Previous projects: Innovation, technology, and socio-ecological change
Shipping companies need to utilize the wider concept of sustainability in order to communicate a change in the way they are thinking. To achieve this, the shipyard as a system integrator and its subcontracting network have to cover larger part of the value chain with sustainability and transparency. In this project we study the possibilities of enlarging the scope of sustainability from ships operations to the whole life cycle and how this wider approach can be communicated efficiently to the customer.
The European Research Infrastructures in the International Landscape (RISCAPE) is a European Commission-funded H2020 project, focusing on international research infrastructures landscape analyses.
The objective of the RISCAPE is to provide systematic, focused, high quality, comprehensive, consistent and peer-reviewed international landscape analysis report on the position and complementarities of the major European research infrastructures in the international research infrastructure landscape.
The project is funded by European Commission during 2017–2019 and it is co-ordinated by the University of Helsinki.
Finland Futures Research Centre is in charge of conducting the WP6 "Energy RI Landscape analysis". The FFRC is a specialist research facility with extensive knowledge on multidisciplinary studies, particularly in the energy sector. It will bring to the consortium connections and knowledge on the Energy sector RIs in addition to more holistic view of the whole global research infrastructures.
Further information: Jari Kaivo-oja and Mikkel Stein Knudsen
Project website: http://www.riscape.eu
Knudsen, Mikkel Stein – Ferreira-Aulu, Marianna Birmoser – Shabanova-Danielyan, Elizaveta – Wang, Weiqing – Luukkanen, Jyrki & Kaivo-oja, Jari (2022) INTERNATIONAL ENERGY RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES: MAPPING THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPE OF ENERGY RIS (RISCAPE). Based on Finland Futures Research Centre’s contribution to the Horizon 2020 project European Research Infrastructures in the International Landscape (RISCAPE). FFRC eBooks 10/2022, Finland Futures Research Centre, University of Turku, 66 p. ISBN 978-952-249-582-2, ISSN 1797-1322, https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-249-582-2
This study examines the potential of new technologies for strengthening environmental performance and addressing different meanings in information management.
Biodiversity management relies on centralized information systems, and citizens' information is also being mobilized through mobile applications. There are problems with the motivation of nature enthusiasts to produce observations and management of nature knowledge has been criticized for being too technology-driven. Nature information has different meanings for different actors.
The research makes extensive use of qualitative research materials. The research cases focus on databases, mobile applications and social media as tools for collecting and managing nature information.
The research aims not only to produce research information on current topics, but also to bring about interdisciplinary cooperation and societal debate on knowledge of nature and knowledge management.
Further information: Minna Santaoja
EU strategy for smart specialisation
In the face of globalisation, Europe’s regions need to become more competitive and resilient. More than 120 Smart Specialisation Strategies have been implemented across Europe to promote interregional and cross-border partnerships in areas such as industrial modernisation, digitalisation, energy transition and agri-food. By 2020, some 15 000 new products will be brought to the market, creating 140 000 start-ups and 350 000 jobs.
The EU-funded SSST-BD project will develop scientific metrics and knowledge-based management tools to analyse and manage the strategies. The goal is to measure the competitiveness of regional industries and entrepreneurial activities, assess patent values and develop big data foresight tools.
Project is funded by H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility -programme during 1.9.2019-31.8.2021.
Further information: Levan Bzhalava
The objective of the project ”Transition to a Resource Efficient and Climate Neutral Electricity System” (EL-TRAN) is to construct a roadmap for the transition towards a resource efficient and climate neutral electricity system in Finland. The roadmap covers production, transmission, distribution and consumption as well as storage of electricity.
The project aims to recognize different problems related to the transition process, and provides suggestions for potential solutions to the identified problems. The seven work packages deal with problems of the transition process from different perspectives by applying an interdisciplinary approach and methodology.
Finland Futures Research Centre is responsible for a work package titled ”Trends and scenarios”, which supports proactivity of the consortium regarding changes in the trends of electricity supply and demand, electricity market, policy choices relating to the electricity system, new technologies, and integration of the national electricity systems. To serve these objectives, backcasting scenarios will be constructed on alternative development paths towards a resource efficient and climate neutral electricity system.
EL-TRAN is a consortium coordinated by University of Tampere, School of Management. Finland Futures Research Centre is an EL-TRAN partner together with Tampere University of Technology, VTT Energy, University of Eastern Finland, and Tampere University of Applied Sciences.
EL-TRAN is financed during the years 2016–2019 by the Academy of Finland, Council of Strategic Research.
Further information: Jyrki Luukkanen, Jari Kaivo-oja & Jarmo Vehmas