4 minutes with… Kaisu Annala, Strategic Director, Cleantech Ministry of Employment and the Economy of Finland

Tell us about your company and it’s role in the Advanced Bioeconomy.

The new government of Finland has included in its strategy a total chapter for bioeconomy and clean solutions (=cleantech). The targets has been set for 10-year and governmental 4-year timeframes.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

I lead cleantech in Finland. It includes implementing the Cleantech strategy. The strategic target is to double the cleantech turnover in Finland by 2020 – it means business for 25 billion extra euros, which means about 5000 extra euros calculated for each Finn. Don’t forget Global Cleantech Summit 2015 in September in Helsinki!

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?  

Combatting the climate change and pollution by sustainable industrial efforts

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the Advanced Bioeconomy, what would you change? 

Financing the demonstrations

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?  

Climate change

Where are you from? 

Finland

What was your undergraduate major in college, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway?

Wood chemistry in Aalto University in Helsinki

Who do you consider your mentors – could be personal, business, or just people you have read about and admire. What have you learned from them?

I learned from the ex mother-in-law, that you can learn something from every person. I still try to follow that rule. As a matter of fact, it was the thing I learnt from her 🙂

What are 3 books you’d want to have with you, if you were stranded on a desert island

“Summer book”, A guide for scouts, a map book

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?

Islands of the Southern Seas