Too Clever is Not Clever From the Editor
It is not easy to write a column
new knowledge that has helped it
after a Nobel Prize winner. Almost
to transform itself at quite a rapid
subconsciously one tries to be too
pace from an agricultural and
clever.
industrial society to a country with
In the Fulbright Center News
very high living standards.
Fulbright Finland has had a remarkable year. In
2015 spring issue, Professor Bengt
Fulbright Finland looks closely
2016, there were a total 94 Finnish and Ameri-
Holmström – then future Nobel
into Arctic issues. Key areas include
can grantees. Including Partnership awards, over
Prize winner in economic sciences
energy, water, health and Arctic
USD 1.55 million (EUR 1.4 million) were awarded in
- wrote about passion and profes-
infrastructure. I believe that these
grants. In addition, Fulbright Finland served over
sionalism. He emphasized how
themes are interesting areas for
5,600 individuals in the area of Finnish-American
exchanges, networks and inno-
cooperation for the United States
academic exchanges, hosted researchers from all
vation are integrally connected.
and Finland, when Finland fol-
Arctic Council member countries for the interna-
“Seeing that something is possible
lows the USA as the Chairman of
tional Fulbright Arctic Week in Oulu, organized
and it can be done has a great value
the Arctic Council in May 2017.
the 2016 European Fulbright Conference in Hel-
and significant impact,” he wrote.
To me “The New Arctic” is about
sinki with participants from over 40 countries, and
To me this is one of the key
innovation, resolving problems,
served as the clearinghouse for Fulbright inter-
ideas
ASLA-Fulbright.
protecting the environment, and
country scholar grants for all of Europe, just to
As the Chairman of the Finland-
safety. And sauna, summer, and
name a few of the highlights (p. 22).
America Educational Trust Fund
swimming in a clean lake. We live
In an increasingly tighter funding environ-
I greet the new Finnish Fulbright
in an age when anyone can develop
ment, none of the above would have been pos-
grantees every year at their Award
a solution that can affect the lives
sible without support from our alumni, partners,
Ceremony. I always say this: This
of millions of people. To get real
sponsors, and donors. This past year, the Finnish
grant is an opportunity for you to
benefits from a mobile and digital
Fulbright commission was registered as a not-for-
open a door to something new, but
world we must better recognize our
profit foundation in Finland (p. 4). The underlying
it is you who must walk through it.
competences and skills and how we
principles of the original governmental Fulbright
You can read more about the
utilize them. People move, ideas
agreement between Finland and the United States
history of ASLA-Fulbright in Fin-
move. Minds must move, too. Ful-
from 1952 were not changed by this action. Today,
land in this magazine. This pro-
bright has an important role in this.
the new status helps the commission to better
gram has been a success. Awards
In his column professor Holm
carry out its original mission and enhances oppor-
have been granted to more than
ström wrote: “You first need to go
tunities to build the Finnish-American Fulbright
1 800 Americans and 3 700 Finns.
out to see how others do things,
program into the future.
Among them are many current
learn from them as much as pos-
Along with the new name, the Fulbright Fin-
and future leaders in society, cul-
sible, and then you go back and
land Foundation, this magazine has also changed
ture, science, and business life.
adapt what you have learnt to your
its name to Fulbright Finland News. And in this issue
Bengt Holmström was an ASLA-
own special circumstances, and
our focus is on the impact of Fulbright. We fea-
Fulbright grantee to Stanford Uni-
then you do it all better. That is
ture alumni who are responsible for major break-
versity in 1974.
how innovations come about.”
behind
throughs in their fields, including the most cited
This June Fulbright Finland
Finnish researcher Risto Näätänen (p. 16), and this
hosted the 2016 European Ful-
year’s Nobel Prize winner in Economics, Profes-
bright
sor Bengt Holmström (p. 5). We also highlight the
theme Crossing Borders for Global
significant role that alumni have played in the pro-
Partnerships. Over 90 participants
gram itself, the immeasurable value of their con-
from over 40 countries from both
tribution to the day-to-day operation of Fulbright
sides of the Atlantic shared best
Finland and to ensuring the future development of
practices and experiences in this
Finnish-American exchanges (p. 18–19). Through
international
the work of the grantees and alumni, the impact of
conference was funded by the U.S.
Fulbright becomes deep and its ripple effects broad.
Department of State. If we look at
In this issue, we share with you some examples.
the financial return on the invest-
Conference
under
conference.
We do not need to be cleverer than that.
the
The
With gratitude, we wish our grantees and
ment, one can argue that Finland
alumni, and all our partners, donors, and friends a
has the best Fulbright Program in
wonderful New Year! We look forward to celebrating
the world. For every dollar that the
Finland’s Centennial with you in 2017!
U.S. government invests in it, the Finnish side brings in nine more. One becomes ten. I want to argue,
Terhi Mölsä
however, that Fulbright is far more
Chief Executive Officer
than dollars and euros. For Finland
Fulbright Finland Foundation
it has brought new horizons and
Jouni Mölsä Director General of Communications Ministry for Foreign Affairs Chair of the Finland-America Educational Trust Fund