Kaisa Lähteenmäki-Smith

Phone+358503405728

Research activity per year

Short bio

Kaisa’s an experinced political scientist, who is passionate about evidence- informed policy making, and constructive dialogue between policy-makers, politicians, researchers and citizens. She has worked as researcher and consultant on regional development and innovation policies, governance issues and evaluation since finishing her PhD in 1999, Kaisa also gained experience as civil servant and practitioner, working at the Prime Minister's office in Helsinki, Finland between 2014-2018 and at Finnish Innovation Fund from Fenruary 2018 to February 2019. In February 2019 she joined MDI.fi, and returned to her roots, working with R&D and evaluation that seeks to make Finnish society and gvernnment (including Finnish regions and local communities) the best environment to live and work in the world. In September 2023 she started as Principal Scientist at VTT, working at the "Future-proof societies" team, where sustainable transition is supported by working together with research, business and society, and innovation is nurtured with the help of close dialogue and interaction between technology, society and human-centred anticipatory governance.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

Education/Academic qualification

Political science, Doctorate, Globalization and Regionalization as Concurrent Phenomena in the European Governance Structure: Sub-National Regional Actors in the European Union: Four Scenarios, University of Turku

31 Aug 0001 → 30 Apr 2021

Award Date: 21 Apr 1999

Political science, Master, University of Turku

15 Aug 1988 → 26 Jan 1994

Award Date: 26 Jan 1994

Political science, Other, Certificat d'études politiques, Aix-Marseille Université

1 Sept 1991 → 19 Jun 1992

Award Date: 19 Jun 1992

External positions

Senior Lead, MDI Public Oy

1 Feb 2019 → 31 Aug 2023

Senior Lead, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra

1 Feb 2018 → 30 Jan 2019

Science Specialist, Prime Minister's Office Finland

1 Nov 2013 → 31 Jan 2018

Director, Ramboll Finland Oy

1 Mar 2011 → 31 Oct 2013

Development Director, Net Effect Oy

1 Nov 2007 → 28 Feb 2011

Visiting Research Fellow, VTT Expert Services

1 Aug 2004 → 31 Oct 2007

Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio

1 Aug 2000 → 31 Oct 2007

Senior Officer, Ministry of Interior of Finland

1 Feb 1999 → 31 Jul 2000

PhD Student / Researcher, University of Turku

1 Aug 1995 → 31 Jan 1999

Skills and expertise

innovation policy
RDI policy
inclusive innovation
regional development
Impact Leadership
Impact evaluation
societal interaction

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where Kaisa Lähteenmäki-Smith is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.