Programme activity and societal impact

SRC programme activity is based on the research and the interaction plan of the funded projects, as well as on the collaborative areas between research projects. The projects and programme director of each programme jointly build a programme package, for example by outlining common research themes, opportunities for cooperation between projects and joint publication opportunities. Programme activities include seminars and other joint events. Each SRC programme has a part-time programme director (40–60% of working hours) employed by their own background organisation, such as a university or research institute.

Cross-programme activities for societal impact refer to the joint and cross-programme activities of SRC programmes and to forming connections between researchers and knowledge users. The activities are planned and implemented by a group that includes the programme directors of each programme and experts working in the SRC team at the Research Council of Finland.

Here, the key tasks of the programme director are to be responsible for cross-programme cooperation with other programme directors and to promote the societal impact of research together with the SRC team. The programme director is responsible for facilitating the definition of programme objectives and monitoring their realization in collaboration with the projects and the SRC. The cross-programme activities for societal impact are coordinated by the SRC team.

Through the cross-programme activities for societal impact, the SRC, programme directors, programmes, projects and the DSRC team jointly develop methods to strengthen dialogue between science and policymaking and to build better conditions for the societal impact arising from research. Such methods include data compilations, dialogue meetings with policymakers and the website ratkaisujatieteesta.fi (in Finnish).

The objectives, methods and division of tasks for promoting the cross-programme societal impact of strategic research are described in a separate document.

Cross-programme activities for societal impact of strategic research (PDF)