Are you looking for funding for your research? In this blog post, we list calls by Finnish foundations with deadlines in autumn 2025.

Hanken encourages its researchers to apply for external funding to maximise the resources available for research. A list of upcoming funding calls by Finnish foundations is presented below. The calls have application deadlines in autumn 2025. The list is continuously updated.

Open calls are also published in the Research Funding blog and research.fi. Calls marked with * are also suitable for doctoral researchers.

** Please remember to always confirm the application deadline (time and date) on the relevant call website. **

August

  • Foundation for Economic Education (Liikesivistysrahasto): The Foundation promotes research especially in business administration. Promoting the economic growth and competitiveness of Finland are overarching goals of projects supported by the foundation. Individuals and working groups can apply for grants for 4–12 months of doctoral or postdoctoral research work. The three-year research group grant (150 000-300 000 euros) can be applied for by groups of individuals led by a senior researcher. In addition, targeted grants are awarded for a conference trip, study visit or other study trip, conference organization, development of international research consortia or networks, or other designated purpose. Deadline 15 August. *
  • Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation:  In the general grant call, the foundation is looking for innovative projects and active researchers and actors that enable or support sustainability transformation that protects natural systems. Grants are awarded for doctoral thesis researchers, post-docs, and science-based action projects. The new Murros-call is for projects that generate deeper understanding, new perspectives, and science-based solutions for breaking away from structural overconsumption. The Murros call can be applied for by organisations with a senior researcher as PI. Deadline 29 August. *
  • Alfred Kordelin Foundation: Grants are awarded to recent PhD graduates and post-doctoral researchers at the early stages of their career, at most two years after finishing their doctoral degree. The grant can also be awarded to those whose doctoral thesis is nearing completion (the applicant has permission for defence). The personal grant is intended for full-time work over a time span of 12 to 18 months. Finnish citizens, or private individuals working in Finland who have done their doctoral thesis at a Finnish university, can apply for a grant. Public education grants are awarded for projects which strengthen the role of research and expertise-based knowledge and critical thinking and promote making knowledge available to a wider audience. Deadline 31 August. *
  • The Foundation for Municipal Development (KAKS): The foundation allocates funding for research projects on municipalities as well as grants for researchers (Phd research and post doc research) within the field. Funding can also be applied for publications or travel grants. Applications are not restricted to a particular field of study or discipline. Deadline 31 August. *

September

  • The Finnish Foundations’ Post Doc Pool: Grants are awarded for scholars, who have recently completed their doctoral degree and wish to conduct research abroad, outside of Finland, for at least one academic year. Doctoral candidates, who have not yet publicly defended their doctoral thesis but have received permission to do so, may also apply for a grant. Grants are also available for non-Finnish nationals. Deadline 15 September.
  • The Finnish Work Environment Fund (in Finnish): The Fund awards grants for new research concerning working life. Organizations can apply for funding for research projects on occupational safety, occupational health, productivity, or relationships between different actors in working life. Organisations can also apply for funding for a conference or seminar (in Finland) aimed at disseminating new information on working life research. Deadline 15 September.
  • Letterstedtska föreningen (in Swedish): The association promotes the fellowship between the Nordic countries in the fields of industry, science, and art. Grants are awarded for Nordic purposes. Applications are preferably made in Scandinavian languages. The application amount should be in the range of 10.000-50.000 SEK. Deadline 15 September. *
  • Paulo Foundation (in Finnish): Grants are awarded to promote research and education in the business administration. Individual grants for are usually in the range from 2.500 to 10.000 euros. The foundation awards grants to individuals who are either Finnish citizens or permanent residents in Finland. Deadline 15 September. *
  • Kone Foundation: The foundation awards grants for academic research, the arts, and for projects which combine scholarly and artistic approaches. The funding targets high-quality research in the humanities, social sciences and environmental sciences, artistic research and multidisciplinary work. The foundation does not fund research in business studies without an interdisciplinary dimension. An individual (e.g. doctoral researcher, post-doc), a working group or a Finnish legal entity can apply for a grant. Deadline 15 September. *
  • Yrjö Jahnsson foundation: The foundation awards grants for postgraduate studies and research in economics, medicine and health economics and for the organization of scientific conferences. In research in economics, the Constitution of the Foundation states that priority is given to research that explores monetary theory and wage formation, followed by public finance and other economic policy. Personal working grants are intended for postgraduate studies, doctoral or postdoctoral research in Finland or abroad. Expenditure grants are for funding the research project of a group or for organizing a scientific seminar. Deadline 26 September. *
  • Stiftelsen Tre Smeder (in Swedish): The foundation supports cultural and non-profit activities in Helsinki, where the Swedish language has an obvious role and strong relevance. Applications can be submitted by a working group, association, or organisation. Deadline 30 September.
  • Hans Bang stiftelsen (in Swedish): The scholarships are primarily intended for research in business economics, and the development of global trade. The application can be submitted in Swedish, Finnish, or English. Deadline 30 September. *
  • Victoria Stiftelsen (in Swedish): The foundation supports talented, mainly female Swedish-speaking researchers from various subject areas. Doctoral research scholarships are granted to support full-time studies for one year. In addition, a few scholarships for postdoctoral research may also be granted. Deadline 30 September (TBC). *
  • Svenska Österbottens Kulturfond (in Swedish): Grants or scholarships are awarded to Swedish-speaking persons in Ostrobothnia and Ostrobothnian associations for scientific research, studies and artistic and cultural activities that have a direct connection to Swedish Ostrobothnia. Deadline 30 September. *
  • Inga, Valdemar, Anna-Lisa och Inga-Brita Westbergsfond (in Swedish): Scholarships can be awarded to Swedish-speaking doctoral students and researchers from Swedish Ostrobothnia for academic research. The applicant must have completed their matriculation exam in Swedish at a high school in Ostrobothnia. Deadline 30 September. *

October

  • Kulturfonden för Sverige och Finland (in Swedish): The fund awards activity grants and grants for visits/travels with a bilateral purpose. The Fund promotes cooperation between Finland and Sweden in areas such as culture, languages, media, research, and education. Awarded grant are generally in the range of 500-2.000 euros. Deadline in October (TBC).*
  • Vakuutustiedon kehittämissäätiö (in Finnish): The foundation supports the development of knowledge and expertise related to the insurance industry. Grants are awarded for scientific research, master’s theses, and scientific books. The grants are usually around 500-5.000 euros/year. Individuals and working groups may apply. Deadline 12 October. *
  • Yksityisyrittäjän liitto (in Finnish): The foundation gives grants to organisations and communities promoting entrepreneurship. The priorities of grant distribution are entrepreneurship education, turning points in entrepreneurship, and startup and growth entrepreneurship. Deadline 31 October.
  • Savings Banks Research Foundation: The Foundation awards grants, primarily for doctoral theses and postdoctoral research, for research on the money market and savings. Grants are approximately 5.000 euros on average. Deadline 31 October. *
  • Federation of Finnish Learned Societies: The state subsidy is intended for organizing international conferences and national seminars. Priority is given to recurring non-profit conferences of international scientific organizations that are organized in Finland by Finnish hosts in turn. Deadline 31 October.
  • Post Docs in Companies: The PoDoCo program is a joint initiative of Finnish universities, industry, and foundations. The aim is that PoDoCo program offers the first position to young doctor after the doctoral degree. The program offers a research period at a Finnish university followed by a targeted research period at a company lasting all together 1-2 years. There are no limitations regarding the branch of science or branch of industry. Deadline 31 October.

November

  • Svenska kulturfonden (in Swedish): The foundation provides personal grants for doctoral researchers. Organisations can apply for funding for research projects. The application form is only available in Swedish, but you can write your answers in English. Please note, that the foundation only grant funding for research connected to the Swedish language in Finland. Deadline 30 November. *

Continuous

  • Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation: JAES awards grants for internationally significant scientific research with breakthrough potential and for art and culture that has the potential to meet demanding international criteria. The foundation supports research projects in medicine, engineering, economics and other supporting and enabling sciences. All projects must have a sufficient and clear link to Finland. Continuous application.
  • Kone Foundation: For this special call “For the Woods”, Kone Foundation is seeking interdisciplinary projects that enhance understanding of the various meanings of forests and bring new perspectives and approaches to forest discourse. The ongoing call for proposals will remain open for several years. An individual, a working group or a legal entity can apply. Funded projects must have a connection to Finland. Continuous application.
  • Helsinki Sanomat Foundation: The Foundation offers grants related to research on media, communications, and freedom of speech. The grants are distributed throughout the year, and decisions are made twice a year. Continuous application.
  • Nordic Tax Research Council: NTRC invites applications for travel grant for young scholars in the Nordic countries. The grant should be used for travel costs and participation in activities that support Nordic collaboration for tax research, such as conferences and workshops, within in the Nordic countries. Applications should be handed in to the secretary-general with sufficient margin. Continuous application. *
  • Svensk Österbottniska Samfundet: Doctoral researchers in Vaasa are eligible to apply for travel grant for a two-week long research visit at a university on the other side of the Kvarken. Contact research@hanken.fi if you are interested in more information. The application is open during 2025. *

Contact the Research Funding Services (research@hanken.fi) well in advance for support with funding applications. Read more about our support services here.