National Consumer Research Centre

The National Consumer Research  Centre was founded 1990 and operates under the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

National Consumer Research Centre’s core duty is to study, anticipate and identify factors of change and risk in the consumer society, in consumer behaviour and in the market, and to convey research-based knowledge on consumers and consumption. The objective of the operations is to achieve a strong knowledge base for consumer policy to enhance the well-being of consumers.

Producing new research data and disseminating data on Finnish consumer research form the core duties of the Centre. Research Centre participates also in the education and training of researchers, promotes the operations of researcher networks and national and international co-operation between researchers.

The central themes of the research programme

• Public and private services
• Food economy and food culture
• Living environment and technology
  
• Consumer finances

Development areas

The purpose of the fixed-term development areas is to create extensive partnership projects.

• Consumer knowledge as a source of renewing policies
• Climate Arena – citizens’ participation in climate policy decision-making

Information service

Besides own publication and information work the Research Centre is responsible for the development and co-ordination of national information services related to consumer research. Research Centre is maintaining and developing a nationwide information service on consumer research (KULTU database).

Personnel

The plan of operations and the budget for the year 2009 are based on an estimated annual work input of altogether 40 man-years.

Budget

The net budget in the state budget for the year 2009 is 3,1 million euros.

Strategy 2011