Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan

FCCJ LUNCHEON MEETING 23 JUNE 2005

Theme:
"Finnish National Innovation System and Science and Technology Co-operation between Finland and Japan"

Speaker: Ms. Tuula Haatainen, Minister of Education and Science

RECAP

Both Finland and Japan are relying strongly on innovation policy to ensure stable development and sustainable growth, concluded Minister Haatainen.

Innovations do not come easily. They require time and creativity. The great challenge is in creating functional framework for organisations and people to come up with new ideas and products. The financial resources must be allocated in projects that have sufficient size and that aim to something new and fresh. We need also be willing to take risk and invest projects that have not so evident possibilities to succeed.

The total R&D investment in Finland is nearly 5 billion euro. In 2003 the GDP-share of R&D expenditure in Finland was 3.5 %. The public R&D funding will be increased by a total of 300 million euro during 2003-2007.

IMAGES FROM THE MEETING

FCCJ President Mika Mäkinen makes welcome remarks...	...and makes a joke....
Birds-eye view from the top table	Kalevi Lehikoinen of Telia Sonera introduces himself
Riitta Mustonen of Academy of Finland discusses with Sako Komaki, Finnish Tourist Board, Haruko Hayakawa, Japan-Finland Society and Miyuki Kuranishi, MEXT. Back to camera; Takaaki Satake, Japan-Finland Society	From left; Peter Westerstrahle, Tekese, Eero Tammila Finnair, Veli-Matti Lahti, NetHawk and Masahiko Kitagawa, Finnar. Back to camera; Miika Heiskanen, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
Liisa Karvinen, Embassy of Finland discusses with Mari Watanabe of Japan Finland Culture and Friendship Association.	From left; Takeshi Yokoyama, Finnair, Kazuhiko Ichikawa, Cntral Japan Railways, Noriyuki Kato, Sky Inc., and Hiroaki Sugawara, Finn Corporation. Back to the camera; Petteri Kauppinen, Ministry of Education.
A last check of the manuscript before the presentation starts.	Minister Haatainen starting her presentation.

"... believe it or not, it was this big..."	It's plain water...
The luncheon was attended by 33 members and guests.