Ilona Lundström to continue as Director General

Ilona Lundström will continue as Director General of the Innovations and Enterprise Financing Department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment from 1 August 2021 to 31 July 2026. The Government decided on the appointment on 3 June 2021. 

Lundström, who holds a Doctorate in Administrative Sciences, has served in the position since 2016. Before that, she worked at Tekes where she was Executive Director in 2014–2016 and Director in 2007–2014. She was previously employed by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities as Specialist in public procurement in 2005–2007 and as Researcher in 2002–2005. 

The Innovations and Enterprise Financing Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is responsible for developing business and innovation policy, enterprise policy and public business funding. Through its activities, the Department promotes the growth, internationalisation and renewal of companies and industries. 

The Department directs the activities of the innovation funding agency Business Finland, the Geological Survey of Finland, Finnvera Oyj, Finnish Industry Investment Ltd and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. Because of the sector where the Department operates, international activities as well as the common EU policy and cooperation and influencing work related to it play a significant role in its management and operations.

The position became available following the end of the current office holder’s five-year term on 31 July 2021. There were 28 applications for the job.

Inquiries:
Raimo Luoma, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7244
Heidi Nummela, Director of Human Resources and Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7988