research funding in finland

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Grant programs for studies, research and professional development between finland and the u.s..

The Fulbright Finland Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. We promote the exchange of knowledge and professional talent through educational contacts between Finland and the United States. We design and manage study and research scholarships, leadership development programs and internationalization services in collaboration with a range of government, foundation, university and corporate partners on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Research funding services

We provide a wide range of services to applicants for research funding, including

• Sharing information on funding opportunities
• Organising training and information sessions
• Interpreting funders’ terms
• Supporting the planning of research projects
• Commenting on research plans
• Providing instructions for submitting an application
• Assisting in launching projects
• Assisting in contract negotiations

Research funding can be applied for by individual researchers or the University.

Read also about other research services (business collaboration, legal services, project coordination services, laboratory services, doctoral education services).

Research funding for the University of Helsinki is composed of the core funding awarded by the Finnish government, external funding and the University’s own assets.

The most important sources of competitive research funding are

• Academy of Finland
• Strategic Research Council
• Business Finland
• EU framework programmes
• National and international foundations

Finnish foundations constitute a considerable source of research funding on Meilahti Campus , and the United States is among the key international funders there.

On Kumpula Campus , the preconditions for high-quality research are supported by the EU and other international funders alongside the Academy of Finland.

The four faculties and other units active on the City Centre Campus as well as the four faculties and other units operating at Viikki Campus have also succeeded in acquiring competitive national and international funding, evidencing the high standard of their research.

Grants to Apply

Jenny ja antti wihuri foundation’s grants create opportunities for work, initiatives, and development of operation in the fields of science, art, and societal activities. grants can be sought through the yearly application process organized in the spring. the foundation also takes part in joint grant pools of finnish foundations., the next application round will be organized 9.5.–31.5.2024., we award grants broadly to different fields.

Grants for science

Scientific work

Grants for the fields of science are primarily awarded for research work. Grants can be applied for doctoral thesis work, post-doctoral research and other research. In addition, it is possible to apply for a homing grant which is research funding for a person returning to Finland after post-doctoral research abroad, intended to the establishment of a research group of one’s own. Research groups can apply for part-funding of their research projects.

Grants are awarded broadly to different fields of science to both basic and applied research. However, we do not award grants in the fields of medicine and biomedicine, since they are furthered through funding the Wihuri Research Institute.

Other activities that further the appreciation and impact of science

Grants may also be applied for other activities that further research or the appreciation and impact of science in the society.

Grants for art

Grants in the fields of art are intended to create prerequisites for artistic work and for encountering and experiencing art in the society.

For example, you can apply for a working grant for artistic work in the fields of music, literature, dance or theater, as well as grants for instrument purchases or organizing performances and events. It is also possible to apply for grants for initiatives and development projects in the fields of art and culture.

We support visual arts mainly by making art acquisitions to the Wihuri Foundation Collection in Rovaniemi Art Museum, and by maintaining visual arts residency programs. Therefore in principle, we do not award working grants in the field of visual arts or grants for organizing exhibitions.

Grants for societal activities

Societal activities is all such work that builds an active and inclusive civil society. Societal activities include, for example, youth work, voluntary national defense work, cultural activities, and promotion of entrepreneurial skills. However, societal activities may include other themes, too.

What kind of funding and for who?

Individuals, working groups (consisting of individuals), and organizations can apply for grants. We award mainly working grants for individuals and expenditure grants for organizations.

In principle, the grant applicant seeking funding should be Finnish, the project should take place in Finland or it should have a strong link to Finland.

You can find updated information about grants (e.g. amount of working grant) here . We update the information each year before the application period starts.

Good to know

A list of awarded grants will be published on the Foundation website 9 of October. All grant applicants will be informed about the decisions via email by the end of September. Successful grant applicants will also receive a letter.

Final decisions about grants are made by the board of Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation. The board uses the help of experts of different fields when assessing the grant proposals. You can read more about the assessment of applications  here .

Foundation's Post Doc Pool

The Foundations’ Post Doc Pool is a grant resource set up by Finnish foundations, all members of the Council of Finnish Foundations, and intended for post-doctoral research abroad that lasts for at least one semester. The Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation participates in the Foundations’ Post doc pool.

On the current three year period (2022-2024) the Pool is set up by the Ella and Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation, Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Foundation for Economic Education, Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, Finnish Academy for Science and Letters, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Finnish Medical Foundation, Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, Society of Swedish Literature in Finland, Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion, Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation and Ulla Tuominen Foundation, which allocate 3 250 000 euros to the Pool annually.

A Board with representatives appointed by each member foundation manages the Pool. The Pool takes care of expert review of applications and preparatory work, after which the foundations involved will make the actual grant decisions.The Post Doc-pool has two application rounds per year. The spring application round takes place in December-January and the autumn application round in August-September.

More information can be found here.

Post Docs in Companies Program

Post Docs in Companies is a matchmaking program aiming to facilitate the employment of young doctors to the private sector and, at the same time, contribute to the strategic renewal of Finnish business life. Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation participates in the Finnish foundations’ joint PoDoCo -program.

PoDoCo-program is aimed for young doctors who have recently completed or will soon complete their doctoral degree. PoDoCo program has two application rounds each year and awards some 10 post-doctoral grants in each round.

PoDoCo-program, is a joint initiative of Finnish universities, industry and foundations. PoDoCo program is funded by Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, Maa- ja vesitekniikan tuki ry, Svenska Kulturfonden, Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion, Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation, Foundation for Economic Education, KAUTE Foundation, The Paulo Foundation and Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland. DIMECC Ltd. is responsible for the practical implementation of the programme.

Doctoral funding

On doctoral level, no tuition fees are charged, but you will need to cover your living expenses. When you apply for doctoral admission , you can ask the Finnish university department for advice on research funding options. The university departments may have paid doctoral research positions available, or doctoral funding schemes of their own. They can usually also best direct you to potential grant-awarding foundations in your field of scientific research.

EDUFI Fellowships

The national EDUFI Fellowship scholarship programme is available for doctoral level studies and research in Finland.

• EDUFI Fellowship information on the EDUFI home pages

Note that you can not independently apply for the EDUFI Fellowship - the "applicant" in this scholarship programme is your Finnish university department. So, in order to be eligible for the EDUFI Fellowship, you must first successfully apply for doctoral admission .

If you have questions regarding the EDUFI Fellowship itself, please contact the scholarships admins directly. You can find their contact details on the above EDUFI Fellowship web page.

Note that EDUFI Fellowships are not full degree scholarships but "start-up grants" awarded for a maximum of 12 months. After the EDUFI scholarship period the student/researcher will need to find other sources of funding.

Other funding resources

For more information on scientific research funding in Finland, see the Research Council of Finland website and the Research.fi funding calls database .

Paid Doctoral positions may also be available - see links to the universities' Doctoral info pages in the section Doctoral Admissions .

Research Funding

Funding for scientific research in Finland comes predominantly from private companies and the government. Other important sources of funding include various funds and foundations. Here are some of the biggest funding agencies:

The Academy of Finland (AoF) promotes excellent, responsible and high-impact research with a view to ensuring that society can make the best possible use of the results of that research. AoF produces high-quality data and analyses and supports the use of scientific knowledge in policy-making. AoF works in close consultation with other stakeholders in the Finnish research, education and innovation system. AoF is the prime funding agency for scientific research in Finland. 

Sitra (Finnish Innovation Fund)

Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund is another key source of funding for science and technology in Finland.

EDUFI  (Finnish national Agency for Education). EDUFI administers scholarship and exchange programmes for young people, students and researchers. For more detailed information, visit EDUFI’s Study in Finland webpages.

Council for Finnish Foundations

The Council of Finnish Foundations provides a range of services for grant applicants and grant recipients. Through it´s Aurora database, you can look for funding possibilities for science, art and culture. The database includes funders from Finland as well as foreign funding parties that it is possible for Finns or those living in Finland to apply for. Many of the funder websites are in English, but some are only in Finnish.

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Funding opportunities for researchers

Are you planning a research career at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) with external funding? Here we introduce funding opportunities for researcher fellowship at UEF.

UEF Research Services will help you in applying for research funding:

• We offer trainings on various funding opportunities.
• Comment research proposals to Academy of Finland and Horizon Europe Programmes.
• Researchers working at the UEF can apply for UEF's strategic funding to support the preparatory of high-quality international research funding proposals. Funding can be used e.g. to salary costs for UEF employees for 1-2 months, travel costs and costs of consulting services.

Our UEF Funding Path shows you opportunities in different researcher career stages.

Learn more about funding opportunities for your researcher career

European research council (erc) funding.

ERC funding supports the highest quality research in Europe. It provides long-term funding for frontier, bottom-up, high-risk/high-gain research projects. The sole criterion in the proposal evaluation is scientific excellence. The applicants can be from any field or any nationality, as long as their research project is based in EU- or Associated County.

ERC funding offers a possibility to concentrate on research with visibility and recognition. UEF has hosted total of 11 ERC projects since the program was established.

You can explore more UEF’s research environments and researchers at UEF Connect . If you would like to apply for an ERC project at UEF, please send 1–2-page project idea paper, CV and publication list to UEF Research Services: [email protected] .

There are five types of ERC funding instruments:

• Starting Grants (StG) are targeted to early-stage researchers that have 2-7 years of experience since completion of PhD. The applicants should have a scientific track record that is showing great promise. The grant is aimed to support them to become independent research leaders.
• Consolidator Grants (CoG) support researchers that already have their research group but are not established yet. The applicant must have 7-12 years of experience since completion of PhD.
• Advanced Grants (AdG) are targeted to outstanding and established researchers that will continue their work to expand the frontiers of scientific knowledge. The applicants must have a track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years.
• Synergy Grants (SyG) support groups 2-4 of researchers who combine their skills, knowledge, and resources to solve ambitious research problems.
• Proof of Concept is targeted to principal investigators that hold one of the above-mentioned grants and want to progress on the path from ground-breaking research towards innovation.

Support from the UEF Research Services to ERC applicants:

• ERC Info Day organized in April.
• A training session provided by an external consult. This event is typically organized in late May or early June.
• Promising applicants are offered Comments on proposal drafts by an external consultant. If the applicant proceeds to the second stage (interview), they can utilize private training sessions provided by an external consult.

Applicants who are successful with their proposal and are granted the ERC funding, will receive strategic funding from UEF as indicated below:

• ERC Advanced Grant 50 000 € per year.
• ERC Consolidator Grant 30 000 € per year.
• ERC Starting Grant 20 000 € per year.
• For those who receive either a Starting or Consolidator grant are guaranteed a tenure track position at UEF.

For more information, please contact UEF Research Services: [email protected] .

Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship

We welcome applicants to Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) to work at UEF!

The objective of MSCA-PF is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. It targets researchers with maximum of eight years fulltime equivalent experience in research (from the award date of the doctoral degree) who wish to carry out their activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. Read more about of the MSCA PF funding .

The MSCA-PF call is open for applications annually from April to mid-September. There are two types of fellowships:

• European Fellowship : When you have not lived in Finland for more than 12 months during the past three years, you can apply fellowship to work at UEF for 12-24 months.
• Global Fellowship : When you are citizen or long-term resident of EU member state or Horizon Europe Associated Country, you can apply fellowship for 12-24 months to work outside Europe followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, e.g. to UEF.

Support from the UEF Research Services for MSCA PF applicants:

• A training session for applicants and their supervisors by external consultant, typically in June
• Commenting of proposals
• Support with proposal submission

The proposals must be written in close collaboration with UEF supervisor. You may explore for potential supervisor for your postdoctoral fellowship from UEF Connect portal .

Please do not hesitate to contact us at the UEF Research Services via email [email protected] if you plan to apply for MSCA-PF to UEF!

Academy Research Fellowship

Are you planning to apply for the Academy Research Fellowship position at the University of Eastern Finland?

The Academy Research Fellowship funding promotes high-quality, high-impact research that stimulates renewal of science. The funding is intended for bottom-up research across all fields of science.

The goal of the Academy Research Fellowship funding is to support talented researchers in increasing their competencies and making significant career progress. Foreign researchers who already work or who will work in the Finnish scientific community may also apply for the funding.

• The eligibility period is 2-7 years since the first doctorate.
• The funding is granted for 4-years towards applicant's own salary, hiring a research team and/or other research costs.
• Call open annually in December-January.

The UEF Research Services' support to applicants of Academy Research Fellowship:

• Info event annually in November.
• Training annually in November-December.
• Feedback on research plan from the point of view of the call text.

More information about the Academy Research Fellowship positions on the website of the Academy of Finland .

Please contact the UEF Research Services via email [email protected] for more information and training materials.

UEF Research Fellow

A career path at UEF to well-performing Academy Research Fellowship applicants!

Researcher who have applied for the Academy Research Fellowship position at the UEF, but have not got funded, can apply for the UEF Research Fellow position at the UEF.

• The researcher is eligible to apply if the Academy Research Fellowship application receives the score of 5 or 6 from the Academy evaluation, and the host institution for the application is the UEF.
• The funding is granted to cover the applicant's own salary for 3 years.
• Further information on the application procedure via e-mail after the Academy of Finland funding decisions in spring.
• UEF Research Fellow position will start in the following September.

Learn more about a career path at UEF to well-performing Academy Research Fellow applicants .

For further information, please contact the UEF Research Services via email [email protected] .

Research Funding Blog

Funding opportunities in winter/spring 2024.

Are you looking for funding for your research? In this post, we list calls by Finnish and Nordic foundations with deadlines in winter and spring 2024.

Hanken encourages its researchers to apply for external funding to maximise the resources available for research. A list of upcoming funding calls by Finnish and Nordic foundations is presented below. The list also includes grants for travel and participation in conferences. The calls have application deadlines in winter and spring 2024.

Open calls are also published in the  Research Funding blog  and  research.fi .

Calls marked with an  *  are suitable for Ph.D students.

The list is continuously updated.

• Ami Säätiö (in Finnish): The foundation support high-level scientific research and knowledge creation through individual research grants for doctoral students and Post Docs. Grants are offered for research that align with the vision of the foundation, that is to make the labour market in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area the best in the Nordic countries and raise the competence of individuals and companies in the region. Deadline 29 January. *
• Finnish Foundations’ Post Doc Pool : The grants are intended for scholars, who have recently completed their doctoral degree and wish to conduct research abroad from Finland for at least 6 months. Deadline 31 January.
• Finnish Concordia Fund : Scholarships are awarded to Finnish women pursuing a doctoral degree or a degree from an upper secondary vocational school. Female students pursuing a doctoral degree can apply for work or travel scholarships. Deadline 31 January. *
• Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters : Supports is granted for research in natural sciences, biosciences, humanities and the social sciences. Grants are awarded for for conference trips, field trips and purchase of programs (not equipment). Deadline 31 January.
• KAUTE Foundation : The Foundation primarily awards grants for university post-degree studies and for young research fellows in the fields of commercial and technical sciences. Financial support is also provided for education and the creation, assembly and publication of research and data within business and engineering. Deadline 31 January. *
• Alfred Kordelin foundation : The foundation offers Major Cultural Project funding for projects in the field of science, art, societal activities or various combinations thereof. Projects that promote open-mindedness and new openings are prioritized. Only working groups and registered associations may apply. Deadline 31 January .
• Suomi-Amerikka Yhdistysten liitto (in Finnish): The scholarships of the SAM Scholarship Foundation are intended mainly for academic year-long postgraduate studies and/or research work in the fields of business and technology, as well as humanities and culture, at American universities and colleges. The applicant must be a Finnish citizen and a member of SAM. The grant must be used to cover expenses related to studies. Deadline 31 January. *
• OP Financial Group Research Foundation : The foundation has allocates grants intended for economic research and postgraduate studies. Research into cooperative banking and the financial sector on a more extensive basis is given priority. Additionally, the Foundation may grant 100,000 euros in Kyösti Haataja grants for research that is related to the causes and consequences of climate change and biodiversity loss and examines these phenomena from the perspectives of economics, social sciences and law. Deadline 7 February. *
• Marcus Wallenberg foundation : The foundation awards grants to high-quality scientific research within business administration or otherwise central from a management perspective. The Foundation may also grant support for researchers’ participation in international conferences and the organisation of international symposiums and international guest lecturers in Finland within the area of business administration. Deadline 8 February. *
• Finnish Cultural Foundation : For the January round of applications, the Regional Funds award grants to applicants residing or born in the region, for scientific or artistic work taking place in or focused on the region, and various cultural projects. The grants are awarded as working or expenditure grants to individuals and working groups. Deadline 9 February. *
• Emil Aaltosen Foundation (in Finnish): Researchers working on doctoral dissertations and recently graduated doctors in their further research work can apply for individual grants or project grants. The applicant must be Finnish-speaking. Deadline 15 February. *
• Oskar Öflunds stiftelse (in Swedish): The purpose of the foundation is to support Finnish non-profit activities by awarding grants to individuals and communities operating in science or culture. In even year, grants are offered for cultural and non-profit actitivites. In odd years, grants are awarded for scientific research. Deadline 15 February.
• The Finnish Work Environment Fund : The fund supports research projects focused on occupational safety, occupational health, productivity or relationships between different actors in working life. Only organisations may apply. Deadline 15 February.
• The Ella and Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation:  The foundation promotes scientific research and literature and provides grants to individual researchers (mainly doctoral candidates and young postdocs) and universities.  Deadline 28 February. *
• The Foundation for Advancement of Finnish Securities Markets:  The foundation awards grants for research and publishing activities related to securities saving and the development of the securities market, as well as related study trips.  Deadline 28 February.  *
• Svenska Litteratursällskapet: Personal grants are awarded for studies towards a licentiate degree or a PhD, or post-doc research. The application must be of relevance to the Swedish language or the Swedish cultural heritage in Finland.  Deadline 28 February.  *
• The Foundation for Municipal Development : The foundation allocates funding for research projects on municipalities as well as grants for individual researchers in the field. Applications are not restricted to a particular field of study or discipline.  Deadline 29 February.  *
• Gustaf Swanljungs stiftelse (in Swedish/Finnish): The foundation promotes commerce, industry and agriculture in Vaasa, Ostrobothnia. Grants can be awarded for research projects and doctoral studies. Deadline 29 February . *
• Ålandsbanken Baltic Sea project: The Baltic Sea Project is the Ålandsbanken’s way of encouraging new ideas for improving the condition of the Baltic Sea. Funding is available in five categories, and individuals, companies, and research groups alike can apply for funding for their projects. Deadline 29 February. *
• Niilo Helanderin säätiö : Finnish cultural projects are supported in the field of science and art, as well as in the development of trade and industry. Both private persons and working groups and communities can apply. The project has to have a connection to Finland. The application form is only in Finnish. Deadline TBC . *
• Evald and Hilda Nissi Foundation : Grants are awarded to students engaging in commercial studies, post-graduate studies or research, and researchers, and to the promotion of commercial expertise in the Vaasa region in Finland. Deadline TBC . *
• The Saara and Björn Wahlroos foundation:  The foundation supports post doctoral scholars, researchers, journalists and others engaged in public debate or scholarly work on pertinent social and economic issues.  Deadline 1 March. 
• City of Helsinki : The research grants are intended for post-graduate students working on a doctoral or licentiate thesis. Junior post doc researchers are also encouraged to apply. The research topic should be of significance for the city of Helsinki. Deadline 7 March. *
• Waldemar von Frenckells stiftelse (in Swedish): Research grants are granted for postgraduate research.  Deadline 15 March. *
• Svenska Litteratursällskapet: Funding is awarded for academic research projects being within one discipline or being multidisciplinary. Only research teams are eligible to apply. The application must be of relevance to the Swedish language or the Swedish cultural heritage in Finland. Deadline 31 March.
• Svensk Österbottniska samfundet (in Swedish): SÖS supports Swedish culture and science, including postgraduate studies and research projects, in Swedish Ostrobothnia.  Deadline 31 March. *
• Finnish Foundation for Share Promotion:  Grants are usually awarded for post-graduate research and studies relating to the stock market.  Deadline 31 March. *
• Peter Wallenbergs Stiftelse :  The foundation supports research and education projects related to economics and technology involving collaboration between Swedish and Finnish researchers.  Deadline 1 April.
• Nordic Tax Research Council : Research funds can be given to projects that aim to promote Nordic tax science research and develop Nordic collaborations of relevance for tax research. The applicant, alternatively someone with responsibility for the project or related to it, must however be employed, or otherwise active, at a Nordic university or research institute. Deadline 1 April.
• Finnish Research Impact Foundation : The foundation is opening the yearly Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc call. In a TIA Postdoc funds projects where a a post-doctoral researcher works closely with an academic partner for half of the project duration and with an industrial partner for the other half. Deadline 14 April.
• Post Docs in Companies : PoDoCo offers young scholars funding from one source for academic research having strategic importance for Finnish companies. The program offers a research period followed by a targeted research period lasting all together 1-2 years. Recently graduated PhD or PhD student graduating during next 6-9 months willing to work in companies are eligible for the program. Deadline 15 April.
• Fortum and Neste Foundation : The foundation offers grants and awards for research, education and development in natural, technical and economical sciences within the energy industry. Grants are awarded to a doctoral researcher or PhD. Deadline 22 April. *
• Otto A. Malm foundation :  The foundation supports higher education, institutions or projects serving the common good, and scientific research, by granting personal grants. Funds may also be granted for other purposes, such as conference attendances and collection of data. In even-numbered years (2024, 2026 etc.) the stipends are granted for scientific research. Research grants must be applied for individually. Deadline 30 April. *
• Nasdaq Nordic Foundation:  The Foundation’s mission is to promote scientific research and other initiatives related to the financial markets in Finland, Denmark and Sweden, with the goal of increasing competence and competitiveness for the financial markets within these countries. Deadline 13 May.
• Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation :  Every May, applications are accepted for grants for first- and second-year doctoral studies in economics. Only the applicants appointed by their University’s Departments of Economics are eligible to apply for a grant. Deadline 17 May. *
• Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation :  Grants for the fields of science are primarily awarded for research work. Grants can be applied for doctoral thesis work, post-doctoral research and other research. The grant applicant seeking funding should be Finnish or the project should take place in Finland or it should have a strong link to Finland.  Deadline 31 May. *

Continuous application

• Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation :  The primary objective of the Foundation is to promote top-level research particularly in the fields of medicine, technology and economics as well as high-level art and culture. The key focus of the Foundation’s activities is in the post-graduate research period.  Continuos application.
• Kone Foundation : For this special call “In the Woods”, Kone Foundation is seeking interdisciplinary projects that enhance understanding of the various meanings of forests and bring new perspectives and approaches to forest discourse. The ongoing call for proposals will remain open for several years.  Continuous application.
• The Helsinki Sanomat Foundation : The Foundation offers grants related to research on media, communications, and freedom of speech. The grants are distributed throughout the year, and decisions are made twice a year.  Continous application.

Grants for travel and/or participation in conferences:

• The Finnish Work Environment Fund :  Grants are awarded to cover the travel cost to an international conference where the scholar presents research connected to Finnish working life.  Deadline 15 January.
• Fulbright Finland Foundation :  Short term travel grants to the U.S for Finnish researchers. Applications from Finnish doctoral students and young postdoctoral scholars are particularly encouraged. Deadline 29 January. *
• Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters : Supports is granted for research in natural sciences, biosciences, humanities and the social sciences.  Grants are awarded for for conference trips, field trips and purchase of programs (not equipment). Deadline 31 January. *
• Finnish Concordia Fund (in Finnish): Travel grants (max. 1 500 euros) are awarded for conference trips related to doctoral dissertation. A prerequisite for awarding a grant is that the applicant is a Finnish woman and has a presentation or other agreed assignment at a foreign congress, conference or similar. Deadline 31 January. *
• Marcus Wallenberg foundation : The Foundation may grant support for researchers’ participation in international conferences and the organisation of international symposiums and international guest lecturers in Finland within the area of business administration. Deadline 8 February. *
• Researchers Abroad (Tutkijat maailmalle) : The purpose of the program is to support ambitious technology or economics researchers to conduct research at a high-level foreign university or research institute. The amount to be awarded is primarily intended to cover the additional costs of a 6-12 month continuous research visit. Applicants must have at least a master’s degree, but the grant may also be suitable for an early postdoc. Deadline 12 April. *
• The Finnish-Danish Cultural Foundation :  Grants for activities and visits to Denmark. The foundation supports activities that have a clear bilateral goal.  Deadline 28 February. *
• The Finnish-Norwegian Cultural Foundation :  Grants for activities and visits to Norway. The foundation supports activities that have a clear bilateral goal.  Deadline 28 February. *
• Svensk Österbottniska Samfundet :  Travel grants and participation in conferences for presenting own research. SÖS supports Swedish culture and science in Swedish Ostrobothnia. Deadline 31 March. *
• The Icelandic-Finnish Cultural Foundation:  Grants for activities and visits to Iceland. The foundation supports activities that have a clear bilateral goal.  Deadline 31 March. *
• Nordic Tax Research Council : NTRC invites applications for travel grant for young scholars in the Nordic countries. The grant should be used for travel costs and participation in activities that support Nordic collaboration for tax research, such as conferences and workshops, within in the Nordic countries. Deadline 1 April. *
• Otto A. Malm foundation :  Funds may also be granted for conference attendances. Deadline 30 April. *
• The Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation :  Grants for activities and visits to Sweden. The foundation supports activities that have a clear bilateral goal. Several application periods during the spring . *

Contact the Research Funding Services ( [email protected] ) well in advance for support with funding applications. Read more about our support services here .

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Research and Innovation System

Strong commitment to research and innovation has made Finland one of the leading knowledge-based economies in the world. Higher education institutions together with public and private research sector make up a system of networks and collaboration that foster efficiency in the society and provide a stable environment for research.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture ensures the overall functioning of higher education and science in Finland. The Ministry is responsible for the planning and implementation of higher education and science policy, and it prepares the related statutes, national budget proposals and government decisions. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is responsible for preparing and implementing Finland’s innovation policy. The Research and Innovation Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, coordinates the development of Finland’s innovation system.

The Finnish higher education system consists of 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences (UAS) that operate under the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. Additionally, 12 public research institutes work under related ministries. Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is a key cooperation partner for companies, research institutes, higher education institutions and policy makers both nationally and internationally. Other public research institutes are more mission-oriented, with a broad range of research objectives. Their mandate can vary from research (both basic and applied) to additional responsibilities, such as monitoring, data collection and management, certification and inspection.

Companies are key research partners for higher education institutions and research institutions. Increased private sector cooperation is one of the priority areas in  the National Roadmap for Research, Development and Innovation , released 2020. The new partnership model responds to the wishes by the private sector for a radical renewal in the use of public funding for the development of ecosystems (research, development and growth) as well as creating new operating models for testing, piloting and scaling innovations. The new model will also better group national programme financing with EU and other international funding. Partnerships target key growth areas and identified ecosystems and the selections for funding are made on a competitive basis.

Universities

The mission of the universities is to promote free research and to provide academic and artistic higher education based on research. The universities interact closely with the society.

There are 13 universities operating under the Ministry of Education and Culture, 11 institutions operate under public law and two are foundations pursuant to the Foundations Act. The 14th university is the Finnish National Defence University, which operates under the defence administration.

Universities provide lower (Bachelor's) and higher (Master's) degrees and scientific postgraduate degrees. Universities may also offer continuing education and open university instruction.

Universities total R&D expenditure is about 1,4 billion euros out of which one third is basic funding from the state. Most of the competitive project- and programme-based research funding comes from the Academy of Finland, Business Finland and European Union.

• Aalto University
• University of Helsinki
• University of Eastern Finland
• University of Jyväskylä
• University of Lapland
• LUT University
• National Defence University
• University of Oulu
• Hanken School of Economics
• University of the Arts Helsinki
• Tampere University
• University of Turku
• University of Vaasa
• Åbo Akademi University

Universities of applied sciences

The mission of the Finnish UASs is to provide higher education for professional expertise necessary in the working life and its further development.

UAS education draws from research, and/or artistic and cultural foundations. UAS also engage in applied research, development, innovative and artistic activities in support of their education as well as regional development. Their basic offering consists of Bachelor's degrees, but they also offer a professionally orientated Master’s degree that requires a minimum of three years of prior working experience. In addition to UAS-degrees, they provide vocational specialist training and vocational teacher education.

UASs also provide open education in all fields of vocational education and training available to anybody interested in higher education, regardless of age or previous educational level.

There are 22 UASs administered by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The Police University College functions under the Ministry of the Interior.

Universities of Applied Sciences’ total R&D expenditure is around 180 million euros. Of this about 40 % is basic funding from state. Most of the competitive research funding comes from the European Union and national public sources.

• Centria University of Applied Sciences
• Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
• Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences
• HUMAK University of Applied Sciences
• Häme University of Applied Sciences
• Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences
• South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences
• Kajaani University of Applied Sciences
• Karelia University of Applied Sciences
• LAB University of Applied Sciences
• Lapland University of Applied Sciences
• Laurea University of Applied Sciences
• Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
• Oulu University of Applied Sciences
• Police University College
• Satakunta University of Applied Sciences
• Savonia University of Applied Sciences
• Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences
• Tampere University of Applied Sciences
• Turku University of Applied Sciences
• Vaasa University of Applied Sciences
• Yrkeshögskolan Arcada
• Yrkeshögskolan Novia

State research institutes

State research institutes conduct solution-oriented research that supports societal decision-making and business sector.

In addition to research activities, institutes perform a variety of expert and official tasks as well as fee-based and other service activities. Research institutes maintain significant research infrastructures, datasets and long time series from different sectors of society. Research institutes provide services horizontally for most administrative branches, the public sector, companies and third sector actors. International cooperation plays a key role both in research and in expert and official tasks.

Finland's 12 state research institutes operate in seven different administrative branches. Of these research institutes, ten are performance-based agencies, one is a limited liability company owned and controlled by the state, and one is an independent body governed by public law. The departments define the research priorities together with the ministry steering the performance. The research itself is independent and its funding increasingly comes from several sources from the domestic public and private sectors as well as from international funders.

• Geological Survey of Finland
• Finnish Meteorological Institute
• Natural Resources Institute Finland
• National Land Survey of Finland
• Finnish Food Authority
• Finnish Environment Institute
• Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority
• Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT
• National Institute for Health and Welfare
• Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
• Finnish Institute of International Affairs
• VATT Institute for Economic Research

University hospitals

University hospitals form health research clusters together with the universities' medical faculties. In cooperation with universities, higher education institutions and companies, university hospitals produce research that develops health services and their organization and promotes the health of the population and patients.

• Helsinki University Hospital Catchment Area
• Kuopio University Hospital Catchment Area
• Oulu University Hospital Catchment Area
• Tampere University Hospital Catchment Area
• Turku University Central Hospital Catchment Area

Other research institutes

In addition to state research institutes, research is also conducted in numerous other public or private research institutes or in the research units of individual organizations. These include, for example, economic research institutes, the Bank of Finland and the Research Department of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.

Approximately two-thirds of Finnish research and development take place in companies. In addition to the R&D, companies engage in a significant amount of innovation, which they use to develop and market new products, services or production processes.

Research funders

In Finland, both public and private sectors invest heavily in research and development. In 2018, the total investment for R&D was 6.4 billion euros, with private sector funding constituting around two thirds and public sector one third of the total.

The government is the main source of funding for universities and the UASs. Additionally, funding by private foundations has been instrumental to the development of many disciplines in Finland.

Research Council of Finland grants €1.3 million for the University of Turku research infrastructures

The Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee at the Research Council of Finland has decided on more than 22 million euros in funding for the building and upgrading of national and international research infrastructures. The University of Turku is involved in four of the funded research infrastructures.

This was the second and last set of decisions on the FIRI 2023 call. The funding granted under the call totals more than 52 million euros.

The University of Turku is involved in the following infrastructure projects that have received funding:

• EU-OPENSCREEN Finland (EU-OS FI), Senior Research Fellow Michael Courtney , €311,333
• Finnish Astronomy in the era of the Extremely Large Telescope (FASE), Professor Seppo Mattila , Docent Jari Kotilainen , €701,949 
• Cosmology Data Center Finland (CDC-FI), University Research Fellow Rubina Kotak , €112,000 
• Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe – Finland (SHAREFI), Professor Mikko Niemelä , €201,817

EU-OPENSCREEN Finland (EU-OS FI)

University of Turku, University of Helsinki, Åbo Akademi University

Chemical biology, the development of new small molecules with specific biological activities, is of tremendous value as the starting point for understanding biological processes and for discovering new drugs, agrochemicals and other commercially valuable bioactive agents.

EU-OPENSCREEN ERIC provides open access to world class chemical biology infrastructures, technologies and expertise, with a compound collection of > 100,000 compounds and open database. As founding member, Finland has a key role in EU-OS and Finnish membership in EU-OS brings domestic scientists outstanding opportunities and access to technologies, services and resources not currently available in Finland.

This RI development project focuses on enhancing RI’s capabilities in providing services in technology areas which are foreseen to provide novel research possibilities and potential for scientific breakthroughs for the users at national and international level.

Finnish Astronomy in the era of the Extremely Large Telescope (FASE)

University of Turku, University of Helsinki

The University of Turku is leading the project and Seppo Mattila is the director.

The European Southern Observatory (ESO), which Finland is a member of, is one of the largest international infrastructures in astronomy. ESO is constructing the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) making use of new technologies that have never been pursued before. It is expected to revolutionise our perception of the Universe by addressing many prominent unsolved questions in astrophysics. Instruments for the ELT are built by consortia from the ESO member states.

Participation in the ELT instrumentation projects is necessary for the Finnish community to strengthen its position in front-line astronomical research and in the development of new technologies. This project is a collaboration between the Finnish universities and the funding will provide a significant total investment for the entire Finnish astronomy community to take full advantage of the unique ELT infrastructure and be part of the scientific and technological revolution it will entail.

Part of the received funding will be used for significant upgrades and development work for the Nordic Optical Telescope which is owned by the universities of Turku and Aarhus and is located on La Palma in the Canary Islands.

Cosmology Data Center Finland (CDC-FI)

University of Helsinki, Aalto University, University of Oulu, University of Turku, CSC – It Center for Science Ltd.

So that Finland can participate in large international observational cosmology projects, such as the European Space Agency Euclid and LISA space observatories, a Cosmology Data Center is established in Finland. Data Center is the Finnish in-kind contribution that ensures the Finnish membership in them.

Euclid is a wide-field space telescope to be launched in July 2023. Euclid will observe over 1/3 of the sky and will help solve the mystery of the accelerating expansion of the universe: is it caused by a new form of energy, “dark energy”, filling the universe, or must the law of gravity be modified?

LISA will be the first gravitational wave observatory in space. Gravitational waves have opened a new window into the universe: LISA will look deeper into the early universe than has been possible with optical or radio telescopes.

The data from these missions will have a huge impact on cosmology and astrophysics, and will form a basis for future research in these fields.

Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe – Finland (SHAREFI)

University of Eastern Finland, The Family Federation of Finland, University of Turku,Tampere University

The population in Finland is one of Europe’s oldest populations. Population ageing creates health, economic and social effects that emerge over time. To understand and monitor these effects, a longitudinal data and applicable methods are required.

SHARE is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) and it has provided multidisciplinary and cross-national longitudinal data on changing health, the economic and social living conditions of European citizens aged 50 and over since 2004. Users now have access to 530,000 interviews of individuals from 28 countries in Europe, including Israel.

Finland joined SHARE in 2016. Waves 7,8 and 9 (Corona Surveys) of SHARE data have been collected in Finland, and the planning of wave 10 data collection is under way.

Updated on February 2, 2024 at 09.16. Added a mention of the NOT telescope: Part of the received funding will be used for significant upgrades and development work for the Nordic Optical Telescope which is owned by the universities of Turku and Aarhus and is located on La Palma in the Canary Islands.

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IISMA Co-Funding 2024

Requirement

English Proficiency Score Submission Procedures

Application

IISMA Co-Funding

Indonesia International Student Mobility Award Co-funding (IISMA Co-funding) is scholarship scheme by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia to fund Indonesian students (undergraduate and vocational students) with a partial funding scheme between students and the government. The IISMA Co-funding Program is in line with the increasing enthusiasm and high interest from students, universities across nation, and various world-renowned higher educational institutions.

Eligibility

To apply for IISMA Co-funding 2024, you must (be):

1. an active undergraduate or vocational student, currently enrolled and registered in the Higher Education Database (Pangkalan Data Pendidikan Tinggi – PDDIKTI), who falls under the following criteria:

• Undergraduate students in their 4th or 6th semester at recognized universities in Indonesia (Perguruan Tinggi Dalam Negeri – PTDN) under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology; or
• Diploma 3 students in their 4th semester and Diploma 4 students in their 4th or 6th semester at recognized universities offering vocational programs in Indonesia (Perguruan Tinggi Penyelenggara Pendidikan Vokasi – PTPPV) under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology;

2. an active undergraduate or vocational student, currently enrolled and registered in the Higher Education Database (Pangkalan Data Pendidikan Tinggi – PDDIKTI), who falls under the following criteria:

3. maximum 24 years old by July 1, 2024;

4. have a cumulative GPA of minimum 3.0 (out of 4.0) proven by the latest academic transcript;

5. nominated by Head of Study Program/Head of Department of home university ( PTDN  or  PTPPV );

6. never have taken college leave during study;

7. not participate in other Kampus Merdeka flagship programs while taking part in IISMA Program;

8. not take any classes at home university during IISMA program;

9. not have participated in more than one (1) Kampus Merdeka Flagship Program prior to the IISMA Program;

10. submit valid English proficiency certificate with the following minimum scores: 

a. Undergraduate students:

i. TOEFL iBT – 78, IELTS – 6.0, or Duolingo English Test – 100,

b. Vocational students:

i. TOEFL iBT – 60, IELTS – 6.0, Duolingo English Test – 95, or TOEIC Listening and Reading Test – 605,

to IISMA’s official institutional code of respective English test * ; ( check here )

11. never have violated the rules, norms, and/or laws applied in Indonesia;

12. adhere to the rules and regulations while participating in the IISMA program.

* If the host university’s English Language proficiency requirement exceeds requirement on point 10 or exclusively accepts a specific type of English language proficiency test, the language criteria established by the host university will apply to the applicant. Kindly review and refer to the minimum English Proficiency scores specified by your preferred host universities.

Required Documents

Main Required Documents (submitted by 22 April 2024)

1. Letter of Statement Signed and Stamped ( bermeterai ) by Applicant and Parents/Guardians ( Undergraduate | Vocational )

2. Letter of Statement Signed and Stamped (bermeterai) by the Head of Study Program/Head of Department ( Undergraduate | Vocational )

3. Parental Statement of Independent Component Financing ( Undergraduate | Vocational ) or

Parental Statement Approving Independent Component Financing by Guardian ( Undergraduate | Vocational ) *

4. Identity Card (KTP) in color

5. Household Card (Kartu Keluarga) [ terms and conditions click here ]

6. Academic transcript in semester 1-3 for 4th semester student, or 1-5 for 6th semester student

7. English Proficiency Test: IELTS/ TOEFL iBT/Duolingo English Test (or TOEIC for Vocational Student)

*only if applicants will be financed by other parties aside from parents.

Additional Required Documents

1. Original scan of SKCK (Surat Keterangan Catatan Kepolisian) issued by related authorities. **

2. Scan of Letter Declaration Clearance from Narcotic (Surat Keterangan Bebas Narkoba) issued by related authorities. **

Required document to be submitted by Office of International Affairs: 

• Letter of Statement and Recommendation from Home University (Surat Rekomendasi dan Pernyataan Perguruan Tinggi) signed and sealed (bermeterai) by Vice Rector ( Undergraduate | Vocational ) ***

** submitted by 22 April 2024

*** submitted by 27 April 2024

Scholarship Coverage

Covered by Ministry of Education, Culture,

Registration Fee to

The host university.

Tuition Fee to

the host university.

Economy International Airfare

Emergency Fund

Independent Financing

Settlement Allowance

Living Allowance

Local Transportation Fee

Health Insurance Fee

Visa Application Fee

Application Period

2-22 April 2024

Host University List

Research funding

The Academy of Finland’s mission is to fund high-quality scientific research, provide expertise in science and science policy, and strengthen the position of science and research. We are an agency within the administrative branch of the Finnish Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.

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