is a very complex and challenging phenomenon.Yet, it is at the core <strong>of</strong> economic development. I am sure that your work here will bring a majorcontribution to our understanding <strong>of</strong> it. I also hope that we will be able to find common <strong>European</strong>policy models and turn e-work into a success in terms <strong>of</strong> regional employment, entrepreneurship,innovation and success. The policy models should interact with the new organisation modelsand underline that the most productive innovations are social. E-work is indeed at the core <strong>of</strong>productivity and welfare development.