As part of the Spring 2025 strategy work, in addition to reviewing strategic priorities, there was also an examination of the need to update the PI's rules. The aim of the proposed rule changes was, among other things, to facilitate and speed up the recruitment of new members, especially students; to streamline the operations of the annual general meeting and the board; to enable more company members to participate in PI’s activities; to expand PI’s opportunities for fundraising; and to strengthen cooperation with higher education institutions in the field. The proposed amendments were drafted in consultation with lawyer Oili Kela, who specialises in association and foundation law, and they were pre-reviewed over the summer by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office.
The proposed changes were presented for the first time at the annual general meeting on 24 April 2025, with the statutory second reading held at the autumn meeting on 19 November 2025, where the new rules were approved. The full rules are available on our website, but the most significant changes are summarised below:
- It is now possible to receive donations and bequests.
- New members will be approved by PI’s board at meetings held throughout the year, instead of only at the association’s official spring or autumn meetings.
- Student members may now be accepted at the beginning of their studies, without the previous requirement of two years of relevant study.
- Higher education institutions in the field may now be invited as honorary members, and communities and foundations can now join as company members.
- The duties of the association’s annual general meeting have been streamlined by transferring the appointment of committees from the general meeting to the board.
- The procedures for convening association meetings have been simplified and digitised, and remote meetings are now permitted.
- The composition and duties of the board and executive committee have changed, with the board increasing in size and greater rotation among members.
- The criteria for prizes awarded from the scholarship fund have been clarified, and the strict requirement for association membership has been removed.