Nokia in the Finnish innovation system

Abstract

The report looks at Nokia in the Finnish innovation system. Nokia serves both as a user and as a producer in the innovation system. Nokia has had a remarkably positive impact on Finland’s very high ratio of R&D expenditure to GDP. Moreover, at least partly due to Nokia, Finnish exports of high-tech products are notably greater than high-tech imports. Nokia co-operates with companies, universities and research institutes. Our interviews suggest that, due to co-operation, knowledge has flowed from one party to another. In addition to R&D co-operation, recruitment from universities to companies and vice versa has served as another important knowledge transfer channel. Although R&D co-operation has functioned well in most cases, in some cases problems have emerged. According to some of our interviewees, the allocation of intellectual property rights (IPR) has been troublesome. Another concern was related to the retaining of universities’ high knowledge level in the future. – Nokia ; innovation system ; Finland ; R&D ; research and development ; education ; Knowledge ; technology