- In a research webinar hosted by the Finnish Centre for Pensions (ETK) earlier this week, several industry experts discussed the importance of clarity from policymakers on what pension reform is intended to achieve and clarity for the public about what is being called a pension.

At the ETK-INPeR research seminar, University of Leuven professor, Yves Stevens, warned that pension reforms can sometimes be used as a tool to address problems outside pensions, such as labour market or financial market issues, a practice he described as “smuggling”. The seminar also heard speakers stress that pension systems need to adapt to changing career paths and forms of employment, but cautioned against redesigning them simply to solve wider economic problems. Additionally, the seminar highlighted that the way pension systems are framed and described can shape public expectations, particularly as countries move from defined benefit to defined contribution schemes, which shifts more risk from employers to individuals.

- Finnish earnings-related pension provider Varma and its partners are developing the first AI-based work ability assistant in the earnings-related pension sector to support supervisors, set for wider rollout in 2027.

The assistant, named Maia, can be consulted verbally or via online chat and its expertise is based on Varma’s specialist knowledge and research. However, the assistant does not have access to client-specific information, such as personal data. A line manager can ask the assistant for advice, for example, when they have concerns about an employee’s well-being at work. The work ability assistant aims to make information more accessible, reduce barriers in seeking help and, in doing so, make management more effective.

- Danish pension company PFA has partnered with the National Centre for Grief to launch a research and development project to provide more support for grief in the workplace.

PFA found that the number of people receiving support to cope with grief following a death or serious illness has more than doubled since 2022. In light of this, PFA has joined forces with the National Centre for Grief to launch the project ‘Grief in the Workplace’. The project aims to investigate how workplaces can best support employees in the event of serious illness or the death of a close relative. This includes, amongst other things, the initial conversation, ongoing follow-up and the return to work. PFA is contributing to the project as an implementation and dissemination partner, with the goal of ensuring that the research findings are translated into practical tools and put to use in Danish workplaces.

- Nordic financial services firm Nordea has financed Campus Ullevål, Norway’s new research and innovation centre.

The building opened earlier this week and has been financed by Nordea since construction began. The new research and innovation centre aims to bring together leading academic communities in climate, health and the environment. It will form an important part of the Oslo Science City knowledge cluster. The building was developed by Aspelin Reitan and is owned by both Aspelin Reitan and the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, each holding a 50 per cent stake. A collection of specialist organisations covering the full spectrum of Norwegian climate and environmental research have moved into the building, including NGI, AstraZeneca, NIBIO, NORCE, Sykehusbygg HF, CICERO and NIVA.

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