Evaluation of the Food from Finland (2014-2023) and Green Growth (2011- 2015) programmes

This Report presents the evaluation of the results and impacts of two Business Finland pro-grammes, Food for Finland (2014-2023) and Green Growth (2011-2015). In the latter case, this rep-resents an ex-post evaluation of the programme, while in the former case, it represents the final evaluation of the two-part programme (Food from Finland 1 2014–2018 and Food from Finland 2 2019–2023).
The aim of the Green Growth Programme was to identify and support potential new growth areas in a sustainable economy based on low energy consumption and the sustainable use of natural resources. The programme aimed to encourage innovations that significantly improved energy and material efficiency and to finance companies and value networks with growth potential in a resource-efficient and sustainable economy. The aim was to identify new potential growth areas for sustainable business, defined by lower energy consumption and the sustainable use of natural resources, and to enable a significant increase in energy and material efficiency in production and service chains throughout the life cycle of products. The projects funded under the programme covered energy efficiency, material efficiency, bioeconomy and biomaterials, recycling, raw mate-rial recovery, waste treatment, new business models and innovative service concepts.

The evaluation reported in the document assessed two programmes: the Green Growth programme (2011-2015) and the Food from Finland programme (2014-2023). The Green Growth programme aimed to promote sustainable economic growth by supporting innovations that improve energy and material efficiency. The Food from Finland programme focused on boosting the international competitiveness and exports of the Finnish food industry. The evaluation examined the success, relevance, and impacts of these programmes, including their long-term effects and the added value they provided. It also offered recommendations for future programme development.

Programme Relevance and Impact: Both the Green Growth and Food from Finland programmes addressed clear needs in their respective areas. The Green Growth programme successfully promoted systemic change and green business growth, while the Food from Finland programme significantly supported the internationalisation and export growth of Finnish food companies.
Challenges and Improvements: The Green Growth programme faced challenges in its early years due to the slow emergence of benefits, leading to a shift towards more traditional RDI activities. The Food from Finland programme encountered difficulties in serving a heterogeneous target group and realizing synergy benefits between RDI projects and export operations.
Recommendations for Future Programmes: The evaluation recommended focusing on the most potential target groups and markets, enhancing stakeholder collaboration, and leveraging lessons learned from these programmes to improve future initiatives. It also emphasized the importance of strategic understanding and the need for continuous support to SMEs for successful internationalisation.