STRATEGY OF THE FINNISH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Mission

The Finnish Institute of International Affairs is an independent public research body operating in conjunction with the Finnish Parliament. It produces high-quality research in areas where detailed information is required for political decision-making and innovative models for dealing with international issues and those connected with the European Union. The work carried out by the Institute contributes to a more in-depth debate on the issues and is also of use to the research community.

The aim of the Institute is to combine academic and policy-relevant research, with the emphasis on the latter. The Institute can draw on solid analytical expertise in selected research areas that are particularly relevant to Finland, the European Union and international organizations.

The Institute defines its own research tasks and the means by which they are carried out as part of the research programmes or otherwise. The research work at the Institute must serve the public interest at large and be of a high standard in terms of research ethics.

The usefulness and credibility of the Institute derive from the high quality of its work and its ability to generate added value for the target groups. In order for the research to have a broad impact, it must meet all international quality criteria and the results must be communicated efficiently to different target groups.

Vision

By 2015, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs will be Finland’s leading multi-sectoral centre for policy research in its own field. The Institute will have in-depth expertise in special sectors covering international politics and the European Union, and networking will serve to significantly strengthen its research capacity. The results of the research carried out at the Institute will be widely applied and its operating models will have the flexibility to meet the main needs of Parliament and Finland’s political leadership in the sector of analytical research.

The Institute will be engaged in constructive and innovative cooperation with political decision-makers, different authorities and other influential partners and will assist them by supplying high-quality analyses, scenarios, new information and innovative models for solutions. The innovative and critical thinking at the Institute is based on high-quality research on topical matters.

The Institute will strengthen its expertise and consolidate its external funding base by concluding research agreements and by being actively involved in researcher visits.

In order to remain successful, the Institute must be able to analyze weak signals and anticipate change trends and factors that will influence international relations. The Institute will, when necessary, adjust its research agenda on this basis.

Main operating prerequisites

The research work carried out by the Institute as part of its programmes is divided into shorter- and longer-term projects. An approach based on a combination of different projects gives the Institute a great degree of stability and flexibility as it strengthens its expertise base. When recruiting research staff, the Institute takes into account the requirements of academic research and the needs of policy-relevant research.

The capacity to launch special projects, and assign resources accordingly, allows the Institute to react to unforeseen events. The Institute also organizes targeted events and convenes meetings of expert groups. The above measures are, when required, carried out as joint projects involving several programmes or outside actors.

The Institute deepens its own expertise base by networking and by focusing its resources on a small number of key research areas. In areas where the Institute does not have adequate competence of its own, research is strengthened through extensive cooperation and strategic partnerships. Strengthening the Institute’s resources is crucially dependent on acquiring outside funding.

The Institute establishes strategic partnerships, which results in concrete cooperation. Academic networking helps the Institute’s research staff to determine what type of information is already being produced in Finland and elsewhere. Networking with political decision-makers and government officials produces information on the type of expertise required to support debate, decision-making and preparatory work.

Strategic partnerships are built with leading research establishments in Finland and internationally. This helps to generate added research value and enables the Institute to participate in research-funding projects outside Finland. The Institute will also make use of the competence of its Scientific Advisory Board in research and in the development of strategic international contacts.

The availability of information and material is crucial to the success of research work. The Institute ensures that its library and other information acquisition bodies have the necessary resources to carry out their tasks.

The communication policy of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs is based on the careful selection of target groups and the processing of information so that these groups can make the best use of it. Publishing, the planning of events and the languages used are in accordance with the needs of the audiences. The target groups in Finland and abroad vary from small groups of experts to the public at large.

The research results are circulated as widely as possible and all research carried out by the Institute is public. Communication channels include seminars, lectures, reports and analytical texts appearing in the media, in international publications, on the Institute’s own website and in the Finnish Journal of Foreign Affairs. The Institute’s research staff are also encouraged to submit their high-quality work and articles for publication in leading domestic and foreign academic series.

The Institute is engaged in an active dialogue with key actors in foreign and security policy decision-making. The Institute is open to cooperation with all parliamentary committees and groups and with non-governmental organizations.

Developing the workplace community

The international work culture of the Institute is characterized by openness, innovation and incentives. Good management and supervisory work enable everybody to carry out their work successfully. The Institute values cooperation, creativity and high performance. At the same time, best practices are cultivated to strike a flexible balance between the expectations inherent in a multicultural workplace community and the principles observed in state administration.

Expertise and networks will be developed with a view to making the Institute an attractive research community for visiting scholars, providing them with the necessary resources, an atmosphere conducive to productive work, and supportive colleagues. By the same token, the Institute also encourages its own personnel to enhance their professional skills and to visit interesting research communities outside Finland.