Veli-Pekka Saarnivaara (TEKES): Innovation via Competition, R&D and Globalization

"The construction trade associations have been concerned for R&D, the image of the industry, perhaps even quality issues," says Veli-Pekka Saarnivaara. "I am a bit skeptical about how committed the firms are to the Forum and its potential to influence cooperation. One tends to see a lower degree of commitment among the broader industry, particularly the smaller firms."
"Overall, the Forum reflects a positive trend. Taken into consideration the macroeconomic importance of this cluster, it really is significant. Unlike an export industry which may migrate abroad from Finland, construction will remain here. Foreign firms may come here and Finnish firms may establish themselves abroad, but the basic business activity will remain. As a result, the development of the cluster´s quality and productivity is really important."

See Interview of Veli-Pekka Saarnivaara, Director General of Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency of Technology and Innovation. - pdf 42 kt

Interviews of the Finnish Real estate and Construction leaders will be published in Dr Steinbock´s report on globalization, urbanization and the Finnish real estate and construction cluster.

See the Study to be released, Vital Cluster: Globalization, Urbanization, and the Finnish Real Estate and Construction Cluster