Research infrastructures

The Research Council of Finland provides funding for the acquisition, establishment or upgrading and expansion of nationally significant research infrastructures that promote scientific research.

The aim of the research infrastructure funding is to improve the quality, renewal, competitiveness and interdisciplinarity of Finnish research and to increase the appeal of Finnish research environments.

The key instrument with which the Research Council funds national and international research infrastructures is the funding provided by the Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee (FIRI Committee). Applications for research infrastructure funding are reviewed by international panels of experts. Possible FIRI calls will be announced on the website, under Open and upcoming calls. 

The FIRI Committee produces national research infrastructure roadmaps; read more about them: Roadmap for Finnish research infrastructures. In its meeting on 11 December 2023, the Board of the Research Council of Finland approved also a proposal for a long-term plan for research infrastructures 2030 (PDF) drafted by the Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee.

What is a research infrastructure?

Research infrastructures are instruments, equipment, information networks, databases, materials and services that serve to facilitate research, promote research collaboration and reinforce research and innovation capacity and know-how.

Research infrastructures may be single-sited, distributed or virtual, or a combination of these. Europe hosts several large-scale research infrastructures that are open to collaborative use across national boundaries.

Research infrastructures have versatile impact and are often at the heart of a science and technology cluster. 

Lighthouse research infrastructures

In December 2024, 21 research infrastructures were selected to the Finnish national roadmap for research infrastructures 2025–2028. Six of these were designated as ‘lighthouses’ by the Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee.

Representing the top Finnish research infrastructures, lighthouses are pioneers that facilitate research, promote research cooperation and strengthen research and innovation capacity and expertise.

Lighthouse research infrastructures serve as pioneers in all key infrastructure areas, such as service provision, impact, functionality and shared use.

Read more about lighthouse research infrastructures

BF

Biocenter Finland

FIN-CLARIAH

Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure

EB-Fi

Euro-BioImaging Finland: Research Infrastructure for Imaging Technologies in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

INAR RI

Integrated Atmospheric and Earth System Science Research Infrastructure

Otanano

Otaniemi Micro- and Nanotechnology Research Infrastructure

FUWIRI

Research Infrastructure for Future Wireless Communication Networks

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