Hello all !
Below is a summary of ongoing and upcoming calls, along with research funding-related events. If you need any additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me.
RESEARCH COUNCIL OF FINLAND
ESFRI
Roadmap 2026,
4.2. – 27.2.2025
JTC
2025 - “Better care closer to home: Enhancing primary and community care”,
DL 30.1.2025
Strategisen
tutkimuksen (STN) ohjelma v. 2025
/ Strategic Research Funding (SRC)
DL 22.2.2025
Themes:
The cross-cutting priority for the upcoming research programmes is artificial intelligence.
The SRC is tasked with providing funding for long-term excellent research that is aimed at finding solutions to the major challenges facing Finnish society. In
addition, strategic research strengthens the regeneration and competitiveness of business and industry and supports the development of work and the public sector.
Upcoming calls: In spring 2025, the RCF will launch for instance the following calls:
• Proof of Concept (eligibility criteria are not available yet)
• Energy research call as part of the joint energy programme run in parallel by the RCF and Business Finland; the RCF call is part of the Climate-Synergy Academy
Programme for Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality Research
• Research on forest biomass in Finland, as part of the Climate Synergy Academy Programme
• Thematic research infrastructures
• Special funding for high-performance computing.
In addition to the above-mentioned calls, the RCF will open a call for mobility funding in early autumn 2025. The RCF will also open a number of thematic calls
in cooperation with international funding agencies
RAKENNERAHASTOHAUT (EAKR, ESR, JTF)
(in Finnish only)
Pohjois-Suomen avoimet rakennerahastohaut
Ennallistamiseen ja jälkikäyttöön
liittyvien JTF-hankkeiden haku Pohjois-Pohjanmaalla, Lapissa ja Kainuussa DL 25.8.2025
JTF-hankehaku työllisyyteen ja
osaamiseen liittyen Pohjois-Pohjanmaalla ja Lapissa
DL 18.2.2025, 8.4.2025, 5.6.2025 ja 30.9.2025
Ympäristö EAKR -hankehaku
27.3.2025 saakka
Valtakunnalliset avoimet rakennerahastohaut
Työelämän kehittäminen -teeman
valtakunnallinen hankehaku (ESR+) DL 10.02.2025
Luovan ja kulttuurialan innovaatio-osaaminen
Hämeen ELY-keskus avaa Luovan ja kulttuurialan innovaatio-osaaminen valtakunnallisessa teemassa kolme hakua ajalle 13.1. – 31.3.2025.
NORDFORSK
Pre-announcement:
Antagonistic threats challenging Nordic-Baltic societal security DL TBC
The spectre of antagonistic threats and hybrid aggression is high on the agenda in the Nordic-Baltic region. NordForsk will launch a call focusing on funding research
contributing to increased knowledge about antagonistic threats and societal security
Applicants should address one or more of the following aspects in proposals:
Through this call, NordForsk aims to fund projects that address shared Nordic and Nordic-Baltic societal challenges in the context of extensive use and implementation
of AI in the region. These challenges include, but are not limited to, ageing populations, ongoing structural developments in the labour market, societal and political polarisation, health systems, education, competence development and lifelong learning and
the green transition of the economy. The research initiative should contribute to cross-border mobilisation of capacity and competence building among Nordic and Nordic-Baltic research communities and strengthen networks and collaborations.
This initiative seeks to explore the use, development and implementation of AI, on an individual, organisational and societal level, creating prerequisites for
responsible and critical future approaches. Approaches focusing on pure AI technology advancement or development are not included in this framework whereas approaches which seek to optimise existing AI methods or algorithms towards responsible use and functionalities
are included.
FOUNDATIONS
Review the deadlines of Finnish foundations
HERE.
Read a blog on applying for funding from Finnish foundations. The blog gives you some general tips for writing a proposal.
What to take into consideration when applying for funding from Finnish foundations
Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation
(continuous call)
High-level, international scientific research. Decisions to award grants by the Board of Trustees, which meet four times a year.
The Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters,
DL 31.1.2025
Grants for all fields of science, the humanities and the social sciences.
1) PhD studies for the completion of theses
2) Researchers or research teams for scientifical projects
3) Travel grants for specific research or conference trips.
Väisälä Project Grants,
DL 31.1.2025
Väisälä project grant for researchers working in Finland at the early stages of the tenure track (assistant professor level) to set up their research group and
cover the group’s research costs. Eligible fields are physics, mathematics, geophysics, astronomy, and meteorology. Multidisciplinary is considered an advantage.
The Finnish Konkordia Fund
DL 31.1.2025
Grants for female doctoral students to conference trips.
Fullbright Center Finland – Travel grants for research collaboration,
DL 28.1.2025
Short-term travel grants for researchers from Finland to travel to the U.S. for a minimum of one week and a maximum of three months.
Finnish foundations Post Doc Pool,
DL 31.1.2025
The grants are intended for scholars, who have recently completed their doctoral degree and wish to conduct research abroad from Finland for at least six months.
(Note: Applicant info Jan 16th 2025 at 9–10 AM online)
Finnish Cultural Foundation
– Regional Grants
DL 7.2.2025
Regional funds for arts and science. For applicants residing or born in the region.
All research fields.
Emil Aaltonen Foundation,
DL 15.2.2025
Grants for young researchers, part-year working grants, incentive grants, and target-specific grants.
The applicant must be Finnish-speaking. Exceptionally, a grant may be awarded to a researcher who does not have Finnish as their native language if they are part of a Finnish-speaking research community and are also closely integrated into it.
Finnish Society of Forest Science
DL 21.2.2025
The Society awards grants for research, travel that supports research or post-graduate studies, other international activities, language studies, and other purposes
that advance forest sciences.
The Foundation for Municipal Development
DL 28.2.2025
Funding for research projects on municipalities and grants for researchers in the field. Applications not restricted to a particular field.
Tauno Tönning Foundation
DL 28.2.2025
Grants can be admitted on engineering and technical disciplines and other scientific research aiming for growth in Northern Finland.
The Ella and Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation
DL 28.2.2025
Dissertation-Thesis Funding; Prizes and Awards; Research: Project Grants & Innovation. Grants are awarded for all scientific disciplines except: medical research,
mathematics, physics and chemistry (including biochemistry and medical chemistry).
Sakari Alhopuro Foundation,
DL 28.2.2025
Grants are awarded to research in medical science and related fields, environmental research as well as research that advances biodiversity and environmental protection.
The research may be multidisciplinary.
For postdocs.
Post Docs in companies,
DL 15 4.2025
PoDoCo is established to create new jobs for postdocs. PoDoCo offers research grants for 1-2 year research period. After the research period the company hires
the Post doc.
Application rounds are open annually from 1.3. to 15.4. and 15.9. to 31.10
Murros-call launch event on Wednesday 5 February at 9:00 -10:00,
Register by January
28
INTERREG
Interreg Aurora
Call 6, opens 17.2.2025,
DL 17.3.2025 (call 7: 8.9.-2.10.2025)
All Priorities and Specific Objectives open. Aurora includes regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway
HORIZON EUROPE
ERC (European Research Council)
ERC
Starting Grant
2026, DL October 2025
For researchers with 2-7 years of experience since completion of PhD.
ERC
Consolidator Grant 2026,
DL January 2026
For researchers with 7-12 years of experience since completion of PhD.
ERC
Advanced Grant 2026,
DL August 2025
ERC
Synergy Grant 2026,
DL November 2025
A group of two to maximum four Principal Investigators (PIs) working together
and bringing different skills and resources to tackle ambitious research problems.
Support
available for ERC applicants
Note ! New in 2025: ERC accelerator programme
(see below)
MARIE SKLODOWSKA CURIE ACTIONS
Innovative international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration in research and innovation through exchanging staff and sharing knowledge and ideas at all stages of the innovation
chain. It is open to research, technical, administrative and managerial staff supporting R&I activities. Opens 19 September 2024,
Deadline 5 February 2025
MSCA
COFUND
2025
Opens 23 January,
DL 24.6. 2025.
New or existing doctoral or postdoctoral programmes. A single legal entity can apply. Additional partners can be included.
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships,
DL 14 September 2025
For postdocs (max 8 years experience in research, from the date of the award of their PhD degree)
European fellowships & Global Fellowships
Note!
Create adverts for the positions in EURAXESS
EIC – EUROPEAN INNOVATION COUNCIL
EIC Pathfinder Open,
DL 21 May 2025
European Innovation Council (EIC) is Europe’s flagship innovation programme to identify, develop and scale up breakthrough technologies and game changing innovations.
EIC Pathfinder Open
supports the exploration of bold ideas for radically new technologies. It welcomes the high-risk/high gain and interdisciplinary cutting-edge science collaborations that underpin
technological breakthroughs. Grants of up to EUR 3 million. Any field of science and technology.
EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2025,
DL 29 October 2025
-Advanced materials development & upscale
-Biotechnology driven low emission food
-Creating European Champions in Gen AI
-Innovative in-space servicing, operations, robotics and technologies
- Breakthrough innovations for future mobility
Budget max 4M€ per project.
EIC Transition,
DL 17 September 2025
Funding for technology validation and commercialisation of results created in EIC or Horizon projects
HORIZON EUROPE PILLAR II: GLOBAL CHALLENGES
AND EUROPEAN INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS – CLUSTERS
(Consortium projects)
Almost all Pillar II calls
open in May 2025, with deadlines in September 2025. We have a summary table of all the calls, as well as work program drafts. Ask these:
paivi.tomperi@oulu.fi
CLUSTER
2: Culture, creativity and inclusive society
CLUSTER
3: Civil Security for Society
CLUSTER
4: Digital, Industry and Space
CLUSTER
5: Climate, Energy and Mobility
CLUSTER
6: Food, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Note ! Renewed Support Process: there is support available for coordinators! Full support and a light support. You can register for the support process via
an Internal application form
See also:
Support for coordinators
RESEARCH PROFESSIONAL FUNDING SEARCH
- INTERNATIONAL FUNDING DATABASE
Use the Research
Professional search tool to find further funding possibilities for
your research. To log in open the drop-down menu on the log in page on the left under the tab "With your university account" and choose University of Oulu from the listed institutions. Use your Haka login information to sign in.
EVENTS
ELY-keskuksen rahoittajainfo 31.1.2025 klo 10-11-30 (Teams)
Infossa käydään läpi meneillään ja tulossa olevia Pohjois-Pohjanmaan ELY-keskuksen EAKR, ESR+ ja JTF -rahoitushakuja. Lisäksi käydään läpi yliopiston hakukäytäntöjä hakuihin
liittyen.
Ohjelma:
ERC Proposal Reading Days (PRDs) in Spring 2025
Participants will get the opportunity to read successful ERC grant proposals to see how a proposal might be structured.
New in 2025:
ERC Accelerator Programme
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the ERC Accelerator Programme, designed to inspire and support early-career researchers in developing innovative research concepts suitable
for ERC calls. This programme is also open to more advanced researchers who have not yet applied for ERC funding.
The Accelerator Programme aims to ignite creativity and assist participants in forming groundbreaking research ideas through three engaging
workshops.
Session 1 – Let’s Get Started In the
first session, participants will learn about ERC grants, watch inspiring ERC grantee videos, and engage in warm-up exercises and creativity-boosting activities.
Session 2 – What Are ERC-Level Ideas? The
second session features an inspirational speech by Lotte Jaspers from Yellow Research, who discusses the ambition required for ERC applications and the concept of blue skies research.
Participants will also explore what it means to be a Principal Investigator (PI) and engage in group discussions to overcome barriers to aiming high.
Session 3 – Working on Your Idea/Concept In
the final session, participants will work on developing their individual research ideas, whether imaginative or real, into ERC-level application concepts.
They will have the opportunity to discuss their ideas with Research Funding Specialists and get feedback and slo learn about the ERC support process at the University of Oulu.
The schedule for the ERC Accelerator Programme is
17.2.2025, 1 pm-4 pm
17.3.2025, 1 pm-4 pm
14.4.2025, 1 pm-4 pm
Please fill out this registration
form to reserve your place in the ERC Accelerator Programme.
To learn more about the ERC grants, visit the ERC website and
find more details about our ERC support process on Patio.
We encourage all interested researchers to join this new programme and take the first step towards securing ERC funding!
Horizon Europe Science Dates
4.2.2025 14.00 - 16.00 (Tellus Stage)
Welcome to the Horizon Europe Science Dates! Science dates offer an opportunity to learn about the upcoming Horizon Europe thematic funding calls and engage in
discussions with fellow scientists to share expertise, discover new perspectives, and identify common research interests. The goal is to facilitate exchanges and broaden networks across disciplinary boundaries, form initial consortia and possibly start preparing
a funding proposal.
Schedule:
14:00 Opening words & Success story (Roger Norum from FORBEST consortium)
14:30 Facilitated networking
16:00 End of the event
The event is organised by research and project services together with centres for multidisciplinary research and arctic co-operation.
Interreg Aurora info
07.02.2025 at 10 – 11.45 (Linnanmaa, OAMK Business Corner Venue (7B103)
Interreg Aurora call 6 will be open 17.02.2025 – 17.03.2025 and now it is a good time to start planning new projects and preparing applications.
Welcome to hear and discuss the content of the Interreg Aurora 2021-2027 program.
The event will be held in Finnish or English, depending on the participants, the materials will be in English.
New European Bauhaus Information and
Networking Event 13.3.2025 at 13-15 (room YT116)
The New European Bauhaus is an initiative launched by the European Commission in 2021 and it aims to bridge the worlds of science, technology, art, and culture
to create a sustainable and inclusive future that is beautiful for our eyes, minds, and souls. NEB focuses on three core values: sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion, which are reflected in its funding calls. By fostering collaboration across disciplines
and involving citizens, experts, businesses, and institutions, NEB seeks to transform our living spaces and communities into more sustainable and enjoyable environments. Due to the growing interest among our researchers in the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative,
we are organizing an internal event where researchers can gain more information and network for future projects and funding applications. The event will be held in English.
Agenda:
13.00 Welcome Words – Anna-Sofia Heikkinen, EU Specialist, University
of Oulu
13.05 New European Bauhaus initiative – Aleksi Lohtaja,
Expert at Archinfo and the National Contact Points (NCP) for NEB
13.35 Art of Darkness project – Henrika Pihlajaniemi,
Associate Professor in Oulu School of Architecture and the project coordinator of the Horizon Europe funded Art of Darkness as Cultural Heritage of Urban Landscape project
14.05 Networking
Coffee and snacks will be served at the event.
Please register to join before 7.3.2025:
https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/86C9CDDEF2DA8392
EDF
(Euroopan puolustusrahasto) ja NATO-aktiviteettien infotilaisuus Helsingissä 10.2.2025 klo 13.30-16.30 (the event is in Finnish)
Huom! myös etäosallistumismahdollisuus
Best regards
Päivi
Päivi Tomperi
Research Funding Specialist (Faculty of Science, SGO, KSI, Kajaani)
University of Oulu
Research and Project Services
Pentti Kaiteran katu 1
PL 8000
90014 University of Oulu
Finland
tel. +358 294 483972
mobile: +358 (0)40 7468503
e-mail:
paivi.tomperi@oulu.fi
Room: M202