National Consumer Research Centre
National Consumer Research Centre carries out research in the following areas of expertise:- Household activity and changes in consumption
- Quality of products and services
- Market functionality and price structures
Research activities are organised into three research entities in 2011:
- Functioning markets in consumers’ everyday lives
- Sustainable living environments and innovations
- Technologies and cultures of well-being
The projects implemented within the multidisciplinary research entities are integrated in line with research funding and research programmes in broad-based research consortiums, in cooperation with other national and international research institutions and teams. External research funding that aims at ensuring the relevance and impact of results for interested stakeholders constitutes a key criterion for launching research projects.
During the operational year, human resources in research total 24 people, and an additional three people are employed in research support services. The estimated effective work time is 20 person-years of labour. In addition, an estimated 1.4 person-years of labour will be spent on expert functions.
The head of research supports the Board of Directors and top management and is responsible for preparing the research programme and strategic policies. Moreover, the head of research is the supervisor of research managers in research groups, and of the research support personnel.
Research development
The new organisation contributes to enhancing the quality and efficiency of research activity. Further measures include the development of internal methods in choosing research projects and ideas. The use of research support services will be enhanced. During the year, the Consumer Research Centre's consumer panel will be reformed and the need for a more broad-based, representative national consumer panel examined.
Research development arenas
Development arenas are periodical by nature, and large co-operation projects can potentially be created based on them, both in research and in the development and assessment of other activities. Development arenas offer a shared activity location for researchers and users of research information. Assisted by the research manager, arena facilitators are responsible for the thematic renewal of research in the arenas.
This operational year is the last year of the Climate Arena – citizens’ participation in climate policy decision-making (2009–2011, facilitated by Mikko Rask and Petteri Repo). This arena is for engaging in discussion on citizens’ means to influence decision-making regarding climate policies. It gathers the industry’s national and international researchers and decision-makers together to discuss their experiences and to seek methods that could be used to strengthen the role of citizens in decision-making regarding climate change. During the year, an international scientific publication on citizen participation will be completed.
Moreover, an arena examining new forms of citizen participation will be launched during the year. This arena will tackle the challenge of developing new operational procedures based on listening to citizens and consumers. The impact of changes in society on consumer citizens requires proactive impact assessments in support of decision-making, concerning the various options for implementing decisions and their impact on people’s lives. The objectives and operating methods of this arena will be specified during the spring.
