35 consortia selected to second stage of SRC programme call

9 Mar 2021

The Strategic Research Council established within the Academy of Finland decided on 8 March 2021 to invite 35 consortia to the second stage of the SRC programme call. Approximately 40 per cent of submitted letters of intent were invited to the second stage of the two-stage call. 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 three new programmes that attracted a total of 89 letters of intent. The SRC programme Demographic Changes – Causes, Consequences and Solutions (DEMOGRAPHY) attracted 25 letters of intent, of which 12 consortia were invited to the second stage. The SRC programme Environmental and Social Links to Biodiversity Loss (BIOD) attracted 28 letters of intent, of which 12 consortia were selected to the second stage. The SRC programme Pandemics as a Challenge for Society (PANDEMICS) attracted 36 applications, of which 11 consortia were invited to the second stage.

Panels composed of Finnish and international expert reviewers assessed the projects’ match with the programme, their scientific quality and societal impact. Each programme had its own review panel. The reviewers have diverse experience of both science and research and the utilisation of scientific knowledge. The panels prepared a written review report on each application. The reports have been made available to all applicants.

Kimmo Nuotio, Chair of the SRC, said that this year, too, the SRC was faced with difficult choices when selecting applications for the second stage: “Our aim was to select the most suitable and promising consortia from among the best applications. We also took into account the amount of funding available. I believe that, in due course, we’ll get to choose the funding recipients from among very high-quality “applications.”

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

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

Inquiries and more information

Demographic Changes – Causes, Consequences and Solutions (DEMOGRAPHY)

  • Samuli Hurri, Science Adviser, tel. +358 295 335 100
  • Pilvi Toppinen, Science Adviser, tel. +358 295 335 064

Environmental and Social Links to Biodiversity Loss (BIOD)

  • Tuomas Katajarinne, Science Adviser, tel. +358 295 335 067

Pandemics as a Challenge for Society (PANDEMICS)

  • Jyrki Hakapää, Senior Science Adviser, tel. +358 295 335 020
  • Milja Saari, Senior Science Adviser, tel. +358 295 335 123

General inquiries about strategic research

  • Päivi Tikka, Director, tel. +358 295 335 007
  • SRC website

Our email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname(at)aka.fi.

Academy of Finland Communications
Anna Oravakangas
Communications Specialist
tel. +358 295 335 039

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