Finnish Programme for Centres of Excellence in Research 2008-2013: Applicants for the second round of application selected
16 May 2006
Preparations for the Centre of Excellence programme for the years 2008–2013 are proceeding. By the application deadline of 31 January 2006, altogether 113 plans of intent were submitted to the Academy of Finland, of which the Academy selected 44 applicants for the second round of application. The Board of the Academy will nominate the Centres of Excellence in December 2006, which will start in 2008, provided that the necessary funds are made available by Parliament in its 2007 budget.
The proposal for applicants going through to the second round has been made to the Academy Board by a programme group composed of Academy Research Council members and external experts. The proposal is based on evaluations issued by foreign experts and in accordance with the criteria set for the Centre of Excellence Programme. The criteria for a Centre of Excellence are its research and action plan, research environment and success in researcher training as well as the individual researchers' previous scientific merits. The single most important criterion is the scientific standard of the research at the unit and the innovativeness of the research plan submitted.
According to the National Strategy for Centres of Excellence in Research, a Centre of Excellence is a research and researcher training unit that consists of one or more high-standard research teams. It shall have a clear set of research objectives and work under the same management. A Centre of Excellence may operate within a university or research institute or it may be an assembly of units or research teams and researchers working in several different organisations. It may also be operating in collaboration with a university or research institute in the private sector. At present there are two Finnish Programmes for Centres of Excellence in which funding is provided to altogether 39 Centres of Excellence: to 16 units in the 2002–2007 programme and 23 units in the 2006–2011 programme.
Full applications for the Finnish Programme for Centres of Excellence in research 2008–2013 are invited from the following 44 units:
Alasuutari, Pertti, University of Tampere
Finnish Centre of Excellence in the Research of Transnational Socio-Cultural Processes (TRAP)
Aro, Eva-Mari, University of Turku
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Integrative Photosynthesis and Bioactive Compound Research at Systems Biology Level
Back, Ralph-Johan, Åbo Akademi University
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Software Construction
Carlsson, Christer, Åbo Akademi University
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Advanced Management Systems Research
Enqvist, Kari, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Theoretical Physics Research
Halme, Aarne, Helsinki University of Technology
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Generic Intelligent Machines Research
Hiltunen, Kalervo, University of Oulu
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Functional and Structural Enzymology.
Hovatta, Outi, University of Tampere
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tissue Engineering Research
Ikkala, Olli, Helsinki University of Technology
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Bioinspired Nanomaterials
Jacobs, Howard, University of Tampere
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research on Mitochondrial Disease and Ageing (FinMIT)
Jalkanen, Sirpa, University of Turku
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Host Defence Research
Karjalainen, Matti, Helsinki University of Technology
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Acoustics, Speech and Audio Research (CEASAR)
Karjalainen, Pentti, University of Oulu
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Innovative Processing of Advanced High-strength Steels with Dramatically Enhanced Property Combinations
Kivinen, Markku, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Russia Research: Russia – Nation and State Redefined
Knuuti, Juhani, University of Turku
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Molecular Imaging in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research
Knuuttila, Simo, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Philosophical Psychology, Morality and Politics (PMP): Human Conduct in the History of Philosophy
Korhola, Atte, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Quantitative Palaeoecological Research (FINPAL)
Korhonen, Pekka, Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Business Technology Research
Koskela, Erkki, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research on Market Imperfections
Kulmala, Markku, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Meteorology of Atmospheric Composition and Climate Change
Kupiainen, Antti, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Analysis and Dynamics Research
Manninen, Matti, University of Jyväskylä
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Nanosciences
Niemelä, Ilkka, Helsinki University of Technology
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Computational Theoretical Computer Science
Nissinen, Martti, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Monotheistic Religions and Cultural Encounter
Nurmi, Hannu, University of Turku
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Public Choice Research
Palva, Airi, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Microbial Food Safety Research
Pamilo, Pekka, University of Oulu
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Population Genomics Research
Penttilä, Merja, VTT
Finnish Centre of Excellence in White Biotechnology/Green Chemistry Research
Pesonen, Pekka, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Understanding Russianness
Pessa, Markus, Tampere University of Technology
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Photonics and Optics Research
Pihlajaniemi, Taina, University of Oulu
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Extracellular Matrix Research
Rosenholm, Jarl, Åbo Akademi University
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Functional Printable Materials
Räisänen, Antti, Helsinki University of Technology
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Smart Radios and Wireless Research
Saarma, Mart, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Trophic Factors in Neuronal Development, Plasticity and Disease
Seppälä, Jukka, Helsinki University of Technology
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biomaterials for Reconstructive Medicine
Soininen, Hilkka, University of Kuopio
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases Research
Thesleff, Irma, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Development and Evolution Research
Toiviainen, Petri, University of Jyväskylä
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Music Research
Tuori, Kaarlo, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Foundations of European Law Polity Research
Ukkonen, Esko, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Algorithmic Data Analysis Research (Algodan)
Valtaoja, Esko, University of Turku
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Cosmic and Solar System Plasma Research
Wikström, Mårten, University of Helsinki
Finnish Centreo of Excellence in Molecular Membrane Protein Research
Visakorpi, Tapio, University of Tampere
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Prostate Cancer Research
Ylä-Herttuala, Seppo, University of Kuopio
Finnish Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Diseases and Type 2 Diabetes Research
Applicants invited to the second round of application will be sent detailed guidelines for preparing their full applications. The guidelines are also available on the Academy's website at Research Funding > Forms of Funding > Applying for the Centre of Excellence Programme.
For more information:
Science Adviser Pasi Sihvonen, Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering,
tel. (09) 774 88 434, pasi.sihvonen@aka.fi
Science Adviser Merja Kärkkäinen, Research Council for Health,
tel. (09) 774 88 360, merja.karkkainen@aka.fi
Science Adviser Riitta Launonen, Research Council for Culture and Society,
tel. (09) 774 88 229, riitta.launonen@aka.fi
Science Adviser Timo Sareneva, Research Council for Biosciences and Environment,
tel. (09) 774 88 243, timo.sareneva@aka.fi
Director Ritva Dammert, Programme Unit, tel. (09) 774 88 237 (general questions of principle)
Academy of Finland Communications:
Communications Specialist Pasi Ripatti, pasi.ripatti@aka.fi, tel. (09) 774 88 345, 040 828 0648