Projects
Future-proofing Finland’s Strategic Competitiveness and Innovation System for a New Geopolitical Era is a project that focuses on researching the current geopolitical situation from the perspective of the Finnish innovation environment. The aim of the project is to help future-proof the Finnish Operating and Innovation Environment (FOIE) through geopolitical scenario analysis, impact analysis, and preparation of a policy playbook. The multi-disciplinary project offers a new and proactive approach towards future-proofing competitiveness and innovation. The project is carried out together with VTT...
The research project “Geoeconomic risks and their impact on the security of supply of Finland and the European Union” explores the process of de-risking critical economic links. The project maps out strategies for Finland to mitigate such risks, facilitates dialogue between public and private sectors, and provides recommendations for Europe-wide actions. The project is jointly funded by the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA).Finland’s politics concerning security of supply and preparedness have leaned on the effectiveness of...
The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) is a partner in the research consortium “InvigoratEU – Invigorating Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy for a Resilient Europe” coordinated by the Universität Duisburg-Essen. The project is funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. (Grant Agreement No. 101132124)The consortium will examine 1. how to reform the EU’s enlargement strategy in a new geopolitical phase; 2. how to respond to other actors’ geopolitical ambitions in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans; and 3. how...
The research project "China's disruptive technologies and international security" explores China's technological and great power competitive strategy and its capabilities in the field of disruptive technologies. Disruptive technologies refer to technological innovations that alter the entire market logic and possibly the existing social or international dynamics. The project also analyses the impact of future developments on the security and operating environment of Europe and Finland. The project is funded by the National Defence Scientific Advisory Board (MATINE).Technological capability is a key...
The 2IMATCH consortium explores the potential of green electrification in creating a more resilient energy system in a world disrupted by man-made disasters and global confrontation. Green electrification refers to the transition to a climate-neutral system that is primarily powered by renewable sources, with electricity as the main energy carrier.The transition presents both resilience benefits and new vulnerabilities. The main challenge is matching the infrastructure development with institutional adaptation, which is necessary to reap the benefits while restraining the vulnerabilities. An...
The 'Power politics by economic means: The geoeconomics research initiative' (GERI) project develops a pioneering approach to measure and map out countries’ strategic use of economic power. States increasingly practice power politics by economic means, as demonstrated by the unprecedented economic sanctions against Russia and the Sino-Western trade and technology contestations. The weaponization of economic interdependencies has emerged as a central means of competition among great powers. While there has been a growing number of references to geoeconomic power in recent policy analyses and...
The research project “Technical Standards as Critically Intangible Capital for Finnish Companies in an Era of Strategic Competition” (StandardEdge) maps and analyses the current regulation of technical standards and intellectual property (IP) in the AI and IoT fields. The project also engages business leaders and policymakers to interactively anticipate and mold the future of technical standards through innovative use of a Delphi backcasting approach. Ninety-five percent of the project is funded by Business Finland.Technical standards are a critical driver for innovation, economic growth, and...
The research project "Climate change and Finland’s security of supply" studies how climate change and its mitigation affect Finland’s security of supply, and how to prepare for these effects. The project is conducted in entirety by FIIA. The primary funding comes from the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA), which also participates in the steering of the project.Climate change threatens the stability and safety of societies across the world. It causes indirect chains of effects, for example by endangering livelihoods, increasing forced displacement and aggravating conflicts. At the same...
The project “Global Politics of the Energy Transition” investigates the fundamental transformations that are taking place in energy systems, with a focus on their significance in terms of security, climate change, economy and great power relations.Spurred by the effects of climate change, the war in Ukraine and growing geopolitical competition, policies supporting the energy transition have gained both importance and speed. “Green Deals” and climate neutrality targets have been put forward in numerous countries, including all advanced economies, even if timeframes and strategies vary...
The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) is a partner in a research consortium "REMIT - Reignite Multilateralism via Technology" led by Maastricht University. The four-year project started in March 2023, and is funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 101094228). REMIT brings together researchers from partner institutions in nine European countries: Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania and the United Kingdom.The consortium was formed in response to the European Commission’s call for...
FIIA’s research project "NATO in the North, the North in NATO" examines NATO's evolving role in Finland's immediate security environment, Northern Europe. The project is funded by the Ministry of Defence of Finland and Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. It is a continuation of FIIA’s earlier research project "Finland's evolving role in Euro-Atlantic security".With the deteriorating security situation caused by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Northern Europe has become one of the strategic priorities for Euro-Atlantic security. Finland's accession to NATO and Sweden's future...
FIIA is partnering with the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) in the project “Water Cooperation and Peace – Finnish Water Way”, funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and Ministry of the Environment. The project started in 2021 and will continue until 2024.Water diplomacy refers to the prevention and resolution of political tensions over water and its use through methods drawing from both water expertise and diplomatic tools. In an era marked by climate change, geopolitical tension, economic crisis and various other global developments,...
Strategic shifts in great power politics and steps in European defence integration have led since the mid-2010s to a notable increase of events and activities aimed at the development of a joint strategic culture. The research project "Transforming strategic cultures in contemporary Europe: Towards an understanding of reasons, intermediaries and processes of change" (STRAX), analyses change in strategic cultures in Europe by combining in innovative ways academic research, policy-analysis and professional military education and pedagogy.The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) conducts...
