Promotion of equality and nondiscrimination at the Research Council of Finland

The core values guiding the Research Council of Finland in all activities are openness, transparency, reliability, equality and nondiscrimination. We fund high-quality, high-impact and innovative research in a responsible manner. In the context of responsible science, we take into account equality and nondiscrimination.

We actively contribute to the building of a transparent research ecosystem free of structures or operating models that treat people differently on the basis of gender or other personal characteristics. Equality and nondiscrimination are among the most important horizontal principles of a transparent research ecosystem.

When it comes to issues related to equality and nondiscrimination, responsible science has to do with promoting equality and nondiscrimination in research projects or in society at large.

Research Council of Finland’s equality and nondiscrimination policy

• ensuring a balanced representation of the sexes
• in the composition of decision-making bodies
• among beneficiaries
• measures aimed at achieving a more even gender distribution also in research groups’ managerial roles: for example, in 2018, the Strategic Research Council added to its funding principles a balanced gender composition in consortium managements or evidence of steps towards a more balanced gender distribution during the funding period
• among the Research Council’s candidates for various committees and Finland’s representatives in international organisations
• among speakers and panellists at Research Council events, nominees for Research Council of Finland Awards and researchers featured on the Research Council’s website or in interactions with the media
• eliminating and preventing structural inequality
• The Research Council can grant flexibility in funding periods to allow for a better work–life balance.
• The Research Council assesses gender and equality impacts when developing research funding instruments.
• actively supporting the gender perspective and promoting nondiscrimination in research
• All research funded by the Research Council of Finland must promote gender equality and nondiscrimination.
• The Research Council’s peer reviews take into account whether the proposed research promotes equality and nondiscrimination within the project or in society in general: for example, the review process and the review form include questions about how projects promote gender equality and nondiscrimination.
• The Research Council’s decisions factor in whether the proposed research promotes equality and nondiscrimination within the project or in society in general and whether the decisions support women’s research careers.
• The Research Council systematically incorporates the principles of gender equality as well as a diversity perspective into the composition of its review panels and pursues a balanced gender distribution of experts in panels.
• The effects of the Research Council’s funding on equality and nondiscrimination are tracked through statistics and studies.

• The Research Council’s work and development efforts and cooperation in networks
• The Research Council is committed to developing its review practices in line with the recommendations for the responsible evaluation of researchers published by the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies in 2020 (PDF). The recommendations emphasise the need to ensure nondiscrimination in evaluation processes and the proper instruction of reviewers.
• The Research Council is also an active member of several international networks that promote equality and nondiscrimination in research funding, such as the EU’s Horizon 2020: Promoting Gender Equality in Research and Innovation working party.

Research Council of Finland Equality and Nondiscrimination Plan (1 Mar 2024–28 Feb 2026)

The Research Council of Finland’s Equality and Nondiscrimination Plan applies to those working with our research funding as well as to employees at our Administration Office. The latest version of the plan was adopted by the Board in February 2024, and it covers the period from 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2026.

The plan covers gender equality as well as discrimination within the meaning of the Finnish Non-Discrimination Act: Nobody may be discriminated against on the basis of age, ethnic or national origin, nationality, language, religion, belief, opinion, health, disability, sexual orientation or other personal characteristics. Harassment also counts as discrimination.

Research Council of Finland’s measures for promoting equality and nondiscrimination in 2024–2025