Advisory Board on Biotechnology
The Advisory Board on Biotechnology is an expert body providing advice on matters related to biotechnology and gene technology. It promotes cooperation between public authorities and researchers and operators in the field both in Finland and internationally.
A significant proportion of the research conducted in Finland focuses on the biomedical field, where many of our best-known researchers work. In certain areas of biomedicine, Finnish research is among the best in the world.
Duties of the Advisory Board on Biotechnology
- The Advisory Board on Biotechnology promotes cooperation between public authorities, researchers and operators in the field of biotechnology and gene technology in particular, and provides information and organises training in the field.
- It monitors and promotes international cooperation in biotechnology.
- In particular, it monitors developments and research in the field of gene technology, as well as the health and environmental impacts of the field.
- It also promotes the consideration of ethical aspects in gene technology.
Members and appointment
The Government appoints the Advisory Board on Biotechnology for three years at a time. The current term of the Advisory Board is 16 June 2023–15 June 2026.
The Government appoints the chair, deputy chair and other members of the Advisory Board and a personal deputy for each of them. The Advisory Board must include representatives of the authorities that play a key role in the supervision of gene technology and of the key trade and industrial organisations and consumer organisations, as well as representatives of research organisations in various fields of gene technology.
More information:
- Project page of the Advisory Board on Biotechnology (term 16 June 2023–15 June 2026)
- Government Decree on Gene Technology (928/2004) (in Finnish)
- Gene Technology Act (377/1995)
Contact information:
Address: Advisory Board on Biotechnology, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, PO Box 33, FI-00023 Government, Finland
Chair: Tuula Helander, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tuula.helander(at)gov.fi
Secretariat:
Tiina Wahlfors, Director of Biobank, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), tiina.wahlfors(at)thl.fi
Aurora Halkoluoto, Doctoral Researcher, University of Helsinki, aurora.halkoluoto(at)helsinki.fi
Significance and impact of biotechnology and gene technology
Biotechnological solutions continue to bring major advances in healthcare. Biotechnology and gene technology can be used, among other things, to develop medicines and vaccines, identify microbes causing infections and develop new forms of treatment, such as gene therapy and stem cell treatments. In addition, a transition towards more personalised forms of treatment where diagnostics and treatment are tailored for each patient enables earlier diagnosis and more personalised treatment.
Biotechnological research also opens up new opportunities for environmental protection and for climate change prevention, mitigation and adaptation, for example. Challenges posed by climate change, such as drought, salinity, floods and extreme temperatures, increase the need to breed crops and forest trees that are better adapted to more difficult growing conditions.
Industrial biotechnology uses micro-organisms and the enzymes they produce to manufacture various industrial products. Such products include chemicals, enzymes, food additives, biofuels and bioplastics.
