SRC selects 27 consortia to second call stage

The Strategic Research Council (SRC) at the Academy of Finland decided on 9 March 2020 to invite 27 consortia to the second stage of the SRC programme call. The success rate was about 30 per cent. The selections were made based on the proposed projects’ match with the programme themes and objectives and the projects’ societal relevance, impact and scientific quality.

The call included two new programmes that attracted a total of 89 letters of intent. The applicants included researchers from more than 60 organisations and some 90 research fields. The Climate Change and Humans (CLIMATE) programme attracted 37 applications, of which 12 applications were invited to the second stage. The Information Literacy and Evidence-Informed Decision-Making attracted 52 applications. Of these, 15 proceeded to the second stage.

International reviewers assessed the letters of intent separately under each programme. They assessed the projects’ match with the programme, their scientific quality and societal impact. The reviewers have diverse experience of both science and research and the utilisation of scientific knowledge. The reviewers prepare a written review report on each application, and the reports are then delivered to all applicants.

Kimmo Nuotio, Chair of the Strategic Research Council, was delighted with the quality of the applications submitted: “From the perspective of the programme themes, it’s essential that we have been able to formulate them so that they converge with the creativity of researchers. The researchers did a great job responding to our call and proposing many things that we couldn’t even expect.”

The full applications will be reviewed in two different panels per programme. One panel will focus on scientific quality, the other on societal impact. The SRC will make the final decisions on the projects to be included in the funding programmes in September 2020.

The applications that were invited to the second call stage are appended to this press release.