Significant funding package by Research Council of Finland to strengthen regional R&D

The Research Council of Finland (RCF) has granted nearly 15 million euros for local research infrastructures to strengthen regional R&D activities. The funding is divided among ten research infrastructures, covering eighteen subprojects in total.

The funding call, Thematic research infrastructures: Local research infrastructures to strengthen regional R&D activities, was based on the 2025 government budget, which allocated funds for implementing the multiannual government R&D funding plan. The funding strengthens impactful research and development activities, use of research-based knowledge and cooperation between different actors.

The funded research infrastructure projects intend to promote regional vitality and ambitious R&D activities. Therefore, the funding has been allocated to research organisations engaging in high-level applied research. These projects will launch on 1 January 2026 and last for three years.

The RCF Subcommittee for Research Utilisation thought that the funded applications were of a significantly high quality. No matter their field of research, the most successful applications described their regional impact with excellent effect. The highest ratings (5 or 6) went to 36 per cent of all applications. Only half of the applications with excellent ratings could be funded. The overall success rate was 18 per cent.

Programme Director Jarkko Pellikka, the chair of the Subcommittee for Research Utilisation, said: “We were delighted to receive so many high-quality applications. Research infrastructures are a key part of the R&D field, as they enable research and attract talents.”