Digitalisation – Recovery and Resilience Plan
The Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland strongly supports digitalisation and the data economy in public and private service provision, enabling improved productivity and cost-effectiveness. Under the Programme, secure, everyday services will be made available to everyone throughout the country.
Goals
The goals are to create a competitive operating environment for businesses and to turn Finland into a world-class producer of data-driven services for digital societies, together with secure solutions for these services. This includes solutions that promote digitalisation in the transport sector. The Programme will strengthen the digital transition in society through measures that boost digital, technological and data investments.
Funding
EUR 190 million at current prices
Project examples
‘Digitalisation’ projects focus on areas such as:
- rail transport digitalisation (Digirail project)
- high-speed internet connections throughout the country
- further investments in leading edge technologies: 6G networks, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and microelectronics
- real-time economy: digital, real-time business processes, e.g. saving receipts and invoices in a standard, machine-readable format
- investments in research on cyber and information security.
What practical benefits will there be?
Digitalisation in rail transport will enable more efficient use of rail capacity, and will reduce disruption and improve safety. The project will make rail travel more attractive and improve flexibility in goods transport – while also supporting climate objectives.
With fast internet access throughout the country, it will be possible to work conveniently in the workplace, at home or even at a summer cottage or other secondary residence. Self-employment and studying on a location-independent basis will also be possible. The Programme will bring connections to areas not served by the market.
Businesses especially will benefit from the development of new leading edge technologies, such as 6G and artificial intelligence. The aim is to create expertise in these sectors in Finland, which will generate jobs and open up study opportunities. With top-level expertise, Finland will be able to compete successfully in the global marketplace.
Saving receipts and invoices in electronic form online in a standard, machine-readable format is something that should be possible in the future. This means customers will be able to find their receipts in a single location and business operators can conveniently get an overall picture of their financial situation. This will allow real-time taxation, which means that businesses would no longer get unexpected tax refunds or requests for back taxes. This will also reduce the grey economy, as the tax authorities will have real-time information on purchases.
At the same time as developments in technology enable new digital practices and services, it is also important to ensure that these operate smoothly and have no cyber or information security problems. It is also important to ensure that people know how to use the digital services available in society. Cybersecurity research will help the smooth functioning of a digital society and help with raising people’s level of expertise.
