Finland must adopt clusters as a more significant strategic tool for boosting productivity and competitiveness. While several clusters operate in Finland across various industrial sectors, their operating environments and support structures have been fragmented and regionally inconsistent.

A cluster is a regionally or thematically concentrated network of complementary companies, research and educational organizations, and public actors that work together to develop expertise, innovation, and business in order to strengthen their shared competitive advantage. As an operating model, it also provides a structured approach to developing and managing ecosystem activities. A cluster connects value chains and ecosystems through shared strategic direction and interactive learning, enhancing the flow of knowledge and resources, increasing the effectiveness of knowledge-based management, strengthening the impact of RDI investments, and improving regional productivity. Cluster activities also generate valuable guidance for educational institutions in developing curricula aligned with future competence needs.

Clusters must reach sufficient scale to develop and innovate specialized expertise, services, resources, and supply chains. This scale can be national or regional, depending on the needs of various industries and the resources allocated to cluster development. In Finland’s case, a national scale is often justified. Long-term and adequately resourced cluster activity creates a favorable business environment where new innovations and successful enterprises can emerge. A cluster can significantly enhance its members’ networking, utilization of research knowledge, adoption of new technologies, innovation capacity, commercialization potential, and access to markets. This is precisely what Finland’s economic renewal and transformation require.

The European Commission has emphasized the role of industrial clusters in strengthening the European Union’s competitiveness. The European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), supported by the Commission, brings together European clusters and promotes cooperation and knowledge exchange between them. The Commission’s policies clearly show that strong cluster activity is an essential part of European innovation policy and economic development.

Clusters must be recognized as key tools for achieving national goals in productivity growth and increasing RDI activity. They offer a methodological way of organizing and working that, when applied consistently, significantly improves the efficiency of both public and private development investments. Like the rest of Europe, Finland must acknowledge the importance of cluster activity in strengthening national competitiveness and innovation potential.

For this reason, Finland should nationally and comprehensively implement the following measures:

• Establish clusters as a key tool in national innovation policy
• Create a program to strengthen national cluster activity in alignment with regional strategies
• Develop structures, an impact assessment model, and funding mechanisms to support national and regional cluster development

Through these measures, Finland can strengthen the development and emergence of a strong and competitive cluster environment — one that is cohesive at both national and regional levels — and thereby support innovation, economic growth, and international success. All of this translates directly into stronger enterprises and, consequently, sustainable national competitiveness.

Authors:

Jarno Ruusunen, Research and Development Manager, Savonia University of Applied Sciences

Jarmo Jalkanen, RDI Specialist, Savonia University of Applied Sciences

Jade Hirvonen, RDI Specialist, Savonia University of Applied Sciences

Bailey Lähdesmäki, RDI Specialist, Savonia University of Applied Sciences

Heikki Sirviö, Regional Development Manager, North Savo Regional Council

Article has been previously published at https://www.savonia.fi/tki/tausta-ja-tarve-klustereiden-merkitys-suomen-kilpailukyvyn-ja-innovaatioiden-vahvistajina/