PoC funding promotes the economic and societal utilisation of research results

Proof of Concept (PoC) funding promotes the utilisation of research funded by the Research Council of Finland (RCF) and the Strategic Research Council (SRC). PoC projects progress from research to real economic and societal impact. The research lays the foundation for a knowledge-based society and promotes economic growth, sustainable development and wellbeing.

PoC funding also meets a number of Finland’s current RDI policy objectives: Several assessments have identified a ‘funding gap’ in the Finnish RDI system. The need to provide funding for the phase between scientific research and the utilisation of research results was also identified in the multiannual plan for the use of research and development funding. PoC funding complements the RCF’s portfolio of funding opportunities. PoC funding is used to support the first steps of research groups on the research utilisation path to achieving research impact.

Role of PoC funding in national RDI funding

The RCF launched a pilot call for implementation of the PoC scheme in 2023. The benchmark used for the funding was the European Research Council’s Proof of Concept grant and the call for Key Project funding previously implemented by the RCF. In 2016, a total of 30 million euros in Key Project funding was granted to 101 two-year projects.

The new PoC funding scheme was prepared as part of a larger package that focused on the development of the boundary zone between scientific research and business. When developing the funding scheme, we discussed how the RFC’s PoC funding is positioned in the national funding field for the impact and utilisation of research together with, for example, Business Finland and the Finnish Research Impact Foundation. The PoC projects funded by the RCF are closer to scientific research and the early stages of the research utilisation path than, for example, those receiving Business Finland funding.

Tips for a successful application

The pilot call held in 2023 was quite educational for both applicants and the RCF. The experiences gained in the pilot call have since been utilised in the development of the funding scheme and in application guidance. For the 2024 call, we drafted additional instructions to support preparation of the utilisation plan and clarified concept definitions.

We now have a fairly good understanding of how wide a range of different PoC projects can be developed by RCF- and SRC-funded researchers, and what kinds of first steps can be taken on the research utilisation path. Different parties have also gained an understanding of the content-related elements of a successful application: what is required of an application to ensure that it progresses in the review process through the panel processing phase to possible funding.

Our “dos and don’ts” could be listed as follows:

1. The applicant must be able to clearly describe what kind of research results can be utilised from research funded by the RCF or SRC and how.
2. The application must be innovative in some way: For example, the idea and goal of the project are groundbreaking, new types of actors will be selected as partners for the project and/or the methods of cooperation and co-creation are creative and inventive.
3. The stakeholders and user groups of the project must be described in the application, and they must participate in the different phases of the project. In addition, the social responsibility of the project and issues pertaining to research ethics must be taken into account.

Research benefits different sectors of society

The RFC’s PoC funding does not require applicants to engage in business cooperation. The project funding can be used to develop new solutions that improve the functional capacity, activities and wellbeing of individuals, communities and society or that promote the objectives of sustainable development. The impact sought by a project may be linked to, for example, a change in behaviour or culture, support for decision-making or development of competence and services.

Two PoC funding calls have been implemented: A pilot call targeted at utilising the research results obtained from RCF Flagship and Centre of Excellence programmes was organised in 2023. In the next call in 2024, applicants established their PoC projects to utilise research results produced in RCF-funded projects.

This year’s call is aimed at a larger number of applicants. The principal investigators (PI) of several projects funded through funding methods aimed at individual researchers and research groups of the RCF and SRC are eligible to apply.

PoC projects develop wide range of responses to societal challenges and business needs

A total of 66 PoC projects funded by the RCF are currently ongoing, including subprojects of the funded consortia. Funding has been granted in a variety of ways to working groups in various scientific disciplines. There is a wide range of projects. PoC projects include planning interventions and operating models that respond to social challenges, such as preventing exclusion or promoting well-being. Technology sector projects, on the other hand, develop new hardware, software or methods that, for example, improve industrial processes or everyday technologies. There are also projects that are focused on the development of services, methods, products or materials for such purposes as education, healthcare, environmental protection or promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.

This year’s call has been announced, and it is open from 2 April to 14 May 2025. We will know what kinds of projects responding to the current needs and challenges of society will receive funding in this call at the end of 2025.