Impact Makers: The FilmCO Project Accelerates the Transition to Fully Bio-Based Packaging Solutions
In the FilmCO project led by Monika Österberg, researchers at Aalto University identified a new method for studying the spreading phenomenon of coatings in bio-based packaging materials. The project was carried out in collaboration with Kemira, and funding from the Finnish Research Impact Foundation enabled research that both addressed the company’s needs and was scientifically meaningful.
FRIF awards 1,3 million euros – six new projects with companies and research organizations
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation (FRIF) has awarded a total of 1,3 million euros in its spring 2025 call to support collaboration between research and business. Funding was granted to six projects representing a wide range of sectors — with partners including Bittium, DNA, Nokia Bell Labs and Valio.
Lue lisää FRIF awards 1,3 million euros – six new projects with companies and research organizations
TIA Seed 2025 funding call opens on September 15 – register for the info webinar!
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation will open this autumn the Tandem Industry Academia (TIA) Seed funding call, which is aimed at early-career professors who have recently entered the Finnish research funding system.
Lue lisää TIA Seed 2025 funding call opens on September 15 – register for the info webinar!
TIA Connect networking program brings SSH researchers and companies together
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s (FRIF) new TIA Connect networking program brings social sciences and humanities (SSH) researchers to the forefront of solving companies’ research challenges. The program offers researchers in the humanities a unique opportunity to build connections with businesses.
Lue lisää TIA Connect networking program brings SSH researchers and companies together
Impact Makers: ReMION Project Developed Novel Solutions for Measuring Atmospheric Ultrafine Particles
The ReMION collaboration between the University of Helsinki and Karsa Ltd provided valuable insight into just how challenging it is to adapt laboratory instruments for long-term atmospheric measurements – and that led to a breakthrough. Thanks to FRIF’s TIA Postdoc funding, the project was able to recruit a top expert from abroad.
FRIF’s new guide helps researchers build effective industry partnerships
The FRIF’s guide for industry–academia collaboration offers practical tips for researchers looking to work with companies. The guide is based on insights gained from an interview study conducted by the foundation.
Lue lisää FRIF’s new guide helps researchers build effective industry partnerships
FRIF’s New Strategy Addresses Tough Questions Without Hesitation
FRIF’s new strategy introduces two special focus areas: on one hand, it aims to connect expertise in the humanities with business, and on the other, to accelerate the integration of top international talent into Finland. The foundation’s mission and core activities, however, remain unchanged.
Lue lisää FRIF’s New Strategy Addresses Tough Questions Without Hesitation
The 2025 Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc call is now closed – 62 applications submitted
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation received a total of 62 joint applications from research organisations and companies for the Tandem Industry Academia (TIA) Postdoc 2025 funding call, which closed on 13 April 2025.
Lue lisää The 2025 Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc call is now closed – 62 applications submitted
FRIF’s board welcomes new members – meet the incoming members and learn from the outgoing ones
The year 2025 has brought changes to the Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s (FRIF) board, as three new members began their terms at the start of the year. They bring diverse expertise from business, human sciences, and international research.
Book a coaching session for the Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc 2025 call!
Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc (TIA Postdoc) call is open from 4 March to 14 April 2025. Read more about the call here and carefully read the guidelines before submitting your application. See also the recording of the TIA Postdoc info session.
Lue lisää Book a coaching session for the Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc 2025 call!
The FRIF’s Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc call’s 6th round opens in March 2025
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s (FRIF) Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc (TIA Postdoc) call’s 6th round opens in March 2025. The application period is from March 3 to April 13. Applications must be submitted through the foundation’s grant system by April 13 at 23:59.
Lue lisää The FRIF’s Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc call’s 6th round opens in March 2025
Business cooperation provides a way to integrate foreign expertise and strengthen Finnish competitiveness
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation has announced the first grants under its TIA Seed programme in 2024 to support the career paths and industry networking of two research scientists who have moved to work in Finland. The recipients describe the funding as a major appeal factor and as internationally unique.
FRIF awards almost 700 000 euros in funding to professors – focus on integrating researchers arriving in Finland
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation has awarded funding to support four professors’ research projects that tap into the data and expertise of their corporate partners.
The FRIF grants 1,5 million euros to support research impact and launches new funding
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation is awarding funding to seven top-tier research projects for research conducted in collaboration with companies. These projects have been selected based on their potential to deliver significant new insights that benefit both science and Finnish businesses.
Lue lisää The FRIF grants 1,5 million euros to support research impact and launches new funding
TIA Professor & TIA Seed Call Opens 2.9. – Register for the Info Webinar!
Alongside the third TIA Professor call, the Finnish Research Impact Foundation is launching a new TIA Seed funding call. The new Seed funding is aimed at researchers who have recently entered the Finnish research funding system.
Lue lisää TIA Professor & TIA Seed Call Opens 2.9. – Register for the Info Webinar!
Towards Practice-Inspired Basic Research
The reality of research is more versatile than the often sharp division between basic and applied research suggests. Even the creation of entirely new scientific knowledge benefits from solving practical problems.
The new TIA Seed funding call aimed at strengthening Finland’s expertise will open alongside the TIA Professor call on 2.9.2024
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation (FRIF) is piloting a new Tandem Industry Academia Seed funding, intended for researchers who have recently entered the Finnish research funding system, are in the early stages of their careers, and are on the professor career path. This funding aims to initiate and accelerate research work and business collaboration.
New Assessment: Finnish Research Impact Foundation Funding Encourages Researchers to Join Companies
Many researchers have been inspired to work in the private sector through funding. Of the eleven projects funded by the Foundation in 2020, five researchers have transitioned to the business world.
Annual Report Summarizes Key Events of 2023
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s annual report brings together the highlights of 2023 and provides insights into our activities. The theme for 2023 was to explore the current state of collaboration between SHAPE disciplines (social sciences, humanities, and the arts) and businesses and to initiate a discussion on this topic.
Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc received 61 applications
The Foundation received 61 joint applications from research organizations and companies for the Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc 2024 funding call, which closed on April 14, 2024. Funding decisions will be made in August 2024, with the first projects scheduled to commence in the autumn of the same year.
Lue lisää Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc received 61 applications
Book a coaching session for the Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc 2024 application!
Do you have questions about the application process or the evaluation? Experts from the Finnish Research Impact Foundation will answer applicants’ questions in one-to-one video meetings.
Lue lisää Book a coaching session for the Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc 2024 application!
5th round of the Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc call opens in March 2024
The 5th round of the Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc (TIA Postdoc) call will open in March 2024. The application period is from 4 March to 14 April. Please read the call info and the updated application guidelines carefully in advance and register for the info webinar.
Lue lisää 5th round of the Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc call opens in March 2024
Launch webinar of the State of research collaboration in the human sciences report is now available for viewing
A recent report by the Finnish Research Impact Foundation, published in November 2023, opens up interesting perspectives on the role and opportunities of business collaboration in the social sciences, humanities and arts research. The launch event of the report on 30 November provided an opportunity to learn more about the main findings and to hear from top international experts at the interface between academia and business.
What is the state of industry-academia collaboration in the social sciences, humanities and arts? Perspectives from the Nordics and beyond
The social sciences, humanities and arts have largely been absent from the landscape of industry-academia collaboration. Our 2023 whitepaper explores the relationship between these disciplines and industry collaboration and looks for ways of removing barriers to collaboration
Three new professors receive FRIF funding for one-year industry placements
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s new funding scheme gives professors the opportunity to spend one year working on their research with an industry partner, in an industry environment. In all, nine professors have received TIA Professor grants since the scheme was launched in 2022.
Lue lisää Three new professors receive FRIF funding for one-year industry placements
Webinar: What is the state of industry-academia collaboration in humanities, arts and social sciences?
Join us on 30 November at 12.30-14.00 (GMT+2) for our webinar and launch event on the state of industry-academia collaboration in humanities, social sciences and arts. Six months ago, the Finnish Research Impact Foundation started an investigation into the current status and future possibilities for collaboration between humanities, arts and social sciences and private enterprises.…
FRIF allocates 2.1 million euros in research funding to help bridge the gap between RDI and basic research
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation has announced its decision to award a total of 2.1 million euros to support 10 cutting-edge research projects that are teaming up with corporate partners to tackle major challenges. Research topics range from the treatment of corneal blindness to the development of growth substrates that could serve as alternatives to…
Finding solutions to the sustainability transition not possible without science
The Tandem Industry Academia Professor funding programme allows experienced researchers to work on dedicated research projects in a corporate environment. Jari Hyväluoma from the Natural Resources Institute Finland and Saara Kankaanrinta from Soilfood explain how research collaboration benefits the partners involved in joint research projects as well as society at large.
Lue lisää Finding solutions to the sustainability transition not possible without science
The Foundation studies business cooperation in human sciences – take part in the survey!
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation is conducting a study on collaboration between human sciences and business in Finland. Our aim is to gain a better understanding of how and what kind of collaboration between companies and human science researchers takes place and how this collaboration could be supported and promoted.
Lue lisää The Foundation studies business cooperation in human sciences – take part in the survey!
TIA Professor call opens again 4.9. – register to info webinar!
Welcome to the TIA Professor 2023 call’s info webinar on Monday 4 September at 9:30–11:00. In the event you will learn more about the Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s funding scheme for professors and you will have an opportunity to ask questions about the application process.
Lue lisää TIA Professor call opens again 4.9. – register to info webinar!
Our Annual Report 2022 is published
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s Annual Report 2022 looks back at the events and highlights of our operations in the past year. The theme of the Annual Report is “What is research impact?”
Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc attracted 80 applications
The call for applications for Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc 2023 closed on 16 April and the Foundation received 80 applications. This is twice as many as last year. The funding decisions will be made public at the end of August 2023. The TIA funding model has been developed by FRIF with a view to encouraging ambitious research-driven projects between research organizations and companies that further the aims of both leading-edge academic research and business and industry.
Lue lisää Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc attracted 80 applications
How do academic researchers benefit from industry cooperation?
Almost all new industry innovations grow out of frontline research. But how do researchers and academia benefit from their collaboration with industry partners? We asked some scientists and researchers how they had benefited from stepping outside the academic world.
Lue lisää How do academic researchers benefit from industry cooperation?
TIA Postdoc 2023 funding call is open – recording of the info session is now available
The Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc 2023 funding call opened on 1.3.2023. In the information session held on the same day Petro Poutanen, CEO of the foundation, and Outi Vanharanta, Research impact officer, presented the principles of the funding model and details of the application process. A recording of the session is now available for viewing.
Lue lisää TIA Postdoc 2023 funding call is open – recording of the info session is now available
Book a coaching session for the Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc 2023 application!
Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc (TIA Postdoc) call is open from 1 March to 16 April 2023. Read more about the call here and carefully read the guidelines before submitting your application. Do you have questions about the application process or the evaluation? Experts from the Finnish Research Impact Foundation will answer applicants’ questions in one-to-one…
Lue lisää Book a coaching session for the Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc 2023 application!
4th round of the Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc call opens in March 2023
The 4th round of the Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc (TIA Postdoc) call will open in March 2023. The application period is from 1 March to 16 April. Applications must be submitted to the Foundation via the electronic grant system by 16 April at 23:59.
Lue lisää 4th round of the Tandem Industry Academia Postdoc call opens in March 2023
New FRIF funding will allow six professors to work with industry partners for one year
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation has announced the funding recipients under its pilot call for Tandem Industry Academia Professorships, which was opened in autumn 2022. The six professors have been awarded TIA funding for 12-month research periods with their chosen industry partners.
Lue lisää New FRIF funding will allow six professors to work with industry partners for one year
Challenges of the modern world mean businesses will struggle without research cooperation
New Tandem Industry Academia (TIA) funding recipients met at a reception hosted by the Finnish Research Impact Foundation on 19 September 2022. The event included an interesting panel discussion about what lessons have been learned from industry-academia cooperation so far. There is no question that the world has become an increasingly complex place. One critical…
Lue lisää Challenges of the modern world mean businesses will struggle without research cooperation
Research Impact Officer joins FRIF in new role
Outi Vanharanta, Doctor of Science in Economics and Business Administration, has been appointed into the newly created role of Research Impact Officer at the Finnish Research Impact Foundation, starting 1 September 2022. Key aspects of this role include the development of funding programme evaluations and new funding instruments.
TIA Professor call info 12.9. – register to join us!
Welcome to the TIA Professor call Info on Monday 12 September at 14:00–15:00 to learn more about the Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s new funding scheme and to ask questions about the application process.
Lue lisää TIA Professor call info 12.9. – register to join us!
Research collaborations between academia and industry to get more funding
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation has awarded 1.7 million euros to support eight new joint projects between academia and industry partners. The projects include research into cancer drugs; the development of bio-based materials; and studies of atmospheric nanoparticles.
Lue lisää Research collaborations between academia and industry to get more funding
“Towards a pioneering role in research utilization” – video of report launch now available to view
The main findings of the report are presented by Minna Saunila, researcher at LUT University. Others who took part in the discussion were Katriina Juntunen, CEO of Kasvuryhmä; Joonas Mikkilä, Head of Digital and Educational Affairs at Suomen Yrittäjät (Federation of Finnish Enterprises); Tiina Lindh-Knuutila, solutions architect at Lingsoft Oy; and Tero Rantala, one of the authors of the report from LUT University.
New funding scheme to create one-year industry placements for professors
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation is piloting a new funding scheme that will give professors the chance to spend one year doing joint research in a business and industry environment. The purpose of the scheme is to support research collaborations between industry and research organizations and to give the academic world first-hand knowledge about relevant areas of research interest for business companies.
Lue lisää New funding scheme to create one-year industry placements for professors
SMEs keen to make good use of research, report finds – but struggle to see its practical relevance
Finnish SMEs are keen to make good use of science and research but do not see sufficiently robust benefits or relevant research subjects.
Our Annual Report 2021 is published
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s Annual Report 2021 looks back at the events and highlights of our operations in the past year.
Invitation to complete our questionnaire on new areas of FRIF funding
FRIF is planning a new funding pilot and wants to learn about the needs and views of all stakeholder groups.
Lue lisää Invitation to complete our questionnaire on new areas of FRIF funding
Tandem Industry Academia 2022 attracted 42 applications – the funding decisions will be made public in August
The call for applications for Tandem Industry Academia (TIA) 2022 closed on 31 March 2022 and the Foundation received 42 applications. The funding decisions will be made public at the end of August 2021.
How can business and universities have successful cooperation – and what’s it needed for?
There is demand for research-driven cooperation. We got in touch with people working on FRIF-funded projects to find out more about the conditions and challenges of industry-academia cooperation.
Lue lisää How can business and universities have successful cooperation – and what’s it needed for?
Live Q&A sessions for applicants to TIA 2022 spring call
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation will be live on Zoom every Monday at 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, from 7 through 21 March. The live sessions are dedicated to answering applicants’ questions regarding the TIA 2022 spring call.
Lue lisää Live Q&A sessions for applicants to TIA 2022 spring call
Rector Keijo Hämäläinen joins FRIF Board
Professor Keijo Hämäläinen, Rector of the University of Jyväskylä, has joined the Board of the Finnish Research Impact Foundation as of 1 January 2022. He has previously served as Chairman of Universities Finland UNIFI and is currently a board member of the Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.
