Finland a European Leader in Biotechnology
Kemia-Kemi Vol. 28 (2001) 6
by Hannele Kuusi
Introduction
Biotechnology is a significant new growth industry in Finland. Development has been rapid during the last few years: Finland is now one of Europe's top biotech countries and home to ten per cent of Europe's biotechnology companies. In the continental ranking, Finland takes sixth place behind the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Sweden.
Finland has a long and successful track record in biotechnological research. Modern biotechnology got off to a strong start in the mid-1980's with a major role being played by large-scale programmes run by the Academy of Finland, the National Technology Agency (Tekes) and the Finnish National Fund for Research and Development (Sitra). To a large extent, these programmes have provided the foundation for today's expertise and the business that has grown around it.
Finland's knowledge-based growth strategy strongly supports R&D. Alongside information and communications technology (ICT), biotechnology holds top priority in the government agen-da.