The rector of Åbo Akademi, Gustaf Björkstrand, has been commissioned to this interesting, and to some extent revolutionary, work by The Minister of Education and Research (MR-U) and Research Policy Council (FPR). Professor Gustaf Björkstrand, formerly minister of culture and science and of Nordic co-operation, in Finland, is a well-qualified person with several board-memberships on his record. To his assistance there is a group of experts from the Nordic countries.
The work with the White book started in February this year and will be completed in the end of November. According to the plan the first activities will be launched in 2005.

International celebrity - a necessity in a keen competition
The total Nordic population make a community large enough to keep up with the international competition. At the same time it is homogeneous enough not to drift apart by cultural and linguistic differences.
Professor Björkstrand says that he has "…a fundamental conviction that it is necessary to develop an overall co-operation strategy to bring the Nordic research into leading position…". A conclusion that may appear obvious. But Björkstrand continues "…our prosperity depends on the capability to compete." That is an observation that thrust itself upon us.
The traditional way of acting, where every nation spend their efforts on education and research, is old and obsolete. It is only USA and Japan that have enough financial resources and critical mass to carry the research forward on their own.

The Nordic area - in top position within 10 years
The Nordic academics and politicians agree to the fact that it is very important to create a joint room of research. Well, what are they waiting for?
Hopefully the White book will present a comprehensive strategy that also, bright and clearly, shows practicable activities in the perspective when and where.
The main purpose is to develop the Nordic area to be one of the worlds most attractive regions regarding education, research and business, within in a 10-year period. For that reason the White book will also present institutions, existent or non-existent, that will be best equipped to support and bring the visions of the Nordic area into reality.
Furthermore, the White book will discuss organization, financial matters, incentives and tools. It will also point out how existing co-operating networks, with participators like universities, research institutes, industry, departments and authorities, may be extended.

By the way, when was the last time we got a Nordic Nobel prize winner?