Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation

The Academy of Finland is actively involved in the activities of the Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation (known in Finnish under the abbreviation SHOK), not least because cutting-edge research plays a key role in the strategic centres’ operations and development. At the centres, researchers and research teams from universities and research institutes work closely together with companies with a view to generating new and innovative results or products. The knowledge produced by this research provides a vital impetus for new technologies, innovations and other applications.

The opportunity to meet with end-users at the strategic centres helps researchers identify potential new lines or areas of research. The centres provide a good opportunity to train experts in the field and they also attract top-level experts to Finland.

The Academy contributes to the operations of the strategic centres by funding leading-edge research carried out within them. All Academy funding opportunities are available to support research at the centres and within their thematic areas. Information on these opportunities is available on our website under For researchers. Through the strategic centres, Finland also seeks to attract international R&D funding to the country.

The Academy works in close cooperation with Tekes to develop, fund and monitor the operations of the strategic centres. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy has appointed an executive group to monitor and steer the centres’ operations and development. The term of the present executive group is 1 March 2010‒31 December 2013 and its secretariat comprises representatives from both Tekes and the Academy.