The goal of STRAIND is to renew Finnish innovation and regional industrial policy to better address the volatile operational environment we face today. Geopolitical and economic shifts, climate change, and rapid technological development are placing new demands on effective industrial policy. Finland requires new tools for innovation and growth policy to navigate and thrive in this evolving landscape. STRAIND contributes to this by examining industrial policy through the lens of strategic regional development. It supports regional RDI (research, development, and innovation) ecosystems and other stakeholders in leveraging their strengths and responding to changes in the supranational operating environment. Understanding the potential of place-based innovation, as well as the spatial dimensions of threats and opportunities, is essential for strategic industrial renewal. Consequently, STRAIND will develop multi- and interdisciplinary research and policy tools to support foresight-driven, regionally strategic industrial renewal in Finland.
STRAIND is a joint project between the University of Vaasa and the University of Turku. The total budget for the Business Finland funded project is 498 432€. STRAIND runs from October 2025 until September 2027.
Project implementation
STRAIND consists of six work packages:
- Needs Mapping and Theoretical Framework Development (WP lead Kalliomäki)
This work package further specifies and develops the identified project needs, such as stakeholder needs and business drivers. These are expanded through dialogue with key stakeholders via data collection and outreach activities. In addition, this WP will carry out multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary theory development in collaboration with international research partners, including Lund University, TU Wien, and Temple University.
- Case Study Analysis: Learning from Regional Industrial Policy Transformations (WP lead Mäenpää)
Work Package 2 focuses on learning from various case studies through a multilevel lens, enabling comparative approaches across different geographical contexts and actor groups. The insights gained will inform the development of new industrial policy for Finland.
- Developing Foresight-oriented Methodology and Data-Driven Policy Tools (WP lead Kaivo-oja)
Work Package 3 focuses on hybrid foresight methods designed to support innovation and industrial policy decision-making. It employs established methodologies, such as the Delphi method, to identify research, development, and innovation (RDI) priorities and to formulate effective recommendations for strengthening regional and national clusters.
- Conclusions and Synthesis of the Research Results (WP lead Kalliomäki)
Work Package 4 synthesizes key lessons for new industrial policy by integrating the empirical and theoretical approaches. This includes an international review of the volatile operational environment, analysis of international case studies, and the development and application of relevant theories.
- WP5: Co-creation of Policy messages and Impact Pathways in a Systemic and Volatile Operational Environment (WP lead Kalliokoski)
In Work Package 5, the goal is to utilize the Participatory Systems Mapping (PSM) methodology to co-create, together with stakeholders, a model of the current environment shaping industrial policies. By comprehensively mapping the present situation, we can analyze the factors influencing the system’s operation and generate key insights to support policy development and implementation.
- WP6: Dissemination & Impact (WP lead Kalliomäki)
In addition to scientific publications, STRAIND will produce policy briefs, engage in broad stakeholder collaboration, participate in and organize relevant events, and communicate through the websites and social media channels of the project organizations.
View University of Vaasa’s STRAIND project description page here.