Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment hosts press conference on MOSAIC research and the Canadian CTTC model
On 24 March 2026, the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment hosted a high‑level press conference and networking event to present new research developed under the MOSAIC project, focusing on lessons from the Canadian CTTC model and their relevance for Finland and Europe.
The event brought together 48 participants, both onsite and online, including representatives from vocational education and training (VET), higher education institutions (HEIs), industry and policy bodies. Discussions focused on Finland’s economic outlook, skills mismatches in the labour market, and the role of education and applied research in strengthening productivity and innovation.
Speaking at the event, Pilvi Torsti, Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF), placed the Finnish initiative within a broader European context. She highlighted that skills mismatch, weak productivity growth and limited SME innovation capacity are shared challenges across the EU, underlining the need for VET and applied higher education to evolve beyond skills provision and play a stronger, more structural role in applied research ecosystems.
The press conference marked an important milestone in the dissemination of the MOSAIC paper “From Skills to Applied Research Ecosystems: Strengthening Competences for Productivity and Economic Growth”, to which the Finnish Ministry contributed as a key partner.
From skills provision to applied research ecosystems
The MOSAIC research argues that one of the main structural barriers to innovation among European small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) is not the lack of skills strategies, but the absence of systemic and institutionalised arrangements that embed applied research within vocational and applied higher education.
By analysing the fragmented implementation of EU skills agendas and comparing international models from France, the Basque Country and Canada, the paper highlights the Canadian CTTC model as a mature example of how education systems can act as permanent interfaces between skills development, applied research and enterprise innovation.
Finland is presented as a compelling European case of policy learning through international benchmarking. Moving beyond analysis, the country is now preparing two pilot centres inspired by the Canadian model, signalling a shift from project‑based experimentation towards more stable institutional solutions to support regional innovation and economic growth.
Key messages from the press conference
The programme combined economic analysis, research insights and practical examples.
- ETF perspective
Pilvi Torsti underlined that the Finnish experience resonates strongly with challenges faced across Europe. She highlighted the strategic opportunity for VET and applied higher education to act as anchors of applied research ecosystems, supporting innovation, competitiveness and social inclusion. - Economic and labour market outlook
Markku Lahtinen, Director at the Helsinki Chamber of Commerce, and Elina Pylkkänen, Under‑Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, presented recent labour market developments. Their interventions highlighted rising unemployment, persistent skills mismatches and the challenge of aligning education provision with labour market needs. - The CTTC journey
Ola Kukkasniemi, Founder of Wooden Oy and contributor to the MOSAIC paper, described how the CTTC concept developed through collaboration between education, research and industry, informing the analytical framework presented in the research. - Innovation in practice
Practical examples illustrated the impact of closer cooperation between education and industry. Centria University of Applied Sciences presented a pilot programme demonstrating how applied higher education can better respond to industry needs, while Hetitec Oy shared its transformation from a traditional metal casting company into a high‑tech industrial actor through collaboration with VET providers.
The event generated strong engagement among participants and across social media, confirming the relevance of the MOSAIC research for a wide range of stakeholders.
Contributing to Europe’s competitiveness challenge
The research comes at a pivotal moment for Europe. Following the 2024 Draghi Report and the launch of the EU’s Competitiveness Compass, weak productivity growth and an emerging innovation gap have been identified as critical economic risks.
Finland reflects many of these challenges, with rising unemployment, growing skills misalignment and limited SME innovation capacity. In this context, the MOSAIC research reinforces the case for institutionalised interfaces between education and applied research as a key lever to strengthen productivity and inclusive growth.
As the European Commission prepares a new European Strategy for Vocational Education and Training, expected later in 2026, the Finnish pilot centres offer a concrete illustration of how VET and applied higher education can evolve into core components of applied research ecosystems, supporting innovation and regional development.
The MOSAIC paper can be downloaded from the project website, where further updates on the Finnish pilots and related activities will be shared.
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