Can we find viable solutions to societal challenges in two days?Can AI become a seamless part of the innovation process?In Kuutio, we test this and find out.
Decision-makers are dealing with an increasing number of challenges that are more complex than before. We need new ways to understand problems and find solutions.
Kuutio (The Cube) is a method developed by Sitra. Its aim is to provide Finland’s public sector with a fast, practical way to tackle societal challenges, examine them in a data-driven and future-oriented way, and find viable solutions.
A socially significant topic is selected for Kuutio. Around 20–30 key leaders and decision-makers are invited to work on the topic for two days.
Kuutio helps participants build a shared understanding of the situation and develop solutions in a data-driven way, taking the long term and different perspectives into account. The aim is to strengthen the public sector’s foresight and innovation capability, and to test whether AI could become a seamless part of the innovation process.
The first Kuutio was held in January 2026. During spring 2026, several pilot rounds will be delivered on different topics.
Kuutio builds on Sitra’s work on strengthening renewal and innovation capability in the public sector
Explore summaries, proposed solutions and data from Kuutio (in Finnish).
22–23 April 2026
Kuutio #4 focused on taking a cross-cutting look at the multi-layered phenomenon of youth and gang crime, across society and the service system.
The aim was to find new, effective ways to coordinate or reorganise the work of authorities and other actors, so that the cycle of offending—especially among children and young people who repeatedly commit serious crimes—can be broken or prevented. The goal was to identify what actions society and the service system need in order to intervene. Kuutio #4 was organised in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior.
18–19 March 2026
Access to skilled labour is a prerequisite for sustainable economic growth, companies’ internationalisation and innovation. Shrinking younger age cohorts in Finland and globally are increasing competition for talent. International higher education students could be exactly the people that sectors facing skills shortages need. However, there are challenges in their employment, and many leave the country soon after graduation.
To enable international higher education students to find employment, we need long-term solutions developed jointly by different actors in society—solutions that benefit all parties.
25–26 February 2026
Young people’s position in working life is crucial for society’s future. Changes in the labour market, uncertainty and structural barriers make it harder for young people to access work. For many, the first steps into working life are still too dependent on chance, and structures do not match young people’s hopes for meaningful work, flexibility and fair treatment.
How can we develop working life so that young people have better chances to find their place in it?
Young people bring new values and skills to working life—and renewing working life to better include them benefits society as a whole. To improve youth employment sustainably, we need anticipatory and comprehensive action to renew the structures of working life.
21–22 January 2026
Food security is part of societal security and a foundation for human wellbeing. Changes in the geopolitical security environment and global trade are increasing the importance of domestic food production and security of supply. Above all, however, food security is challenged by climate change. At the same time, Finland’s abundant water resources and the diversity of its regions could become an opportunity compared with other countries.
To succeed in preparing for changes in the climate and geopolitics, we need sufficient and anticipatory adaptation measures as a society.
On the first day, participants explore possible futures related to the topic and their cause-and-effect relationships with AI support, using both data and imagination. They also work on scenario pathways and an impact map.
Outputs:
On the second day, participants focus on identifying the topic’s most important leverage points, taking a multi-dimensional view, and developing changes and solutions. They also build an overall picture of the two days of work.
The key points of the work are compiled and published on Sitra’s website.
Kuutio work takes two days and consists of 12 steps.
AI is used in Kuutio through an AI platform coded by Sitra. Only carefully selected reports and data, verified by experts, are brought into the platform. In Kuutio, participants produce different perspectives in the platform. AI classifies and links the perspectives in real time, looking for similarities in the data base.
No personal data is entered into Kuutio’s AI platform, and it is not used for any other part of the work either. Participants do not use their own devices in Kuutio.
Ja kysy lisää
Lead Specialist, Innovations
040 684 9590
saara.saarinen@sitra.fi
Director, Innovations
+358 294 618 223
kalle.nieminen@sitra.fi