Backgraound and objectives

A Centre of Excellence (CoE) is a research community that is striving for or already at the international forefront of research in its field. CoEs may consist of one or more research teams working closely together under a joint research plan.

The units granted Centre of Excellence (CoE) funding by the Research Council of Finland are scientifically first-rate research communities that have capacity for renewal and high societal impact. The CoE programmes contribute to the renewal of science by, for example, supplying new research topics, new methods and approaches, and new research teams. Thanks to the long-term funding provided in collaboration with CoE host organisations, the funding instrument effectively works as an incentive for risk-taking and new initiatives in research.

The Research Council of Finland selects CoEs based on international reviews and science policy objectives. The CoE term is eight years. In terms of the research plan, there are three primary review criteria: scientific quality, contribution to science renewal and scientific impact. The eight-year CoE term is split into two parts (5 + 3 years).