The Academy of Finland has granted €10m to higher education institutions and government research institutes following its call ‘Special funding for RDI partnership networks’.
The funding supports research-based partnership networks where higher education institutions and government research institutes network with business and industry to enhance the societal impact of research.
The call received 71 applications including a total of 213 subprojects. Funding was awarded to 10 projects and 41 subprojects. Of the projects funded, eight are consortia involving universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutes. Nine universities, seven universities of applied sciences, and five government research institutes received funding.
Professor Johanna Myllyharju, who chaired the subcommittee that made the funding decisions, said: “Despite the tight schedule, the applications were of a high standard. In many applications, a solid and high-quality research base had been combined with a committed network of partners.
“The subcommittee attached great importance to the quality of the network’s action plan. With this funding, the Academy will further strengthen ecosystems that utilise the latest scientific data. The commitment of all actors in the value chain is central to the partnership networks.”
The funding follows an increase in the Academy of Finland’s budget authority allocated through the Finnish Government’s fourth supplementary budget. The call was part of the Academy’s efforts to implement the new partnership model outlined in the National Roadmap for Research, Development, and Innovation.
Funding was granted for design-oriented solutions for the circular economy, the development of ICT, and the development of new medicinal products. Funding was also awarded to support network activities related to river and river basin measurements. Many of the funded partnership networks are closely affiliated with competence clusters of the Academy of Finland’s Flagship Programme.
