SPEECH BY PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI AT A CEREMONY

FOR NEW MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMY OF FINLAND ON 14.11.1997

I warmly congratulate the new Academicians. To be chosen as a member of the Academy of Finland is the highest honour that our country can bestow on a Finnish or foreign practitioner of science. I believe that your example will serve as a beacon, guiding and encouraging young Finnish scientists as they strive for creative and internationally-significant achievements.

High-quality and fruitful R&D is a vital requirement for the success of efforts to bolster prosperity and increase employment in our country on a more and more solid foundation. A substantial increase in the public funding provided for this purpose is an especially tangible demonstration of the positive attitude that Parliament and the Government take to the work being done in the sector.

I am convinced that this road is the right one and significant, although not the only. In addition to relying on research and product development, we also need a large number of other measures, by means of which we can create the preconditions for adequate and stable economic growth. It is obvious that globalisation of the world economy, a deepening of European economic integration and rapidly increasing international contacts in other respects as well demand constant adjustment to new challenges. The key to success is innovativeness and enterprise.

R&D must also have a capacity to transform and renew at a rapid pace so that Finland can seize the keys to the future and retain them in her own hands. The R&D sector in this country is now undergoing unprecedented expansion. There is every reason to expect that the resources invested in training researchers and developing their work environment will yield significant cultural, social and economic added value.

Broad cooperation between the different parts of the system of innovation improve Finland's prospects in her efforts to produce better achievements. Improving the quality of research results and speeding up technological development presupposes also comprehensive and close international collaboration. We must be prepared to engage simultaneously in both cooperation and competition.

Our research system is developing in a positive direction. The timing of our measures to develop and update our system of science harmonises well with our programme of additional funding. I consider the goal of engaging the various parts of our research system in closer cooperation with each other a positive and important one. In my view, cooperation of this kind is conducive to both basic and applied research advancing in fruitful interaction, supporting and learning from each other. I greet with satisfaction the increase that has taken place in cooperation between public funders of R&D in recent times and expect a lot of it. Everyone gains from genuine cooperation.

One week ago, the Academy of Finland arranged a festive public gathering dedicated to science. There, Academicians, secondary school pupils, researchers and laypersons came together. I believe the present trend is the right one: let us give young people the opportunity to develop themselves in the field of science as far as it is humanely possible, both here in Finland and abroad. It is important to bring science closer to people and to ensure that information flows efficiently in all directions. Citizens need to know about science, researchers need to know about the needs and hopes of society and people.

I now urge both the freshly-chosen and the older Academicians to use their exceptional standing and expertise in scientific circles to help bring science and its results to the awareness of the entire nation. I also extend my felicitations to the Academy of Finland and wish it success in its work for science and the nation.