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.
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation’s new strategy for 2025–2028 has now been published. In preparing the strategy, the foundation examined and assessed the types of challenges where its support is most needed in today’s world.
There has been no need to reinvent the wheel. Support for ambitious research–business collaboration projects will continue as before. What’s new are two special focus areas: bringing humanities scholars and businesses closer together, and accelerating the integration of top international talent into Finland.
Petro Poutanen, CEO of FRIF, welcomes the foundation’s newly published strategy.
“In our strategy, we’ve once again been able to identify new and timely funding bottlenecks where the foundation’s support is needed. If we can help push these issues forward even a little, our funding and the example it sets can have a significant systemic impact. I find the new strategy inspiring,” says Poutanen.
“Our mission statement remains exactly the same as it was four years ago: We are renewing Finland’s knowledge base by supporting cutting-edge research and developing new ways to enhance the impact of collaboration between research and industry.”
The humanities and international expertise hold untapped potential
For the first time, the Finnish Research Impact Foundation has included in its strategy a special focus area with the goal of connecting humanities expertise with business. Behind this lies the observation that supporting collaboration between these fields and companies has proven challenging. You can read more about the barriers to such collaboration in a recent report published by the Foundation.
“Through our own research and analyses, we’ve identified that the position of the humanities in funding calls that emphasize collaboration is weaker than that of other disciplines. For example, the humanities often lack the necessary networks in the business world. Yet these disciplines have great potential to generate intangible value – much more than is currently being realized,” Poutanen explains.
One way to advance this goal is a new programme currently under development at the foundation, designed to allow companies and humanities researchers to explore opportunities for collaboration. More information about the programme will be available later this spring.
The second new strategic focus area is the effort to integrate top international talent into Finland. This goal is based on the observation that Finland’s innovation and research sectors are facing a shortage of top experts, due in part to the country’s demographic structure, among other factors.
“For Finland’s innovation system, it is vital that we are able to attract top talent to the country and ensure that they stay. Funding models that support integration are one way to achieve this,” Poutanen explains.
“The challenges mentioned above are not easy to solve. However, the foundation’s core mission is to strengthen Finland’s long-term competitiveness and knowledge base, and that gives us a responsibility to address even the most difficult issues,” he continues.
A familiar core – FRIF exists to serve Finland
Despite the new focus areas, the core of the foundation’s strategy remains familiar. Supporting collaboration through funding continues to be a cornerstone of the foundation’s work – most notably through the Tandem Industry Academia (TIA) funding programme. The quality and potential impact of proposed projects remain the most important criteria in funding decisions.
In addition, the foundation continues to act as an expert on the impact of research collaboration and to connect stakeholders across sectors. It is also committed to sharing proven best practices and engaging in dialogue with the wider society.
“The foundation exists to serve Finland and to advance knowledge. These challenges cannot be solved by any one actor alone—they require active interaction not only between research and its users, but also among funders and those working to renew existing structures. We are always happy to engage in dialogue with our stakeholders and welcome ideas and feedback,” Poutanen concludes.
