About us

CEMAT’s mission is to provide scientifically rigorous and societally relevant research on rapidly emerging economies and on the competitiveness of the Baltic Sea Region in the global economy. We are currently a team of 23 people, four of whom have a doctoral degree and five are preparing doctoral dissertation theses.

Our academic and applied research go hand in hand. We report our research for companies and other stakeholders regularly in our bi-annual reviews (CEMAT Economic Prospects of Russia and China; Economic Monitoring of Northwest Russia) and in more extensive theme reports.  In academic publishing, we aim to correspond to top-level international publications. Our research is funded both by national organizations (Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation TEKES, Academy of Finland, foundations and ministries) and by international programs (as part of larger EU research projects).

Networks

CEMAT works closely with business associations and industry organizations (Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, Finpro, chambers of commerce), as well as research institutes and universities in Finland and target areas. Our partners in Russia include the National Research University Higher School of Economics, and St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance. Our partners in China include the Fudan University and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. We work actively in the councils of Nordic research networks on Asia (including the Nordic NIAS Council and the Nordic Centre at the Fudan University).

In the Aalto University, our network has also expanded to cover target areas’ leading universities in the technical and artistic fields (such as the National Research University, St. Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics; and the St. Petersburg State University of Film and Television).

Societal influence

CEMAT researchers are active in forums for social influence, such as in the working groups of Finnish parliament committees and the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK). CEMAT is in charge of the chairmanship of the Working Group for Social Sciences under the Finnish-Russian Commission for Scientific and Technological Cooperation. We have also been founding members in establishing nationwide university networks and doctoral and master's level schools in Russian and Asian studies, and we are active in their management boards.

Activities in St. Petersburg

CEMAT works closely with the Small Business Center of the Aalto University School of Business that provides education on Russia and the Baltic Sea Region. We bring our research expertise to Small Business Centre's training and development projects with a focus on the internationalization of Russia and the Baltic states. In May 2010, CEMAT and the Small Business Centre opened an office in the Finland-house in St. Petersburg .

Our facilities are located in the Helsinki center which further enhances our cooperation with the City of Helsinki in planning and implementation of the joint EU projects (project themes include urban marketing and logistics). In addition we work in cooperation with the Greater Helsinki Promotion (GHP) both in the above-mentioned projects and as a research partner.