The India Programme initiated by Sitra aims to enhance Finnish understanding and cooperation with India, acknowledging India's rapid economic growth and cultural significance. It focuses on building expert exchanges, facilitating collaboration in sectors where Finnish enterprises excel, such as telecommunications and healthcare. The program seeks to encourage mutual benefits through shared knowledge and opportunities between Finland and India.

1. India Programme
Finland to join the India phenomenon
With its rapid economic growth and social change,
India is outstripping most other countries.
Although the increasing global significance of
India is understood, its economy, culture and
society are still relatively unknown in Finland
or the image of them is quite one-dimensional.
There is also relatively little cooperation between
India and Finland. Sitra’s India Programme has
set out to remedy this situation.
India is in many respects in the focus of the
recent globalisation trend. In particular, an
increasing amount of IT services and skilled
planning is being moved from the West to India.
India’s advantage is in its ability to offer expertise
and skilled labour at a lower cost.
For India, globalisation is a two-way street.
The rapid economic growth of the country is also
based on Indian enterprises, the most successful
of which are expanding abroad. Moreover, India is
intent on raising its research activities to a world-
class level. Indian students and researchers are
showing great interest in internationalisation.
The goal of being the initiator rather than the
applicator is common to Indian players in all fields.
Although India is still facing substantial prob-
lems and poverty, it is by many indicators a sig-
nificant international economic power and market
area. India shows growth in many of the areas in
which Finnish enterprises also excel. Examples
include telecommunications, the environment,
health care and the building of infrastructure.
Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund | Itämerentori 2, P.O. Box 160, FIN-00181 Helsinki, Finland
Phone +358 9 618 991, fax +358 9 645 072 | www.sitra.fi | sitra@sitra.fi

2. India Programme
Better India know-how India Programme publications
The main goal at the first stage of the India Programme was • The India Phenomenon and Finland: Background study for Sitra’s
to produce new knowledge on the India phenomenon. The pro- India programme.
gramme published several reports on contemporary India and Sitra Reports 53, 2005
the opportunities it presents. • Suomi-Intia -osaajavaihto. (Finland-India expert exchange)
Through the reports, representing a variety of perspectives, Sitra Reports 54, 2005
Sitra is able to help Finnish enterprises and organisations inter- • The impact of offshoring on value creation in Finnish venture-
ested in India to succeed in collaboration with Indian partners. backed software companies, 2005
Another programme goal is to help people understand the changes • Prospects for India-Finland Economic Cooperation:
occurring in the global economy, and to promote a globalisation Areas for Business Opportunities from an Indian Perspective.
that is based on best practises and reciprocity. The latter broader Sitra Reports 62, 2006
objective is in line with Finnish interests: the best collaboration • Opportunities for Finnish Environmental Technology in India.
and business are based on mutual benefits to Finns and Indians. Sitra Reports 63, 2006
• The New Geography of Innovation: India, Finland, Science and
Promoting expert exchange Technology
During 2007, the India Programme has focused on building up Sitra Reports 71, 2006
expert exchange between India and Finland. Closer cooperation • Kiven ja Raudan Intia. Vienti
and expert exchange with Indian partners will further Finland’s (The India of Stone and Iron. Exports.)
target of being among the leading countries in innovation activities. Sitra series 276, 2006
Expert exchange has elicited widespread interest in Finland, • Nokian Intia. Teleala
but so far the activities in this area have been lacking and there (Nokia and India. The telecommunications sector.)
is a clear demand for improved coordination, a more prominent Sitra series 277, 2006
presence in India and international cooperation. These tasks are • Vaateostajan Intia. Tuonti
in line with the goals of the India Programme. The aim is now (The India of Clothing Buyers. Imports.)
to increase the numbers of students, teachers, researchers and Sitra series 278, 2006
experts involved in exchange between India and Finland. • It-alan Intia. Kaukohankinta (The India of IT. Outsourcing.)
Sitra series 279, 2006
• Higher Education and Research in India: An Overview
Sitra Reports 74, 2007
The India Programme partners include
Ministry of Education, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Academy of
Finland, Tekes, VTT, CIMO, Finpro, Demos (UK), Nordic Centre in
India, NCAER (India)
Further information
Vesa-Matti Lahti, Research Manager, Director of India Programme
vesa-matti.lahti@sitra.fi
Sitra is an We are building the The programme areas are
independent public successful Finland Health Care, Food and
foundation under of the future by making a Nutrition, Environment,
the supervision of social impact, networking Russia and India.
the Finnish Parliament. and innovating.
9/2007