When Joonas spotted a job posting at Nordic Innovation, he didn't hesitate. Three months later, he and his family of four—wife, two sons aged nine and twelve, and their four-year-old Stabyhoun dog—had packed up their life in Finland and relocated to Norway. "We had been thinking about it within the family for a long time, that it would be fun to be somewhere abroad," he reflects. "And since we have children, we want to move to a functioning country that is also good for the children's future."
The transition has been smooth—mostly. "So far, everything has gone well. It could be a honeymoon phase," Joonas admits with characteristic Finnish directness. "There are always little oddities. It's often a period where everything is new and exciting, and then you start to miss home." The children settled into school without difficulty, and the family has found Norwegians and colleagues welcoming. Only one family member struggled: "The dog had the hardest time moving in," Joonas laughs. "It was a little anxious at first. But it got there too."
Philosophy and tech
Joonas has a little different background than most coworkers in Nordic innovation. He holds a PhD in political philosophy from the University of Helsinki, where he specialized in practical philosophy. His dissertation explored the differences of opinion that form the foundation of democracy. "That's how it would be simplified," he explains modestly.
This academic grounding in democratic theory proved directly relevant to his career. Before joining Nordic Innovation, Joonas worked at SITRA, Finland's independence innovation fund, often called "Finland's House of the Future", where he focused on democracy and digital participation. His work included supporting the Finnish Parliament and Government in modernizing their processes, exploring how technology can enhance democratic engagement.
Bridging Technology and Society
At Nordic Innovation, Joonas has hit the ground running. His primary focus is on an initiative called Enabling Technology Moonshots—a forward-thinking approach to critical technologies. "The idea is that we should move towards a more technology-agnostic approach," he explains. "Not focusing on, for example, AI or quantum or anything else, but looking at what the whole can do."
Space technology has also emerged as an unexpected but exciting area of his work. "The Nordic cooperation has also focused on space technology, which is new to me," Joonas notes. "But that makes it very exciting to take note of. Overall, it is technology and society that are interesting and that I am passionate about." His experience from SITRA transfers well to his new role. "I'm very familiar with the methodology, innovation methodology and foresight. The whole idea of striving for systemic change rather than individual points of progress," he says. "That's something we share."
The Nordic region is changing
Joonas sees his arrival at Nordic Innovation as coming at a particularly significant time. "There is a much stronger focus on Europe, which leads to a much stronger focus on the Nordic region," he observes. The challenge, as he sees it, is balancing ambition with realism—ensuring the Nordic countries can leverage their considerable expertise and innovative companies while maintaining their position as a European leader.
"There is incredible expertise. There are lots of exciting new companies. There are old companies that are doing well in technology," he notes. "At the same time, we should try to ensure that the Nordic region is the place in Europe that everyone can look up to and say, hey, they've managed to do it themselves." For Joonas, working for the Nordic region feels like a natural fit. "Nordic values, whatever they may be exactly, it's something that I’m very happy to support," he reflects. "So really, it's kind of a no-brainer. It becomes a job that you get to work on at the same time because it's an area you like, namely innovation. But at the same time, it's also because of the framework, which you can also fully support, namely the Nordic region."
Life in Norway
Outside of work, Joonas is adjusting to Norwegian life with his family. He’s a been a eger soccer player, but he hasn't yet found a team to join in Norway, though both his kids have joined the local team.
As for embracing Norwegian culture, Joonas has drawn one firm line. When asked about trying smalahoved, the obscure Norwegian dish of sheep's head, he remains characteristically Finnish in his directness: "If we stay here for eight years, I’ll try it at least once”, he claims.
With his unique blend of philosophical rigor, innovation expertise, and genuine enthusiasm for Nordic cooperation, Joonas represents exactly the kind of fresh perspective that can help shape the region's technological future.
A warm welcome to the team, Joonas!
