The openness of the organizational culture is recognised as a key target for development in openness at the NLS. The openness of the National Land Survey of Finland’s organizational culture is promoted with active communication, through close collaboration with companies in research activities, by taking responsibility into account in the assessment and recruitment processes of researchers and with research projects promoting citizen science.
The National Land Survey of Finland recognises the role of citizen science in its research operations, and the NLS also has some positive experiences with collecting citizens’ observations and including the citizens in collecting data with social importance (such as the Osoitehaavi, Karttakerttu and Pyykkijahti projects). The role of citizen science is recognised as important at the National Land Survey of Finland, and the goal of the NLS is to further increase the competence of its personnel in promoting citizen science projects. The same research support services relating to funding applications, data management, publication and communications planning are provided to citizen science projects as for all other projects.
The NLS collaborates with private companies in different research and development projects whose results are directly used to make production more effective and/or develop new products and services. In fact, companies are central partners in the NLS’s research and development activities. NLS research projects carried out in collaboration with companies comply with the national recommendation, and openness is promoted to the extent possible.
Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination
The Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI) of the National Land Survey (NLS) of Finland is committed to promoting gender equality and non-discrimination and to complying with the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) requirements of Horizon Europe Framework Programme in order to promote gender equality at all levels of the organisation and in all areas of operations. The NLS’s equality and non-discrimination work and the equality plan for 2025–2028 included in the NLS’s Personnel Plan are based on the organisation’s 2030 strategy and values, responsibility plan and legislation.
The purpose of the Gender Equality Plan 2025–2028 is to create a working environment that promotes gender equality and non-discrimination, where all employees can reach their full potential, regardless of their gender, gender identity or gender expression. The plan is a strategic document that demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to promoting gender equality and non-discrimination. The progress of the measures presented in the Gender Equality Plan is assessed annually, and changes are made as necessary.
The NLS FGI’s management team, which includes a personnel representative, is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the FGI’s Gender Equality Plan. The management team informs and engages in regular dialogue with the organisation’s HR management on the implementation of the monitoring targets of the equality plan and any need for changes.