Riikka Pellinen appointed as Team Finland Knowledge Expert in Seoul
Riikka Pellinen, PhD., has been appointed as an expert in higher education and science policy at the Embassy of Finland in Seoul. Her three-year term begins on 1 August 2026. With this appointment, the Team Finland Knowledge network’s geographical scope is extended to South Korea.
Pellinen has extensive experience in higher education, research and development, as well as in international duties. In her doctoral thesis at the University of Helsinki she examined plant molecular biology. She has worked as a doctoral researcher and team leader at the University of Kuopio and Eastern Finland in the field of molecular medicine. For the past 15 years, she has served in administrative tasks related to postgraduate education, human resources and faculty administration and international cooperation.
The Team Finland Knowledge expert’s role is to monitor and analyse higher education and science policy in South Korea and to report findings to Finnish stakeholders. The task also encompasses identifying partnerships and funding opportunities, promoting collaboration between higher education and research organisations, and reinforcing networks.
Inquiries: Tiina Vihma-Purovaara, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 330 327