Finland Futures Research Centre (FFRC), University of Turku (Lead partner)
Jointly founded by three universities in 1992, Finland Futures Research Centre (FFRC) is a department of the Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku (UTU). FFRC is an internationally recognised centre for futures research, education and development, which has operations on local, national and international level. The Centre produces and promotes visionary information on the future trends of society and the environment. With its multidisciplinary resources it is able to meet the needs of its customers, which range from academic institutions to public organisations and the business world. Extended networks of co-operation guarantee the Centre access to the latest ideas, visions and methods to deal with and evaluate perceptions of the future. The Centre’s basic activities are focused on the promotion of a sustainable future. A sustainable future is understood as being economically efficient, socially secure, fair, and culturally representative of our world society.
Jarmo Vehmas
Contact: jarmo.vehmas@utu.fi
Jarmo Vehmas is currently working at Finland Futures Research Centre as Regional Mananger. He holds a PhD in Administrative Sciences and a BSc-equivalent degree in Power Engineering. He is also Adjunct Professor of Environmental Policy at University of Helsinki, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences. He has been Co-ordinator of EU FP7 research project “Synergies in multi-scale inter-linkages of eco-social systems” (217213 SMILE), Project Manager of EU FP6 research project “Development and comparison of sustainability indicators” (044428 DECOIN), participated as partner leader in EU CIP-EIP research project Eco-Innovation Observatory (EIO) coordinated by Technopolis Group Belgium. His research interests and expertise focuses on environmental policy and sustainable development, such as energy and climate policies, economic and other policy instruments as well as methodology, indicators and assessment of different dimensions of sustainability. Dr. Vehmas has participated in and coordinated several research projects and international conferences as well as published internationally dealing with these issues. He is the Co-ordinator of the EUFORIE project.
Jari Kaivo-oja
Contact: jari.kaivo-oja@utu.fi
Jari Kaivo-oja Adjunct Professor, (Faculty of Sciences, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lapland), Research Director Jari Kaivo-oja is expert working in the fields of foresight, planning sciences and innovation research. His special fields are foresight methodologies in sustainability analyses, in international energy economics and general societal development. He has special expertise in energy economics, innovation research, climate change analyses and security politics. He has research experience in strategic and participatory foresight processes in Europa and in international contexts (especially in Africa, in Middle East (The Middle East Foresight), in Black Sea Region (The Middle East Foresight and Black Sea Peace Building Foresight) and in Asia (3 years in the Lao PDR and Mekong River research program).
Jyrki Luukkanen
Contact: jyrki.luukkanen@utu.fi
Jyrki Luukkanen is a Research Director of futures studies specializing in energy, environment and development research. Research Director Luukkanen has a Doctoral degree in systems theory from Tampere University of Technology. He has been a director of numerous national and international research and development projects funded by European Commission, Finnish government, European Parliament, UNDP, the Academy of Finland, companies and industrial organization, NGOs, technology agencies, etc. Research Director Luukkanen is an author of about 150 scientific publications and has given lectures and presentations all over the world. He has been a member of several expert committees and the Research Council of the Academy of Finland. Dr. Luukkanen has carried out energy and development related research for over 35 years.
Juha Panula-Ontto
Contact: juha.panula-ontto@utu.fi
Mr. Juha Panula-Ontto is a project researcher at FFRC. He has a background in organization studies and computer science and has worked in various environmental economics and modeling-oriented as well as futures oriented projects.