Europe, Governments, Entrepreneurs: Where Should We Start? - (Finnish Prime Minister) Sanna Marin

foreign [Music] my name is Erica I'm CEO of slush and I'm here with a special guest so Sana Marie in the prime minister of Finland thank you so much for coming here today son thank you so much Erica I'm so happy to be here I'm so excited that we have this great event slash in Finland that gives opportunity to new startups and also Founders investors to meet and create new things I'm so excited thanks we're excited as well so um we'll be discussing the concept of strategic autonomy in the European context and also the Royal governments in creating uh environment for Innovation but should we start with sort of a warm-up question um so you you've been in your position for uh three years now as a prime minister and I would guess that the past years haven't looked like exactly you expect that so so how would you describe the past few years for for yourself and for Europe the past few years has been years of Crisis first when I started as a prime minister 2019 in December the covet pandemic came through and and swiped the whole world so it's been filled with crises covet of course touched everyone's life in many different ways we have to put many things in our societies we had to close many things in our societies that we never thought that we would have to do and the situation was very severe and still is the pandemic hasn't gone anywhere and after the pandemic the war came so Europe is now in war something that we didn't want to see but this is the reality what is happening right now and then the energy crisis and now we're looking forward and hopefully not but it might be that there might be economic crisis as well coming up so we have lived through many crises but I think we will still survive these crisis and be more stronger afterwards yes um that is definitely true um you've actually um recently said that the past few years have proven Europe's ability to act on crises but also they revealed some vulnerable vulnerabilities so should we set up the scene with this so what do you specifically meet with the Strategic autonomy of Europe and why is that an important topic to discuss right now well as you mentioned these big challenges that we have faced has shown us our vulnerabilities and I think this should be a learning point for Europe and for the whole world that we should build our own strategic autonomy and our own capabilities when it comes to critical issues when the pandemic hit us we saw how dependent we were on medicine on or and also a medical applies from for example the imports from Asian countries especially China so we were too vulnerable and at the beginning that really caused us a lot of trouble we didn't have for example mask or or other gear that we needed for our healthcare workers and for the people to keep them safe this was a great vulnerability and we had to put out put up our own production very fast and actually we worked in Finland very closely with with companies to do this and of course the same situation was in all of Europe so that showed that one vulnerability and now we are in war in in Europe and we are seeing how heavily this hits not only Ukraine but all of Europe because of energy we are too dependent on Russian energy and this is causing us a lot of trouble we should cut these uh dependencies once and for all but of course it takes time it doesn't happen overnight but this shows us a great vulnerability in Europe and this of course has a big economic impact as well we have to put a lot of money to new Investments especially the Renewables and other energy sources right now that we can make sure that we will cope this winter and the upcoming Winters but it cost us a lot of money and we weren't prepared of doing this so fast and also one vulnerability is defense capabilities we cannot be dependent as European Union uh the help that we are now receiving and thank God the United States are so involved in the situation in Ukraine but we cannot be so dependent on the help of others United States or or other countries we should build up our own capabilities as well and be better Partners to the states uh in in NATO and otherwise and also we are seeing how the energy crisis in for influence or impacts food Security in the world so there's another vulnerability there so if I would coll collect all the vulnerabilities that we have seen during the crisis there are the medicines the medical supplies vaccines as well then energy food clean water these are vulnerabilities that we have to make sure that we can in every situation make sure that our our citizens have the capabilities to access these these goods and unnecessary Necessities that we all need and then the defense capabilities that we need but another one and this is a crucial one then this is something that I really want to discuss today it's about the future and actually it's about today and it's digital capabilities the technological capabilities that we are depending right now our societies are digitalized and will be even more so in the future our societies will be totally digitalized and if we don't build these capabilities beforehand right now and make sure that that we are investing in new technologies in digital Solutions in Europe with together with the public sector and the private sector then we will create vulnerability that will be a crucial one in the future if there would be a crisis concerning this so this is something that I want to highlight the know-how the knowledge the Techno technological capabilities that we should have and make sure that we are not making the same mistakes with technology that we have made with energy that what we have made with medical supplies and that we have made in many other areas yes I think we are in a right place to discuss especially the technology part um right here um so as you said you want to focus in the future and I guess that the audience and I as well always share an optimistic view of the future of Europe so what should we focus on next to make sure that we don't make the same mistakes on the front of a technology well I think the starting point should be that we should be very open we should be very open and honest do you know this what are the mistakes that we have made if we cannot make this this knowledge of ourselves that that where we we have made mistakes then we cannot learn so first of all we have to look at the world we have to look at the situation and and say we made mistake in energy we are too dependent on Russia this is causing us a lot of problems and it's causing us a lot of money as well so that was a mistake and now we have to learn from it now we have to do something else now we have to build our own capabilities when it comes to energy production and also make sure that we have all the grid their story Technologies uh and and that we are working together as European countries we are grading a new energy Market in Europe so we have to look about the situation very honestly and say we made mistakes now we will learn from it and now we'll do something else now we will fix the situation and learn from it so this is the starting point but I really worry right now that that's not every European country is on the same page with this I understand that especially to politicians it might be a bit hard and also everybody else it might be a bit hard to say I made a mistake I thought the situation differently and for example when we look at the the energy situation uh in in about Russia and the connections that Europe and Russia has about energy there was a logic there there was a logic why we built this close and tight connections with Russia Germany and others as well Finland as well we thought that creating this very close connections economic connections energy connections we would prevent War it would cost too much so there wouldn't be a war there wouldn't be conflicts because our Tides would be so tight in economically and and also otherwise that it would cost too much so it was Act of Peace but we didn't notice that the Russian logic don't think like we do they don't think like we do and this is something that we should learn our polish friends our Baltic friends they were right they thought and said all along that Russia thinks differently their logic is different than ours and we should have listened to them but we have to look the situation now and say we were wrong our logic was different it was logical but it was different than the Russian ones and we should learn about the situation and I really worry about this technology part because I fear that we are making the same mistakes with technology with digital Solutions also with all the natural materials that we need to build these Technologies and I want to make sure and discuss in the European Union and with our Democratic partners that we should cooperate more we should make sure that we have this trading routes and and all the critical issues sold within the Democratic countries cooperation with with Democratic countries and not be dependent on authoritarian regimes that's logic is very different from us yeah could you give us an example of a mistake we're about to make uh make in the in terms of our digital Solutions about technological solutions well we are seeing already we have vulnerabilities here let's be honest we have vulnerabilities already for example when we're looking about chips or semiconductors we are too dependent we are too dependent on Taiwan we are too dependent on on specific sources so we have to versifile we have to first of all these sources we have to make sure that that different uh Democratic countries companies are building their capabilities and that they are investing in Europe that they are investing in United States that they are investing in different Democratic countries also in Asia Japan South Korea India then where we're looking at the in the Pacific Australia New Zealand we have Partners we have the countries and we have the capabilities but we have to make sure that we are now investing and we have to invest right now because these capabilities aren't built overnight it takes time if we want to build for example or production facilities for semiconductors I think that takes about 10 years to be top-notch so it doesn't happen overnight and we have to make sure that we are investing now in energy and we are investing now in new technologies we are investing now in production we are investing now in New Innovations because there are also new technologies coming up such as or they're not even new now but but they are of course been building a building right now ai or or Quantum mechanic mechanics Quantum Technologies these are the new new ones and we have to make sure that we have the capabilities and the know-how and the knowledge to build these Technologies and not be dependent on China not be dependent on on other countries that have different logic than Democratic countries have yeah and it doesn't mean I don't mean that we should cut all trade or that we should cut all ties economic ties I don't mean that I only mean that we have to make sure that we're we're not vulnerable that we are not that no authoritarian country is good uh good blackmail us like Russia is doing now with energy we shouldn't put ourselves in that position where authoritarian regimes could pluck mail Democratic countries by saying that okay then we will make sure that you won't get any semiconductors or chips or or any other crucial materials that you need for your economies to work we shouldn't put ourselves in that position and that's why it's so important right now to discuss about the European strategic autonomy and also the vulnerabilities and also what we should learn from the crisis that we have faced and make sure that we are smarter in the future and that we have this capabilities to face crises yeah um the audience seems to agree yeah um so you mentioned uh collaboration on the EU level earlier uh to make make all this happen but I think we often run to the uh same challenge so you you is a complex entity 27 member states so how do we ensure that we get all of the member states um on the same page to work together well this is the million dollar question how can we make sure that that we as European countries that are different we have different cultures we have different backgrounds we have different languages how can we make sure that we are on the same page that we are noticing the situation our and how severe it is and making sure that we will make the right decisions right now for the future this is the million dollar question but actually we have already started the discussion just last European Council we have very good strategic discussion about China and the vulnerabilities that we have we are not I will be honest we are not on the same page yet we are not on the same page yet but I was positively surprised how many countries majority of the countries saw these vulnerabilities and said that we should make sure that we won't put ourselves in the same position that we have put ourselves with Russia so I see hope there I see hope there but we have to continue discussing about the topic and at the same time make sure that we will work together it doesn't mean that we would cut economic ties with for example China or some other country right now of course with Russia we should cut all economic economic ties right now and make sure that they will lose the war and we should get those those troops out of Ukraine as fast as possible because it's also causing us so much in Ukraine human lives but in elsewhere it will it's costing us a lot of money but it doesn't mean that we would cut all economic ties for example with China but we have to make sure that we are investing we are investing right now in new technologies in digital all Solutions in green transition that we will put our money where our mouth is we are discussing about digital transformation we are discussing about green transformation we are discussing these important issues but we have to make sure but that we are also making the work that we are also making the smart Investments that will help us in the future and we need cooperation we need cooperation because it's only smart it's only smart to cooperate to work together for example Finland we have a top-notch top Edge Technologies concerning AI or sixth year or 5G Technologies we have Nokia for example we are we have been building our own quantum computer and and we have great Technologies and great know-how and great knowledge but we as a small country of of only over 5 million people we are using this much money so so little because we are a small country and Germany for example is is using this much money or you don't see it on the on the there I will show it like this dates this much money in Finland this Germany this but they are not producing I would say as Finnish prime minister they are not producing as good quality technologies that Finland is so we should use those resources together with our minds together and make sure that together we would create this high high tech solutions for all the European countries and for all the Democratic countries and we should work with the United States as well and other Democratic Partners to make sure that we will win the race when it comes to new technologies and let's be frank there is a race there is a competition there is a geopolitical uh issue there there is a race between for example China and Democratic countries there is a race between China and United States and we have to make sure that we are winning yes definitely yes um so uh to multi uh race uh we wind race we need to a environment that allows Innovation so let's move on to the role of governments in creating uh that uh environment so um I'd like to ask from the perspective of Finland uh that what should we do to create an optimal environment for Innovation and also how's that visible in your government's policies right now well actually this is one of the key issues that we are focusing on and I'm very proud to say that we have a parliamentary and agreement to raise our um research development and Innovation funding up to four percent of our GDP by 2030 and that is very very inspiring and also very ambitious Target for Finland I I don't think that there are many countries in the world that are using four percent of GDP to earn the uh or an innovation so this is a great Target and we have a parliamentarian agreement so not only the government but also the opposition shares this goal and that means that we have the site the future also for the companies also for the private sector to invest as well because we cannot make this ourselves the government or the states cannot make this ourselves we need partnership we need the private sector we need the companies we need the best businesses we need we need all the key players in the society the work on this Target and we have worked together also with the private sector and actually two-thirds of the money are coming from the private sector and this is why it's so important that we have this broad political um understanding parliamentary and understanding about the goal so that the private sector and the companies can rely that this doesn't shift or change when the government changes when we have elections so I think this is one of the things that I'm very proud of that we have this understanding and that we have a clear Target Clear goal and if European countries would use four percent of our gdps to research development and Innovation the European situation would look very different than we would win the race yeah definitely and I also think that uh talking from the perspective a startups we also need dialogue between regulators and the startup ecosystem as those both function fundamentally differently so what do you think how successful are we in that dialogue in Finland and how could we improve well I think we could always do better I think we have because Finland is a small country so all the key players know each other that's that's a strength that we have we we can gather around in in the same room and actually when I go outside and and be in the public library or in the street or jogging or go to the supermarket or whatever people are always so happy that we live in a country where you can see the prime minister in a public library like everybody else so we are a small country and we are very down to earth and you can meet the politicians you can meet the CEOs of companies and you can meet all the key players in the society in ordinary atmospheres so so we have a good ground for cooperation for discussing different matters to know each others and I think this is a great strength for Finland and also other Nordic countries but we could do more we should do more and I'm so happy about Schlage as an event because this is one platform that enables and gives the startups that are source of innovation you are great eating new things that's amazing so so this is one platform where we can meet where we can discuss where we can create new ideas new Innovations I'm sure that there are many startups here that we'll meet and actually create something together you have your own ideas already you have your own products already you have your own apps already but when you meet when you discuss you can create something new something bigger something more interesting so I think that when we discuss together when we meet when we cooperate that always creates possibilities for new innovation and for new amazing things definitely um I think we have time for fun one final question so let's fast forward 10 years um what's your vision for the Finnish and European startup ecosystem how does it look like and what's its role in Checker system well I think I should ask you the question from from what is your vision for the startups I would say my vision for the whole society is that that Finland has created itself we are we are still a welfare state but we are a welfare state that is um green that is digital that is on the edge of new technologies that has a lot of possibilities that is a success story this is what I want to see as a society and we need the startups also to make this happen we need the new Innovations we need the new new ideas we need new things in our societies to make sure that we will that we will not only manage and survive but that we would Thrive and that we would succeed as well and I want to see uh a society where every child can become anything and in a society that is green that is sustainable also from the climate and environmental perspective and I think this is also a key issue when we look at our competiveness I think the countries that will make this transformation and change earlier will be the ones that will have the best company additiveness also in the world yes that is definitely so so thank you son this has been a really really uh interesting conversation uh and until once more thank you for joining us today uh thank the audience for joining uh to hear us today uh and hope you have a good day thank you so much Erica and thank you that you are here it's so nice to see you [Music]

Channel: Slush

Views: 74,697

Keywords: Helsinki, Finland, Startup, Pitching, Scaleup, Technology, Entrepreneur, VC, Investor, Tech, Festival, Event, Conference, Nordics, Scandinavia, Europe, Slush 2019, Venture Capital, Innovation, Growth, Business

Id: B1eYfZLFe8Y

Length: 24min 41sec (1481 seconds)

Published: Tue Nov 22 2022