Science and research

Universities conduct free research, pursue learning in the sciences and in the arts and, on that basis, provide the highest level of education in Finland. Universities spend about one third of their funding on research and compete for public research funding, the majority of which comes from the Research Council of Finland, Business Finland and the European Union.

The higher education provided in universities of applied sciences enables students to acquire specialist professions that respond to the changing needs of the world of work. Universities of applied sciences use their government transfers and grants for funding RDI activities. Structural Funds programmes of the European Union are the most significant source of external RDI funding for universities of applied sciences. In line with the Government's decisions, both the Research Council of Finland and Business Finland will take better account of opportunities to support RDI activities that universities of applied sciences and their partnerships provide.
 

Research staff and careers
 

In order to meet the objectives of the Act on Research and Development Funding as well as the R&D policies that have been outlined in Parliament, investments will be made in doctoral programmes for researchers and career opportunities in research. With the resources allocated by the Ministry of Education and Culture, universities will introduce pilot projects for doctoral programmes that will look for ways to restructure and shorten the duration of researcher studies. Extensive cooperation with the world of work is one key element in doctoral dissertations that will be reinforced in the doctoral programmes. In addition, the postdoctoral researcher programmes of research institutes highlight non-academic research careers.

It is important to monitor how graduate school students advance in their careers in higher education institutions, research institutes and other sectors of society, as this helps in anticipating the number of students who will pursue a doctorate as well as in developing the content of doctoral degrees. This data is made available by Statistics Finland and in Vipunen - education Statistics Finland, which is the education administration's reporting portal.

Developing the research and innovation system

The ministries jointly develop the policy measures that shape the research and innovation system.

The Research and Innovation Council, led by the Prime Minister, supports the Government in the development and coordination of a long-term science, technology and innovation policy (RDI policy). The Council both monitors how the conditions are developing in the RDI sector and takes initiatives related to RDI policies.

 

Research infrastructure

Research infrastructure refers to instruments, equipment, materials and services that enable high-quality research activities. Research infrastructure can be centralised, decentralised or virtual and made available remotely. A committee appointed by the Research Council of Finland is responsible for preparing and implementing Finland’s Strategy and Roadmap for Research Infrastructures. The roadmap deals with national-level research infrastructures and Finland’s participation in international projects.

The Research Council of Finland is an expert organisation that finances high-quality scientific research and assumes other science policy expert roles. To support scientific research and researcher training and to improve the framework conditions for research, the Research Council grants funding in open competitive calls. It also serves as a national expert in science and research in national and international collaborative networks and collects and analyses data on science and scientific research in Finland.

Open Science Coordination in Finland

Research.fi

Research infrastructures (Research Council of Finland)

State of scientific research (Research Council of Finland)

Laki valtion tutkimus- ja kehittämistoiminnan rahoituksesat vuosina 2024-2030 (in Finnish)

Multi-annual plan for the use of research and development funding: Final report of the Parliamentary RDI Working Group 2022