Greetings from the President of the Republic of Finland

The history of technical education in Finland extends back a good one hundred and fifty years. This branch of education achieved university status a hundred years ago when the Helsinki University of Technology (TKK) was established. In one hundred years, TKK has risen to become Finland’s leading university of science, technology and architecture and it has gained an international reputation.

Our country took its first steps towards industrialisation at the beginning of the last century. Industrial and social development inevitably called for an increasingly higher level of technical expertise; this is when our country created the foundation to develop into an industrialised welfare state.

Alongside the rapidly expanding service sector, the major sectors of business and industry in Finland are the forest, metal and ITC industries. Success in international competition is based on scientific research and education. Finland ranks among the top OECD countries in comparisons of research and development expenditure in relation to gross domestic product.

We have also succeeded in combining the economic utilisation of knowledge and competence with social objectives such as the promotion of well being and sustainable development. Innovations, technological development and utilisation also help us resolve national and international challenges, such as those that relate to health and the environment.

Helsinki University of Technology will continue to play an important role in the field of technological research and education as well as in conveying knowledge to serve humankind.

Tarja Halonen
President of the Republic of Finland