“Sodan kitkaa” Suomen puolustusinnovaatiojärjestelmässä : prosessi, suorituskyky & näkökulmat palvelukeskeisen logiikan kautta

The defence sector is undergoing a transition driven by changes in the geopolitical environment, the rapid pace of technological development, and new initiatives arising from NATO accession. The ongoing war in Ukraine has demonstrated how agility, rapid adoption, and collaboration can become decisive advantages. As a result, more open and collaborative approaches, where companies, startups, research institutions, students, and public actors develop collectively, have begun to challenge traditional, closed innovation models. This study examines how Finland’s defence innovation system is structured and functions, how it enables or restricts value co-creation, and what opportunities or challenges it presents for new actors such as startups. It further analyzes how friction within structures, processes, and performance shapes innovation outcomes and future perspectives. The research follows a qualitative, exploratory single-case study design with an inductive and iterative approach to data analysis. Data were collected through 11 semi-structured expert interviews and publicly available documents, and were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and recurring themes. Service-Dominant Logic (SDL) served as the analytical lens for understanding value co-creation in the Finnish defence innovation system. The findings indicate that Finland’s defence innovation system is a fragmented but evolving multi-actor ecosystem. Innovation performance is not constrained by a lack of technological capability or competence, but rather by institutional friction, including unclear roles, processes, entry points, and the absence of shared metrics. Startups face considerable opportunities and high potential, but also structural barriers. NATO and EU structures increasingly shape innovation pathways by offering funding, testing environments, and opportunities for international scaling. Reducing institutional friction, strengthening alignment across actors, and clarifying processes are essential for enabling more effective co-creation. Achieving this would strengthen the performance of the innovation system and enhance Finland’s competitiveness within NATO and EU innovation networks.