Researching policy and creating !mpact
Featured Thought Leadership
Dr Pauli Heikkilä, Senior Associate, lill Advisory, and former CEO, Finnvera
Innovation policy is the most important tool for guiding a country’s economic and societal transformation, yet also among the most complex, shaped by conflicting stakeholder demands and constant evolution. Over the decades it has moved from a narrow technology focus toward whole innovation ecosystems and, more recently, toward green transition, digitalisation, economic security, strategic autonomy, critical minerals and supply-chain resilience. A good policy makes deliberate choices rather than spreading resources evenly: it balances basic and applied research, combines top-down orchestration with quick, simple bottom-up support, and uses public financing to correct market failures and take purposeful risk – not to act as a market player. Above all, success depends less on design than on execution: clarity, agreement among key actors, removal of obsolete obstacles, independent evaluation and consistent implementation, complemented today by stronger global networking and cooperation.
Edna Schöne, Member of the Board, Euler Hermes
Dr Alexander Sandkamp, Senior Policy Advisor, Euler Hermes
From tariff escalation to strategic realignment: how the EU is shaping the future of global trade. Global trade is increasingly shaped by protectionism, geopolitical conflict, and policy uncertainty. However, Europe is only trapped in this environment if we choose to see ourselves that way. This policy brief argues that deeper international cooperation – anchored in free trade agreements and supported by export credit agencies – offers a viable strategy for the EU to enhance economic resilience and preserve prosperity.
The lill Institute for Public Value
We are an innovative, independent, not-for-profit research institute based in Germany, dedicated to advancing leadership in public policy, public administration, and public finance. Supported by multilateral institutions, governments, public agencies, and philanthropies, the Institute responds to the complexities of today’s geopolitical and economic landscape with cutting-edge solutions. At a time of constantly shifting geopolitical dynamics, economic uncertainty, and earth overshoot, our work is driven by a fundamental commitment: Lead in transforming global challenges into actionable strategies that create lasting public value and impact.
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The IiII Institute supported the development of ECI’s sustainability framework as part of the organisation’s affiliate membership in the Net-Zero Export Credit Agencies Alliance (NZECA). Our research helped to establish the strategic foundation for ECI’s commitment, setting out target-setting principles and reporting approaches aligned with international best practice. Our research addressed both ECI’s operational footprint and the climate impact of transactions the ECA enables across UAE export value chains. This research collaboration helped ECI to translate ambition into credible execution.
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