The Finnish Space Committee brings national actors together

Finland has decentralised space administration. Space matters are by their nature horizontal and cross administrative boundaries. The perspectives of the various administrative branches are brought together by the Finnish Space Committee, which operates under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The Ministries are, however, responsible for the development and utilisation of space activities of their respective administrative branches.

The Finnish Space Committee was established by decree in February 1989. The Committee plays a key role in Finland’s space administration. It is responsible for preparing a national space strategy and for overseeing the practical implementation of the strategy. The Committee participates in the preparation of ESA’s ministerial meetings and national opinions on space-related matters in the EU. It also draws up reports and proposals concerning the national objectives for space activities, and gives opinions for the development of research and education, as well as industrial activities relating to space, for the utilisation of information obtained from space activities and for the development of cooperation between Finnish actors in the space sector.

Composition of the Finnish Space Committee 6 September 2019 - 5 September 2022:

Chair: Ilona Lundström, Director-General, Ministry of Employment and the Economy

Vice-Chair: Päivi Antikainen, Director of Unit, Ministry of Transport and Communications

Members:
Tanja Jääskeläinen, Deputy Director-General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Kai Knape, Director of Security, Ministry of Defence
Tanja Suni, Research Director, Ministry of the Environment
Pentti Lähteenoja, Director-General, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Janne Koivukoski, Deputy Director General for Rescue Services, Ministry of the Interior
Paavo-Petri Ahonen, Counsellor of Eduction, Ministry of Education and Culture
Juhani Damski, Director General, Finnish Meteorological Institute
Kimmo Kanto, Head of Space, Business Finland
Susan Linko, Director,Academy of Finland
Veera Sylvius, Managing Director, Space Systems Finland/Association of Finnish Defence and Aerospace Industries AFDA
Juha-Matti Liukkonen, Director, Reaktor Group/Association of Finnish Defence and Aerospace Industries AFDA
Minna Palmroth, Professor, University of Helsinki/Finnish National Committee of COSPAR

The Committee has a secretariat in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

Further information:

Maija Lönnqvist - maija.lonnqvist(at)tem.fi
Jenni Tapio - jenni.tapio(at)tem.fi
Tuija Ypyä - tuija.ypya(at)tem.fi
Heidi Pennanen - heidi.pennanen(at)tem.fi