“Birthday country” Finland opens views on how to develop society through innovations
Modern societies need to reinvent themselves to tackle the challenges of the future. This applies to Finland as well as to Hong Kong. A lecture series highlights the strengths of the 100-year-Finland with a view to develop innovative cooperation with Hong Kong.
A hundred years ago Finland was a poor agricultural country in the distant corner of Europe. Through investments into education and know-how it has developed into a small powerhouse of modern technology. Finland celebrates the centenary of her independence this year. When remembering the past the focus is on the future, and on cooperation. The theme of the Finnish centenary year 2017 is “Together”.
One of the highlights of the centennial year here in Hong Kong is the Finland 100 lecture series organized together with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The idea is to present Finnish strengths with a view to boost interaction with Hong Kong counterparts.
The Centennial Lecture Series will be launched this Thursday, February 16, by Mr. Pekka Soini, the Director General of TEKES, The Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation. The title of his presentation is “Change – Boosting Innovations in the Digital Era”.
Tekes is strongly involved in the work modernizing Finland. It is the main public funding organisation for research, development and innovation making annually more than 2000 positive funding decisions totalling several billions of Hong Kong dollars. In 2015 alone these contributions generated 1,880 new Finnish products, services or processes.
Mr. Soini as well as Tekes argue for the importance of investing public money in the long-term innovation projects, in which private money still sees too many risks. This will create spill-over effects profiting the whole society.
You are warmly invited to join us as Director General Mr. Soini presents his views on what digital future holds:
“Change – Boosting Innovations in the Digital Era”
The subsequent Finland 100 lectures will include:
March 9th : Finnish Innovations in Healthcare and Health Technologies
Mr. Anssi Pulkkinen, Director of Wellbeing and Health, TEKES, The Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation
April 21: Finnish Start-up ecosystem, Digital and Gaming Innovations
Mr. Peter Vesterbacka former Chairman of Rovio - company that hatched the “Angry Birds” - and Mr. Antti Saarnio, Chairman of Jolla, developer of the only “non-American” operating system for mobile phones.
May 9: Finland Innovation for Food and Food Safety Technology
Ms. Jaana Husu-Kallio, Deputy minister of Agriculture and Forestry.
For any questions concerning the Finland 100 lecture series, please do not hesistate to contact Dr. Sari Arho Havrén, [email protected]. You can also contact Consul-General Jari Sinkari for general inquiries about Finland and her 100th Centenary, [email protected], tel. 2525 5385.
Attachments: Flyer of the February 16 lecture
Modern societies need to reinvent themselves to tackle the challenges of the future. This applies to Finland as well as to Hong Kong. A lecture series highlights the strengths of the 100-year-Finland with a view to develop innovative cooperation with Hong Kong.
© Liana Technologies