Handbook for the Round Table of Finnish Industry
About this good practice
The Finnish industrial sector faces dual transition challenges: sustainability (green) and digital transformation. Administrative silos and fragmented stakeholder coordination hinder the creation and execution of cohesive strategies. To overcome these barriers, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment launched a pilot under its Artificial Intelligence 4.0 Programme to design a collaborative roundtable structure.
The practice aims to create a central forum for strategic dialogue, aligning fragmented proposals and actions into a unified industrial agenda. The roundtable combines a core group of key industry stakeholders—employer and employee organizations, entrepreneurs, and industry ecosystems—with extended representation from research, education, and public sector actors. The roundtable's operational secretariat ensures smooth coordination and integrates situational analysis, foresight information, and roadmaps to guide evidence-based decisions.
Stakeholders include the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, industry representatives, research institutions, and public sector actors. The primary beneficiaries are Finnish industries adapting to the green and digital transition, with broader societal and economic benefits for Finland.
Resources needed
Core funding from the Ministry supports the roundtable’s coordination and secretariat. Stakeholders, including industry groups and research institutions, contribute time and expertise. Tools for situational analysis, foresight, and roadmap development are also essential.
Evidence of success
A pilot project, conducted as part of the Artificial Intelligence 4.0 Programme, demonstrated the feasibility of this model. The pilot highlighted the roundtable's potential to create synergy between industrial stakeholders and public administration. It has since been proposed as a continuous activity to guide Finland’s industrial transformation.
Potential for learning or transfer
This practice offers a replicable model for fostering collaboration between industry and public administration to address complex transitions like green and digital. Key success factors include establishing a broad stakeholder base, integrating strategic foresight tools, and providing a central coordination mechanism.
Regions with fragmented industrial policy landscapes or siloed decision-making structures can particularly benefit from adopting this approach. Potential challenges include securing sustained funding, achieving stakeholder commitment, and adapting the model to regional contexts.
The roundtable concept is inherently flexible, making it adaptable for regions with varying industrial profiles. While no formal transfers have occurred yet, interest has been shown by Nordic and Baltic regions seeking to enhance cross-sectoral collaboration.