# Making better use of Finland’s regional clusters and ecosystems

> Cluster Summit Finland showed how clusters, national coordination and shared KPIs can boost Finland’s competitiveness.

## Overview
Cluster Summit Finland 2025 provided empirical confirmation that clusters and innovation ecosystems function as practical engines for cooperation and RDI impact. They link companies, especially SMEs, with universities and research organisations, open access to laboratories and expertise, pool scarce regional resources, and accelerate the path from ideas to projects, commercialisation, and internationalisation.

While Finland possesses a diverse set of regional clusters—many connected to the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP)—structural gaps continue to suppress impact. The absence of a national cluster policy, short funding cycles, heavy administrative loads, and thin core staffing create a persistent opportunity cost.

## Strategic Recommendations
To improve the effectiveness of existing ECCP-linked regional clusters, this paper advances a three-part message:

1. **National Coordination:** Finland needs a national coordination mandate and multi-annual core funding for cluster and ecosystem orchestration.
2. **Evidence-Led Steering:** Implementation of a shared KPI and foresight capability that enables transparent steering of clusters and ecosystems.
3. **Incentivized Commercialisation:** Stronger incentives for research commercialisation and cross-regional scaling of ecosystems through the Smart Specialisation (S3) framework.

## Methodology
The findings are based on a structured workshop and panel discussion involving regional, national, and EU-level stakeholders.
* **Workshop:** Ten facilitated groups comprising participants from companies, cluster organisations, higher-education and research institutions, and regional development bodies.
* **Panel:** Representatives included regional authorities, a university of applied sciences, a national cluster support organisation, a German regional authority, a high-level Danish cluster entity, and the European Commission.

## Addressing Structural Gaps
Impact is currently constrained by gaps in steering and continuity. A national mandate is required to clarify decision tiers, support the formation of larger thematic domains, and guarantee multi-annual orchestration capacity. 

To make firm-driven logic tangible, clusters require:
* Clear value propositions and service portfolios.
* Light-touch private co-funding models.
* Systematic stakeholder communication.
* Stronger cross-sector links to improve RDI outcomes.

## Implementation Agenda
The following actions are proposed to convert knowledge capital into sustainable growth:
* **Standardisation:** Cluster value propositions, goals, and governance should be documented using uniform templates that prioritize SMEs.
* **Measurement:** A common KPI framework and foresight process should be agreed upon to enable pilot reporting within the first year and national rollout by year two.
* **Commercialisation:** Incentives in higher education and research must be strengthened to make cluster collaboration a default pathway from research to market.
* **Scaling:** Cross-regional thematic domains, anchored in S3, should be supported by funding that rewards consortia and prevents duplicative competition.

## Authors
* **Jade Hirvonen**, RDI Specialist, Food System, Savonia UAS
* **Bailey Lähdesmäki**, RDI Specialist, Water Safety, Savonia UAS
* **Jarmo Jalkanen**, RDI Specialist, Sustainable Society, Savonia UAS
* **Jarno Ruusunen**, R&D Manager, Energy Technology, Savonia UAS
* **Heikki Sirviö**, Regional Development Manager, Regional Council of North Savo