News

Sitra strengthens its voice in Brussels

Sitra’s first Head of EU Affairs took up his post at the beginning of February. A stronger presence in Brussels will enhance Sitra’s ability to contribute to European discussions and solutions. 

Author

Pipsa Havula

Communications Specialist, Sitra International , Sitra international

News

Published

4.3.2026

In February, Ilkka Räsänen took up his role as Sitra’s first Head of EU Affairs, strengthening Sitra’s presence in Brussels.

The Head of EU Affairs position in Brussels supports Sitra’s strategic goal of being a trusted partner in the EU and globally. In practice, this means expanding networks, deepening partnerships for EU funding programmes, and bolstering Sitra’s EU advocacy. At the same time, it builds on Sitra’s nationally and internationally recognised work in foresight and innovation. 

“This is an important step in implementing Sitra’s strategy. Sitra is becoming increasingly international,” says Kristo Lehtonen, director of International Programmes at Sitra. 

Sitra’s International Programmes focus on tackling European and global challenges, enhancing well‑being, and boosting economic growth within earth’s carrying capacity. This work is carried out in close collaboration with partners, and a presence in Brussels further supports these efforts. 

Räsänen brings extensive experience in international advocacy and a deep understanding of the EU institutions to his role in Brussels. “Having a presence on the ground is essential for meaningful engagement in the EU,” Räsänen says. “It allows dialogue and collaboration to take place on a continuous basis, rather than through occasional business trips.” 

Enhancing Sitra’s presence in Brussels also benefits Finland, as Sitra’s foresight work and practical solutions become a stronger part of the European debate. At the same time, new solutions and perspectives are brought back to Finland.  

A year of events

Sitra is organising, or co‑organising, several events in Brussels this year.

  • On 2–3 March, Sitra participated in the CEPS Ideas Lab organised by the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). Sitra took part in the panel discussion Project 2028: Completing the Single Market and hosted a invitation‑only workshop titled Breaking Bottlenecks in the Digital Single Market.
  • On 11 March, Sitra will organise a launch event for a new study examining how social media shapes young Europeans’ worldviews.
  • On 12 March, the TEHDAS2 project will host a workshop in Brussels focusing on intellectual property rights related to health data.
  • On April 22–23, Sitra will participate in the annual conference of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) as a member of its Coordination Group.
  • On 29 May, TEHDAS2 and the EHDS Community of Practice network will co‑organise an event addressing the challenges and success factors related to the implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation.
  • At the beginning of June, Sitra will publish a study in Brussels that draws on the results of the workshop held at the Ideas Lab in March. The study presents policy recommendations for breaking bottlenecks in the digital single market.
  • Further events are planned for autumn. On 20 October, Sitra will organise an event on cybersecurity in healthcare in Brussels.

Contact us

Ilkka Räsänen

Head of EU Affairs, Sitra International Programmes

Kristo Lehtonen

Director, Sitra International Programmes

Anu Mänty

Senior Lead, Sitra International Programmes

See also