The cornerstone of unity

FOREWORD OF THE FIRST EDITION
The world is changing rapidly, so how can we surmount the challenges of the future? We must be able to broaden 
our perspective. In Finland, as in many other countries, methods and systems have been created to promote 
innovations and capitalise on them. Success is not founded on science or technical inventions alone, however, 
although they are a great help. 
Finland’s strong competitivity and high standard of living are based on the Nordic welfare society, which 
motivates individual effort and self-development, but also provides communal support. Democracy, respect for 
human rights and the principle of a constitutional state, as well as good governance, are a solid base for society. 
In Finland the state and the municipalities play essential roles in social welfare and health, as well as education 

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and research, but citizens themselves also keep the system alive through their role as initiators and service 
providers in different non-governmental organisations. 
All five Nordic countries enjoy great success in international comparisons on e.g. competitivity, sustainable 
development and lack of corruption. The hundred-odd articles in this book describe a diverse and interesting 
array of social innovations. They provide an insight into Finnish society and the way it works, and I believe that 
the reader can also find feasible ideas that could be applied elsewhere. Many of the social innovations are 
universal to some extent, but there are also some engaging differences. 
Many of the innovations introduced in this book have been successfully implemented in Finland over the 
decades, and this will probably continue into the foreseeable future. The globalising world might involve new 
challenges that must be taken into account, however, and their resolution might require new innovations. Our 
future aim is to combine the welfare society with competitivity. They are not enemies, but partners. 
Ilkka Taipale, the editor and author of three of the articles in this book, can with good reason be considered a 
social innovator. He still participates actively in public debate, lobbying for Finnish social policies and innovations 
that can improve the position of the most vulnerable people in our society. 
I believe that this book will give rise to new ideas and encourage you to see the world with new eyes. 
Tarja Halonen
President of the Republic of Finland, 2000
–2012