The Government wants to steer Finland towards a competitive information society with a human touch.
The Government outlined the aims of the national information society policy for 2007–2011 in a resolution adopted on 21 June. It also appointed an Advisory Board for the Ubiquitous Information Society.
The main focus of the information society policy will be on the practical implementation of the strategy prepared during the term of office of the previous government.
The work will involve exploring electronic voting, introducing electronic identification and invoicing in public services, and carrying out a pilot project for computer-aided teaching. Practical applications for public health services will also be among the spearhead projects.
The implementation of the government resolution will be steered by the Advisory Board for the Ubiquitous Information Society chaired by Ms Suvi L i n d é n, Minister of Communications. The Advisory Board members, which number around 40, also include four other ministers: Ms Tuija Brax, Minister of Justice, Ms Mari Kiviniemi, Minister of Public Administration and Local Government, Ms Paula Risikko, Minister of Health and Social Services, and Mr Stefan Wallin, Minister of Culture and Sport.
“Information society policy is included in all societal activity, and the Government is now heavily investing in the development of the information society. Success will require close cooperation between the public and private sectors, organisations and citizens. We need to genuinely promote the ubiquitous information society and take concrete steps”, says Minister L i n d é n.
Work in several Advisory Board formations
Information society projects will be implemented and coordinated in several Advisory Board formations.
The work will centre around five key areas:
- Developing public electronic services and the ICT environment, coordinated by the Ministry of Finance;
- Utilising the benefits of ICT in education, research and culture, coordinated by the Ministry of Education;
- Developing the information society infrastructure and promoting the communications and media services and business, coordinated by the Ministry of Transport and Communications;
- Promoting innovation and electronic services in social and health care, coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health; and
- Information society affairs related to innovation, competitiveness and productivity, coordinated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
In connection with the Advisory Board a separate group that has Ministers Stefan Wallin (chair), Suvi Lindén and Tuija Brax as well as Mr Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Trade and Industry, as members will meet to discuss intellectual property rights and copyright.
Groups will also be established for matters relating to information security and to electronic identification. The Advisory Board will examine the use of ICT in teaching and studying, too.
Ms Kristiina Pietikäinen, Deputy Director-General, will act as general secretary, and Ms Päivi Antikainen, Ministerial Adviser, as vice general secretary of the Advisory Board. They are both from the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Further information:
Mr Aleksi Randell, Special Adviser to the Minister of Communications, tel. +358 9 160 28324, +358 400 500 822
Ms Liisa Ero, Director-General, tel. +358 9 160 28461, +358 50 555 0072
