The innovative environment of Finland

   Yesterday we talked about the greeninnovation of Nokia, the Finnish enterprise. Today we will talk about the innovative environment of Finland by introducing the GII (global innovation index).

　昨天我們談到芬蘭企業Nokia的綠色創新。今天我們將藉由GII（global innovation index, 全球創新指標）的介紹，來談芬蘭的創新環境。

   Finland has been ranked as the 4^th innovative country in the GII this year. GII is the project that assesses the innovation of an economy/country conducted by INSEAD (INStitut Européen d'ADministration des Affaires) since 2007. The GII project identifies innovation as a key driver to motivate the economic growth and prosperity.

　今年GII將芬蘭評比為最具創新的國家第4名。GII是INSEAD（歐洲工商管理學院）自2007年開始執行，用於評估經濟體/國家創新力的專案。此GII專案視創新力為刺激經濟成長與繁榮的關鍵驅動因素。

   In the latest 5^th edition report released in 2012, the INSEAD had ranked Finland as the 4^th innovative country among all 141 countries/economies, up one position from 5^th in 2011. According to this report, the strengths of Finland include its strong institutional framework (6^th) and a skilled labour force (1^st in the EU, 3^rd globally) engaged in research and patenting. Finland also has a top position in the rankings in political environment. However, the rank of 26^th in market sophistication implies that it is the relative weakness of Finland.

　在2012年所發表的最新第5度報告中，INSEAD在全部141個國家/經濟體裡，將芬蘭評比為第4名，較2011年的第5名進步一名。根據此份報告，芬蘭的強項包括其強件的組織架構（第6名）、與投入研究及專利的技術勞動力（歐盟中第1名、全球第3名）。芬蘭也在政治環境排名上名列前茅。然而，它的市場成熟度僅排第26名，是芬蘭相對較弱之處。

   About market sophistication in Finland, we can refer to the Best Countries for Business Index conducted by Forbes Magazine. Although Forbes ranked Finland as the 13^th best countries for business in 2011, it also pointed out that the challenge for the Finnish market will be the application of a post-recession exit strategy by its government, since Finland has experienced one of the deepest contractions in the euro zone during the economic crisis in 2009. Furthermore, the Finnish market also faces the problem of rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity, which will impact its competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth.

　關於芬蘭的市場成熟度，我們可以援引財星雜誌的商業最適國家指標。雖然財星雜誌在2011年將芬蘭評比為第13名，但它也點出芬蘭市場之後所面臨的挑戰，將會是政府的經濟衰退後出場策略，因為芬蘭市場在2009年的經濟危機中，經歷了歐元區最嚴重的緊縮。此外，芬蘭市場尚面臨人口快速老化與生產力降低的問題，而這會影響其競爭力、財政永續發展性、及經濟成長。

Reference:

*TheGlobal Innovation Index 2012, INSEAD

*Forbes Magazine: Best countries for business

Nokia’s CSR in environmental dimension

   As Nokia claims on its official website: “we love the future – it’s what our strategy is all about”, it has collaborated with its partners in both upstream and downstream of the supply chain on green innovation proactively in order to improve environmental performance.

　誠如Nokia在其官方網站所宣稱：「我們熱愛未來－這是我們的企業策略所關切的。」它已與供應鏈上下游的合作夥伴，前瞻地在綠色創新上進行協同合作，以期能改善環境績效。

   Green innovation can be categorised to two types: proactive and reactive green innovation. Proactive green innovation is defined as active innovation on environmental issues for various purposes, such as leading in the market, obtain competitive advantages, seizing opportunities, or decreasing cost. On the other hand, reactive green innovation is the passive innovation on environmental issues in order to comply with environmental regulations, meet the demands from stakeholders, or respond to competitors' challenges.

　綠色創新可以分為兩類：前瞻式與回應式的綠色創新。前瞻式綠色創新的定義為在環境議題上，基於不同目的而採取的主動創新，像是在市場上取得領先、獲取競爭優勢、掌握機會、或降低成本。另一方面，回應式綠色創新則為了遵循環保規範、符合利害關係者的要求、或對競爭者的挑戰做出回應，而在環境議題上被動地進行創新。

   Nokia considers the environment during the entire life cycle of its products. As the eco-friendly mobile introduced in previous article “CSR: Nokia's eco-friendly phone”, the traditional lithium battery is replaced by a bio-degradable battery - no need for rare metals and no waste problem is generated. Nokia keeps integrating resources among its supply chain and innovating proactively. It attempts to lead in the concept of sustainability for the society and the environment. On the basis of its CSR strategy in environmental dimension - create a more sustainable future, the collaboration between Nokia and its partners in green innovation can be one critical factor to achieve environmental and economic success in market in the long run.

　Nokia在產品的整個生命週期中對環境做出了考量。如在前文「CSR: Nokia's eco-friendly phone」中所介紹的生態友善手機，生物可分解電池取代了傳統的鋰電池－不需用到貴金屬且不產生廢棄問題。Nokia持續整合其供應鏈中的資源、並持續進行前瞻式創新。它試圖為社會與環境導入永續發展的概念。Nokia基於環境維度的CSR策略－創造更為永續發展的未來，而與其合作夥伴在綠色創新方面進行協同合作，長期下來能成為在環境與經濟上致勝的關鍵因素。

Reference:

*Nokia official website: About us

*Chen et al (2012), "Origins of green innovations: the differences between proactive and reactive green innovations", Management Decision, 50: 368-398.

CSR: Nokia's eco-friendly phone

While Apple and Samsung are fighting with each other on the problems of their patent strategy, Nokia keeps devoting to the environmental dimensions of CSR (corporate socialresponsibility). According to the Nokia Sustainability Report 2011, in order to achieve its business vision of being a leading company in environmental performance, Nokia continues seeking new approaches of reducing impact on environment, as well as developing new partnerships both inside and outside the industry. And the eco-friendly mobile that we will discuss in the following section is just one of Nokia’s efforts in environmental CSR.

當Apple與Samsung在互打專利大戰之際，Nokia持續地為CSR（企業社會責任）進行努力。根據Nokia的2011年永續經營報告，Nokia持續地尋求減輕對環境影響的方法、以及在企業內部與外部發展新的合作夥伴關係，以期能達成在環境績效上的領航企業之願景。而下文中將要介紹的生態友善手機，則是Nokia在環境CSR上的努力之一。

(source: Nokia official website)

This eco-friendly mobile was designed by a Chinese designer Daizi Zheng and was first introduced to the public in 2010. Zheng proposes the idea that a mobile could work on a bio-battery according to the glycolysis reaction.

此生態友善的手機由中國設計師Daizi Zheng所設計，於2010年首度發表。Zheng提出手機能用以糖解反應進行發電的生化電池所運作。 

(source: dezeen magazine)

Glycolysis is a process that transforms glucose to energy (and H2O and CO2) by enzymes. Zheng thought the traditional mobile battery produces a disposal problem and has adverse impact to the environment. However, this bio-battery only needs some soft drink such as cola for work. It can generate electricity for the mobile in an eco-friendly way – no need for rare metals and other materials for manufacturing and generates no disposal problem because it is bio-degradable. Zheng claimed that this bio-battery has the potential to operate 3-4 times longer than lithium batteries.

糖解是葡萄糖經由酵素催化產生能量（以及水與二氧化碳）的過程。Zheng認為傳統的手機電池造成廢棄處理問題、且對環境有負面影響。然而此生化電池僅需一些軟性飲料，例如可樂，即可運作。它能以生態友善的方式產生手機所需的電力－不需要貴金屬或其他製造所需的原物料、且因為它是生物可分解的，所以不會有廢棄處理的問題。Zheng宣稱此生化電池的續航力有望較傳統鋰電池高上3-4倍。

(source: dezeen magazine)

(source: dezeen magazine)

(source: dezeen magazine)

(source: dezeen magazine)

Some rumours said this technology could be commercialised within years. It is admirable that Nokia keeps concerning environmental issues in business operations. It has shown its ambition on promoting a more sustainable lifestyle in this cola mobile case. We expect more innovative and eco-friendly products available in the future.

　有傳聞說此技術數年內即可商業化。諾基亞在其企業營運上持續關切環境議題是很教人激賞的。在這個可樂手機的例子中，它已顯現在推動更為永續發展的生活方式上的雄心壯志。我們期待在未來能有更多創新且生態友善的產品能問世。

Reference:

*Nokia Sustainability Report 2011

*Daizi Zheng: Nokia "green" phone

*dezeen magazine: Eco-friendly phone for Nokia by Daizi Zheng