Case Study In Finland Research Articles

Eliciting the anchor link for building public-private collaboration in sustainable energy: insights from the Finnish context

This article interrelates social, environmental, and technological aspects concerning public-private collaboration. The aim is to decipher the motivations and reluctance factors that prompt or limit building synergies between actors with divergent incentives and better understand the connection between the individual-level sensemaking and macro-level constructs regarding public-private collaboration in a specific socio-cultural context. Following the microfoundations movement in strategy and Organizational Theory, the study combines insights from sensemaking research and Social Exchange Theory to delve into how cultural context influences individuals' perception of public-private collaboration for the energy transition and ultimately defines its nature. Drawing from a case study in Finland based on 30 interviews, we identify six critical dimensions in the actors' discourse: 1) the role of trust in decision-making, 2) consensus and competition, 3) horizontality, 4) boosting innovations versus the challenges of public and private sectors, 5) acceptability of arrangements and public funding, and 6) the role of public-private collaboration in the decarbonization. These dimensions shed light on the influence of the socio-cultural context in enhancing trust and consensus as drivers of social exchange in public-private collaboration. Future studies should explore 1) enabling mechanisms for cross-context collaboration and 2) the roles and motivations in collaborative approaches.

Decision‐chain integrity and sustainment of the individual placement and support model: An embedded single case study in Finland

AbstractThe individual placement and support (IPS) model is an evidence‐based practice proven effective in aiding individuals with mental disorders to achieve and maintain competitive employment. This study examines how policy and structural factors are perceived to influence the model's sustainment as routine practice after a national development project in Finland. We aim to identify critical dimensions related to decision‐making at the national, regional, and local organisational levels. We used a qualitative single‐case approach, analysing 21 stakeholder interviews and nine administrative documents. We conducted abductive thematic analyses. We report the results in compliance with the COREQ guideline. Our analysis identified three main external contextual influences affecting service sustainment: (1) System‐Level Planning—the coherence of formulation and execution of facilitative strategies across different administrative levels; (2) Political Decision Making—the recognition of inception points of policy change and the ability to set the IPS model on a broader policy agenda; and (3) Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration—the need for mutual goals and collaborative platforms. Strategic planning, governance decisions, and stakeholder involvement affect local‐level decisions on the IPS model's sustained implementation. This research introduces the concept of ‘Decision‐Chain Integrity’, highlighting the alignment of strategies and their implementation across different levels of administration as a pivotal factor in producing sustained change in the service system.

Environmental, social, and economic challenges to forest-based micro-entrepreneurship: a comparative case study in Finland

Countries worldwide, especially Nordic countries, have proposed a forest-based bioeconomy to halt systemic risks, such as climate change, and to create socioeconomic welfare. Entrepreneurs operating in various business sectors and regions face several complex challenges in this regard. However, the challenges faced by forest-based micro-entrepreneurs have not been addressed across various regions using systems thinking. This comparative case study aimed to identify the environmental, social, and economic challenges faced by forest-based micro-entrepreneurs and the spatial features of these challenges—their scale, interactions, and prevalence—in two different regions in Finland: Lapland and South Karelia. These regions’ economies rely heavily on the recreational value of nature and on the large-scale pulp and paper industries, respectively. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with micro-entrepreneurs from various sectors, such as forestry, logging, tourism, and natural products. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The framework used enabled a deeper spatial understanding of the challenges experienced by forest-based micro-entrepreneurs. The micro-entrepreneurs in the two case regions had great similarities in terms of themes related to trust, workload, and labor shortage. This may hinder the implementation of new practices in regional forest-based bioeconomy development. Future quantitative studies could validate the identified challenges for further policy development.

Weather-Based Prediction of Power Consumption in District Heating Network: Case Study in Finland

Accurate prediction of energy consumption in district heating systems plays an important role in supporting effective and clean energy production and distribution in dense urban areas. Predictive models are needed for flexible and cost-effective operation of energy production and usage, e.g., using peak shaving or load shifting to compensate for heat losses in the pipeline. This helps to avoid exceedance of power plant capacity. The purpose of this study is to automate the process of building machine learning (ML) models to solve a short-term power demand prediction problem. The dataset contains a district heating network’s measured hourly power consumption and ambient temperature for 415 days. In this paper, we propose a hybrid evolutionary-based algorithm, named GA-SHADE, for the simultaneous optimization of ML models and feature selection. The GA-SHADE algorithm is a hybrid algorithm consisting of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) and success-history-based parameter adaptation for differential evolution (SHADE). The results of the numerical experiments show that the proposed GA-SHADE algorithm allows the identification of simplified ML models with good prediction performance in terms of the optimized feature subset and model hyperparameters. The main contributions of the study are (1) using the proposed GA-SHADE, ML models with varying numbers of features and performance are obtained. (2) The proposed GA-SHADE algorithm self-adapts during operation and has only one control parameter. There is no fine-tuning required before execution. (3) Due to the evolutionary nature of the algorithm, it is not sensitive to the number of features and hyperparameters to be optimized in ML models. In conclusion, this study confirms that each optimized ML model uses a unique set and number of features. Out of the six ML models considered, SVR and NN are better candidates and have demonstrated the best performance across several metrics. All numerical experiments were compared against the measurements and proven by the standard statistical tests.

From big apple to home of hockey: how scalar narratives and performative practices work in urban planning

ABSTRACT Drawing from a case study in Finland, the paper analyses the performative practice of urban development projects in order to win public support for the desired future. The role of famous architects as agents of urban change is pivotal. This raises the concern of how the performative trend in planning cuts down the public discussion of possible alternative futures. The analysis uses the concept techniques of futuring and follows the repetition of performative action. It is relevant to ask if the role of the public is to engage in the story presented instead of engaging in the planning process.

How do municipal strategies work in rural development: A critical realist case study

Municipal strategies are important for rural localities, as from a governance perspective they pool resources and bring actors together in cooperation. For Finnish municipalities, the strategy is statutory, making it a potential tool in rural governance. Based on a political ethnographic case study in Finland, we ask: How do municipal strategies act as a means of rural development and what are the main obstacles and incentives in this endeavour? Applying critical realism, the research examines the causality of three mechanisms in municipal strategy work: the conception of rural potential, leadership and the municipal economy. Our study indicates that municipalities' development measures treat rural areas selectively, and villages do not yet appear as key agents in municipal strategy work. Strategy processes rest mostly on local leaders and rural development is restricted by the scarcity of municipal financial resources. To strengthen the role of municipalities in rural governance, greater strategic importance should be given to rural areas and their communities, and the strategy work in a municipality should be generally stabilised.

Models of Education: Neoliberal, Conservative and Welfare State – the Case Study of Finland and Poland

Models of Education: Neoliberal, Conservative and Welfare State – the Case Study of Finland and Poland

Prediction of the Possibility of Recidivism: A Case Study of Finland

The recidivism rate among prisoners in Finland slowly decreased as their age increased. We can see that the most extreme example in the year 2014, the rate of young prisoners from the age group of 15 to 20 the rate started at 91% and dropped to 66% as the age group changed to 21 to 29, then dropped to 59% as the age group changed into 30 to 39 years old then the rain dropped to 51 percent faster age group reached to 40 to 49 years old, and finally, the rate prisoner that is 50 years or older there rat of recidivism dropped to 35 percent. Finland has a high recidivism rate. According to a theory, the high rate of recidivism is due to Finland's penal policy. Finland has a very soft penal policy, which can be the main reason why Finland has a high recidivism rate. Finland has high research value as one of the countries with a high recidivism rate. The analysis and comparison of the recidivism situation between Finland and other countries have important implications for the global security and anti-crime system.

An open dialogue culture and transformative policy process for sustainability: exploratory case study of Finland

An open dialogue culture and transformative policy process for sustainability: exploratory case study of Finland

Heavy Metal Content in Macroalgae as a Tool for Environmental Quality Assessment: The Eastern Gulf of Finland Case Study

Macroalgae are widely used for bioindication and assessment; however, in the case of pollutants of different origin, it is still unclear which contaminants in thalli can be regarded as indicative because too many factors influence the ability of algae to uptake them. The present study is a part of an international HAZLESS project and was conducted in the eastern Gulf of Finland (GoF). The main goal of our study was the application of metal concentrations in macroalgae as a tool for environmental quality assessment. To achieve this goal, we calculated the threshold metal concentrations in macroalgae (Cladophora glomerata) and compared our obtained values with actual concentrations. We found significant Spearman correlations in May between metals in sediments and pore water (−0.73 for Zn, −0.62 for Cd, 0.85 for Pb) and also between metals in algae and metals in pore water (1 for Cu and Cd, 0.98 for Zn and Pb). In July, Pb in algae were significantly correlated with Pb in pore water (0.88). The application of the calculated environmental quality standard (EQSMPC) for macroalgae has shown moderate pollution by Cu and Pb in the coastal zone of the eastern GoF. This was confirmed by an assessment based on the comparisons of metal concentrations in water with Environmental Quality Standards for water (EQSw). However, differences in the bioaccumulation factor and EQSMPC between May and July have shown that it is necessary to compare samples taken during the same period every year for adequate results in long-term monitoring. Considering the sensitivity of accumulating processes to the surrounding environment, we believe that in the case of habitats with diverse conditions, even for the same species of algae, threshold values should be calculated and used individually for every habitat. Our results have shown that this approach can be widely used for an assessment of environmental quality via metal concentrations in opportunistic macroalgae and can be recommended for further use.

Quantification of forest carbon flux and stock uncertainties under climate change and their use in regionally explicit decision making: Case study in Finland

Uncertainties are essential, yet often neglected, information for evaluating the reliability in forest carbon balance projections used in national and regional policy planning. We analysed uncertainties in the forest net biome exchange (NBE) and carbon stocks under multiple management and climate scenarios with a process-based ecosystem model. Sampled forest initial state values, model parameters, harvest levels and global climate models (GCMs) served as inputs in Monte Carlo simulations, which covered forests of the 18 regions of mainland Finland over the period 2015–2050. Under individual scenarios, the results revealed time- and region-dependent variability in the magnitude of uncertainty and mean values of the NBE projections. The main sources of uncertainty varied with time, by region and by the amount of harvested wood. Combinations of uncertainties in the representative concentration pathways scenarios, GCMs, forest initial values and model parameters were the main sources of uncertainty at the beginning, while the harvest scenarios dominated by the end of the simulation period, combined with GCMs and climate scenarios especially in the north. Our regionally explicit uncertainty analysis was found a useful approach to reveal the variability in the regional potentials to reach a policy related, future target level of NBE, which is important information when planning realistic and regionally fair national policy actions.

Design, techno-economic evaluation, and optimisation of renewable methanol plant model: Finland case study

The current global energy crisis, emphasises the need to simultaneously reduce fossil energy consumption, accelerate renewable energy development, and mitigate global warming, which may arise from situations of dirtier fuel usage. Consequently, this work highlights how captured carbon dioxide from fossil power and manufacturing plants, together with hydrogen purportedly produced via water electrolysis (powered by residual energy from fossil and renewable power plants), can be used to synthesize methanol. Therefore, a methanol plant model was proposed and designed. Multivariable regressions for the plant model were developed and optimised. Furthermore, deduced optimal were used to develop a Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) kinetic equivalent to the Gibbs reaction model used in the simulation. Also, the plant cost analysis was performed at the optimal, and hydrogen cost was found to constitute the highest manufacturing cost component, hence the cost-determining factor of the plant. Finally, cost-to-size models for various cost components were also deduced.

Elementary School Teachers' Experiences of Implementing the Teacher Classroom Management Method - Case Study in Finland

The diversity of pupils and their different difficulties challenge teachers' skills and methods in teaching. Some behavioral challenges require rapid intervention and a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach from the teachers. An internationally recognized tool, TCM (Teacher Classroom Management), aims to support pupils' socio-emotional development, improve teacher-pupil interaction, and strengthen school-home cooperation. This pilot study examines teachers' experiences of TCM in Finnish primary school context. The study is qualitative, and the data (N=16) was collected through focus group interviews. According to the results, the teacher's strengthened group management skills were positively reflected in the classroom. Teachers´ positive communication with the class strengthened interaction and made it easier to deal with difficult issues. However, implementing TCM in the school community requires ongoing support. Collegial experiences and renewed group management skills strengthened the teachers' own experience of coping at work. The TCM method provided appropriate group management tools.

Hedging Investments of Grid-Connected PV-BESS in Buildings Using Cryptocurrency Mining: A Case Study in Finland

Hedging Investments of Grid-Connected PV-BESS in Buildings Using Cryptocurrency Mining: A Case Study in Finland

The conditions of committee importance – drawing lessons from a qualitative case study of Finland

ABSTRACT Theories of parliamentary committees are often contradictory and recent studies have emphasised the need for theoretically-informed qualitative analyses of committee practices. In this paper we draw from 81 interviews with Finnish politicians, party employees, and parliamentary officials to analyse seven theoretical propositions. We show that contradictory theories to hold true under different conditions, allowing individual theories to both underestimate and overestimate committee importance if the interactions between factors are not considered. Based on the findings, we argue that theories have so far overlooked variation in the level of partisanship associated with individual bills. We identify factors that influence levels of partisanship and techniques to actively manage it. Finnish committees are controlled by political parties and the government coalition, but our analysis reveals that MPs have more freedom of maneuver than previously assumed. Overall, bargaining takes places during the committee stage but not so much within formal committee meetings.

Drivers’ experiences of presence sensitive roadway lighting match experiences of traditional road lighting – a case study in Finland

This research aimed to test and study presence sensitive roadway lighting in a housing area in Finland, and to evaluate drivers’ experiences and attitudes of it. The lighting adapted both to motor vehicles using the road and to the measured traffic density along it. The case study was conducted on a collector road in Salo, a town in southern Finland. New, controllable LED lighting with PIR (passive infrared) presence sensors was built along the road, and test scenarios were designed, programmed, and tested. Drivers’ experiences and attitudes of the lighting were collected in a three-phase evaluation with questionnaires from the community of about 1000 households using the road as part of their daily mobility. The results indicate that as an experience, presence sensitive lighting in a road environment was at least as positive as traditional, uncontrolled lighting. The experiences of presence sensitive lighting did not differ from the experiences of uncontrolled lighting regarding pleasantness, uniformity, glare, and road visibility. Most of the drivers (86 %) did not notice any dynamic change in lighting. When informed about the tested lighting strategies, most of the participants (72 %) would prefer either one of the intelligent lighting modes to be the permanent lighting solution. The results encourage the use of intelligent lighting in striving towards more sustainable lighting solutions while maintaining user comfort and safety.

Impact of the EU carbon policy on the globalization and ESG agenda

The article sheds light on the national climate policies under the influence of the EU “green” agenda towards a new wave of deglobalization. We address issues related to the main provisions of the carbon dioxide (СО2) emission trading system implemented by the EU and posit that European climate policy can enhance the process of reducing interdependence and integration between EU member states and non-EU countries. We suggest that the EU’s global climate leadership, increased use of environmental taxes and stimulation of economic growth based on low-carbon technologies such as hydrogen, energy storage and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) can lead to deglobalization. Based on a case study of Finland as an EU member and China as a BRICS representative, we observe the effect of the applied carbon tax on the development of national economies and propose that similar policies across the EU and around the world minimize the risks of deglobalization.

Assessment of critical factors in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) plastics on the recyclability: A case study in Finland

Excessive waste is continually accumulating owing to increased consumption, and an excellent example is the consumption of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), which are eventually transformed into waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). WEEE is an interesting material stream because it includes various valuable materials that have great potential for recycling and reutilization. To maximize recycling and utilization potential, all fractions in WEEE must be reviewed from a sustainable perspective. Several WEEE contain plastic, which comprises approximately one-third of the total WEEE composition; thus, this plastic content is a good target for recycling purposes. However, the recycling of WEEE plastics might include some challenges, such as the treatment of harmful substances in the material, which can prevent effective and high-quality material recycling. This study investigates the polymer composition and critical elements of the material stream of WEEE polymer. These polymers were identified using portable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) at an elemental level. The results showed that among various other polymers, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) was the main polymer identified in WEEE. The proportion of unidentified polymers was alarmingly large; specifically, when the presence of bromine was positively correlated with the presence of an unidentified WEEE polymer. This study also corroborated that bromine is actually not present in bromine-free plastics, demonstrating that industrial classification works with WEEE polymers.

Transitions in planning: transformative policy visions of the circular economy and blue bioeconomy meet planning practice

ABSTRACT Ongoing sustainability challenges create pressure on planning practices and institutional arrangements. Transformative policy visions, such as the circular economy and bioeconomy, create promises for designing and planning sustainable pathways in society. Moreover, research agendas on sustainability transitions, such as transition management, are developing toolkits and attempting to shift planning practice by applying evidence-based policy-making processes. In this paper, we ask what happens when sustainability visions are exposed to planning practices, and vice versa, by developing an analytical framework to discuss processes of territorialization and mobilization. We draw lessons from two contextually differing case studies in Finland; on the evaluation of spatial planning processes for the circular economy and a strategic planning intervention for the blue bioeconomy. The disparate cases show that the planning process act as a bidirectional intermediary space, refining both the general transition visions and established planning practices.

Industrial Symbiosis, Circular Economy and Industry 4.0 – A Case Study in Finland

Industrial Symbiosis, Circular Economy and Industry 4.0 – A Case Study in Finland