Jussi Manninen is an experienced technology and leadership professional who works at VTT. As executive vice president of the Solutions for Natural Resources and Environment business area, his tasks include leading the 450-person department, managing its finances and keeping in contact with its Finnish and European partners and financiers. Manninen has had a 17-year career at VTT. He has been involved in both creating the Finnish bioeconomy strategy and putting it into practice as a program director for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Manninen’s strength as a leader is that he is familiar with both the research world and its policy landscape. Manninen believes technological know-how on its own is not enough: good policies that support societal change are also needed.