Finland's science-funding situation seems enviable. This Nordic country has the second-highest per capita commitment to research of the 30 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It is second only to Sweden, with 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) going to research and development. Finland has a national venture-capital fund, to support start-up companies. And it has a public contract-research organization to provide expertise to both public and private institutions. But this small country, with its big commitment to research and development, is vulnerable in some respects — as its scientific leaders will cheerfully admit. Most of its research and development funding comes from the private sector, with 70% coming from the cellphone manufacturer Nokia. Public-sector funding is tipped almost two to one in favour of applied research. And career obstacles — such as the lack of a well-developed postdoc programme, a reliance on short-term funding for graduate students and the absence of a tenure track in universities — may limit the attractiveness of the country to both nationals and foreigners.
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