TT Foundation grants the National Defence University special funding for a new professorship in the field of Geo-economics

Over the two decades, the Foundation of the Confederation of Finnish Industries and Employers (TT) has distributed funding totalling approximately 95 million euros. On its anniversary, the foundation decided to grant 600,000 euros to the National Defence University for the new professorship in Geo-economics.

The purpose of the foundation is to promote knowledge and skills, development and competitiveness of the Finnish industries in a sustainable manner. To this end, the foundation supports training and research and contributes to public debate in the field. In the last few years, funding granted on the basis of applications has focused on climate change, sustainable development, digitalization and, due to the increased tension in global politics, security of supply.  
“Businesses have faced considerable challenges because of the radically changed geopolitical situation.  In this new operating environment, business leaders’ ability to navigate successfully through the global changes, as well as the need for the industries to build stronger ties with organizations responsible for the safety and security of Finland, have become more important than ever. In this situation, it was only natural to grant the National Defence University the anniversary special funding for establishing the new professorship in Geo-economics.  The interplay between economy, power politics and security is complex and constantly changing, which is why we need more research that focuses on geo-economics and politics”, Marjo Miettinen, the chair of the foundation's board, says. 

From the National Defence University’s point of view, economy and the capacity and resources of the Finnish industries build the foundation for states’ defence capability. Economy is a major driver in geopolitics; there is no defence without a strong economy. 

“We must be able to secure the physical operational preconditions of both the Finnish national defence as well as of the civil society also in time of crisis. The whole is composed of our own production capacity and support from the allies.  Central parts of this whole are, for example, critical knowledge and skills, raw material and energy”, says the Rector of the National Defence University, Major General Mika Kalliomaa.

“It is of vital importance to us at the National Defence University to conduct impactful research that supports social decision-making and officer training. Therefore, the new professorship is an excellent development, having a notable role in the current, changed security environment”, Kalliomaa says.

Also in normal conditions, Finnish businesses must be able to build the capability to be efficient players in the global market. At the same time, they must be aware of the vulnerabilities in our society. These may pose a threat to the businesses’ operating possibilities, but on the other hand, also open up new markets, for example for dual-use items. 
“In both cases, societal resilience and financial capacity improve”, Kalliomaa says. 

The professor is to be appointed during 2025. The 600,000-euro funding granted by the Foundation will be allocated to the National Defence University over the period of 2025-2029.