Insights

The bi-annual CTO Forum, co-organised by Technology Industries of Finland, Business Finland and Spinverse, was held on 10 November as a virtual event as most of the events at the moment. The overarching theme was "Leading green and digital growth" . The keynotes and workgroups made the online event alive with interesting discussions and insights of the relevant topics in technology industries. The preliminary results of the recent CTO Survey were also covered in the event. What is more, the nomination period for the CTO of the year 2021 was opened! 

The event was kicked off with the opening words from Pekka Koponen from Spinverse, Nina Kopola from Business Finland and Jaakko Hirvola from Technology Industries from Finland. The keynotes were given by CTOs of the Year 2020, Aki Mäkivirta from Genelec and Jani Vilenius from Sandvik. Aki and Jani discussed in concrete examples about the changes the Covid-19 situation brought to their companies and the message was clear - we need to be able to renew and find new ways to work. 

The workgroups discussed and shared their ideas on the following five thematic groups: 

• Increasing investments – How to drive investments and R&D in Finland
• Driving growth – How to succeed in internationalisation and enhancing exports?
• Building cooperation – How to build and operate R&D&I ecosystems?
• Boosting business – How to utilise innovation and investment funding?
• Building competences – How to attract new and needed talents?   

At the end of the event, the nominations of the CTO of the Year 2021 was officially launched open. Do you already have a candidate in mind? If yes, read below how to nominate your candidate! 

Have you worked with an exceptional CTO in Finland? We are now looking for nominations to find the CTO who makes the biggest impact in bringing the best out of their team, is an inspiring leader and adds significant value to the company through technology.

Who is eligible? Anyone who is responsible for their company’s technology in Finland. The selection criteria are very comprehensive and are specified by three categories: the person, the CTO's company and societal impact. The nomination period is open until 8th January 2021.

This year, the jury consisting of leading Finnish technology influencers chose Sandvik’s Director for Research and Technology Development Jani Vilenius and Genelec R&D Director Aki Mäkivirta as the winners in the CTOs of the Year 2020 Awards. The award went to those technology leaders who had contributed to their company’s growth or innovativeness over the past year with their impressive work.

Have you worked with an exceptional CTO in Finland? We are now looking for nominations to find the CTO who makes the biggest impact in bringing the best out of their team, is an inspiring leader and adds significant value to the company through technology.

Who is eligible? Anyone who is responsible for their company’s technology in Finland. The selection criteria are very comprehensive and are specified by three categories: the person, the CTO's company and societal impact. The nomination period is open until the 31th of January 2019.

The 2019 CTO Survey revealed that the way Finnish companies utilise data is changing.

Finland’s EU presidency begins on 1 July 2019. During that time, major changes to innovation funding were achieved. This time around, our presidency oversees the preparations for Horizon 2020 with unprecedented levels of funding. EU funding can be leveraged to further industry’s innovations and commercialising them, and access to EU funding is easier than ever. It is time for Finnish industry to make the most out of their innovations. EU innovation funding only has impact only if it has the industry to lead the way.

2019 CTO's of the year have been chosen by a jury of Finnish technology influencers.

The title of the CTO of the Year is awarded annually to highlight the importance of Chief Technology Officers to the future competitiveness of Finnish industries. Promote the CTO who has made an impact not only to his or her company, but also in Finland and globally. You can nominate anyone who is responsible for their company's technology in Finland. The nomination period is open until the 21th of January 2019.

This year the CTO Survey mapped which Radical technologies are the most interesting and in which areas Finland could have a competitive edge. The CTO’s were also asked which areas state and other research institutes should allocate their research and development investments.

The bi-annual CTO Forum spring event was held on 19th of March at restaurant Palace. This time the focus of the event was on Finland 4.0 - how to increase the R&D expenditure of GDP to 4.0%.

Vesa Varjonen, Vice President of Research and Technology at Planmeca and Matti Heikkilä, CTO of MetGen have been chosen as CTOs of the Year 2018.  The jury consisting of leading Finnish technology influencers emphasized the significant role of the awarded CTOS on renewal of the industry. The CTO of the Year Awards are given by Spinverse together with Technology Industries of Finland and Business Finland to highlight the importance of Chief Technology Officers work on the future competitiveness of Finnish industries.