Finland invests in knowledge-based competence and aims to increase the overall standard of education. The Government Programme stresses the role of research as the foundation of knowledge and know-how, which in turn promote sustainable economic growth and immaterial as well as material welfare.

In 2011, research and development expenditure represented 3.73% of the gross domestic product, which puts Finland among the top in the European Union and the OECD.  Of the total Finnish R&D expenditure of about 7.2 billion euros, the private sector investments constitute 69%, universities 21% and research institutes almost 10%.

In the 2013 Government Budget, the total funding of research and development goes up to EUR 2,002 million. The Budget appropriations and outlays for research and development fall EUR 53 million short of the previous year.

According to Statistics Finland, government R&D expenditure as a proportion of overall government spending exclusive of debt servicing is estimated to be 3.8 per cent.

Finland is an affordable piece of paradise, says Emmy Verschuren, an originally Dutch researcher working now in her FIMM group in Helsinki. She gave a video testimonial about the research environments and working possibilities in Finland in the “Destination Europe” -event in San Francisco in December 2012.

Information for foreign researchers planning to come to Finland provides also the portal EURAXESS Finland.

Finland´s research and development expenditure exceeded EUR 7 billion in 2011. Growth from the previous year amounted to EUR 192 million.

According to Statistics Finland, in 2012 expenditure is estimated to fall by EUR 70 million, putting its GPD share at no more than 3.6 per cent.

The Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee has started its work to update the national roadmap for research infrastructures. The aim is to compile information on projects that should be maintained or included in the new national roadmap for research infrastructures.

Finland’s national RI roadmap will be updated in 2013 at the latest, and the national expert group for research infrastructures in Finland will assess the urgency and priority level of projects included in the roadmap.

In science, technology and innovation policy, the Government outlines the principles and drafts legislation, whereas the Ministries plan and implement the policy. At the Ministry of Education and Culture, science policy is the responsibility of the Department for Higher Education and Science Policy.