Programmes and projects
The Strategic Research Council (SRC) Programmes seek solutions to and opportunities in societal challenges. The research conducted within the programmes funded by the SRC is solution-oriented and multidisciplinary research. An important element is active collaboration between those who produce research knowledge and those who use it.
The Finnish Government determines the research needs. The SRC annually prepares a proposal on key strategic research themes to be approved by the Government. The Government then decides the final themes and priorities. After the Government’s decision, the SRC can launch its programmes. The projects funded within an SRC programme form an integrated set of projects around a joint theme.
Current programmes
Towards a Sustainable, Healthy and Climate-Neutral Food System, FOOD (2019–2025)
This programme will seek a solution for moving towards a sustainable, healthy and climate-neutral food system. Rather than part of the problem, the food system of the future must be part of the solution to climate change.
Innovative Materials and Services to Promote Resource Wisdom and Sustainable Development, IMPRES (2019–2025)
This programme will aim to find solutions for replacing the unsustainable material foundation of our way of life with new materials and innovative services. A key focus is on systemic change management and the promotion of resource wisdom.
The Changing Role of Public Authority and the Potential for Steering Society, STEER (2019–2025)
Research under this programme will seek ways and tools of steering social development in contemporary societal settings.
Culture in an Increasingly Technologically Driven Society, CULT (2019–2025)
Research under this programme will seek to locate solutions for supporting interaction between technological advances, institutional and organisational structures and different cultures to ensure the inclusiveness of an increasingly multicultural and technologically driven society.
Climate change and humans, CLIMATE (2020–2026)
Research under this programme will seek solutions to how people can make and implement their choices related to mitigating or adapting to climate change and how society can facilitate this choice-making in a sustainable and equitable manner.
Information literacy and evidence-informed decision-making, LITERACY (2020–2026)
Research under this programme will seek solutions to how information can be used critically and constructively to support both individual and societal decision-making and actions.
Demographic Changes – Causes, Consequences and Solutions, DEMOGRAPHY (2021–2027)
This programme seeks research-based solutions for adapting to changes in the population’s age structure and maintaining the functional and renewal capacity of society.
Environmental and Social Links to Biodiversity Loss, BIOD (2021–2027)
This programme focuses on biodiversity as a prerequisite for welfare and on how the loss of biodiversity can be halted and ecosystems revived through research-informed solutions.
Pandemics as a Challenge for Society, PANDEMICS (2021–2024)
This programme focuses on the crises caused by pandemics and their wide-ranging social impacts.
Children and young people – healthy, thriving and capable makers of the future, YOUNG (2022–2028)
This programme focuses on children and young people as members of society and as makers of the future, and research under the theme shall seek solutions to ensure equal opportunities for all children and young people for a good life and safe growth and development.
Security and trust in the age of algorithms, SHIELD (2022–2028)
This programme focuses on security and trust in the age of information technology and hybrid influencing.
Energy Solutions as Part of a Just Green Transition, JUST ENERGY (2023–2029)
The programme focuses energy solutions as part of a just green transition.
Societal Solutions in a Just Green Transition, JUST TRANSITION (2023–2029)
The programme focuses on societal solutions essential for the green transition from the perspective of different institutions and actors.
Completed programmes
Adaptation and Resilience for Sustainable Growth, ADAPT (2018–2023)
The aim of the programme is to identify best ways of supporting comprehensive resilience through the use of the resources of society, communities and individuals and through new ways of combining these resources.
Keys to Sustainable Growth, GROWTH (2018–2023)
The aim of the programme is to produce solutions to how society, communities and individuals will be better able to utilise, develop and pool their resources and assets in new and sustainable ways.
Changing Society and Active Citizenship, CITIZEN (2017–2021)
The programme sheds light on information needs and the challenges posed by global change to the functioning and stability of the Finnish political system.
A Climate-Neutral and Resource-Scarce Finland, PIHI (2015–2021)
The research under this programme supports sustainable use of natural resources, mitigation of climate change and making full use of circular economy.
Equality in Society, EQUA (2015–2021)
The programme is focused on equality and on how equality can be promoted and provides funding to research that seeks solutions to support the sustainable and equal renewal of basic public services and benefit schemes.
Disruptive Technologies and Changing Institutions, TECH (2015–2021)
The programme provides funding to research into the identification and utilisation of disruptive technologies.
Health, Welfare and Lifestyles, HEALTH (2016-2019)
This programme gives special attention to mechanisms that can bring about permanent changes in people’s behaviour.
Skilled Employees – Successful Labour Market, WORK (2016-2019)
This programme aims to find ways in which the best existing research can be put to use in making the most of education, learning environments and skills as well as in anticipating the need for new skills and future occupations.
Security in a Networked World, SECURITY (2016-2019)
Research under this programme will support efforts to monitor, analyse and predict changes taking place in the security environment and to recognise and respond to new types of security risks.
Urbanising Society, URBAN (2016-2019)
Research in this programme is aimed at increasing understanding of urbanisation and its impacts on the interaction between cities and regions and on the vitality of regions.
