Academy of Finland launches reform programme to develop its research funding activities

The Academy of Finland has initiated a reform programme to achieve cost savings in its activities between 2023 and 2024. The programme comes in response to a long-standing situation where appropriations for the Academy’s operations have decreased, while applications submitted to and research funding allocated by the Academy have increased. With the reform programme, the Academy is preparing for forthcoming increases in research funding associated with the new act on R&D funding.

Paula Eerola, President of the Academy of Finland, said: “The boost in research funding is a very positive step, and absolutely necessary. Finland’s future depends on research and high-level expertise. From the Academy’s point of view, this will place increasing demands on performance and financial efficiency. The way things are right now, we’re already working at the limits of what we can do, if the level of appropriations allocated to Academy operations cannot be increased.”

The reform programme will focus on measures related to the application process, the review of applications and the decision-making. The aim is to simplify processes and reduce the amount of work they cause. As part of the reform programme, the Academy’s online services (SARA) will also be revamped.

Jussi Vauhkonen, Director of Development, said: “Academy staff currently have an excessive workload. The workload is a result of both the increasing number of funding applications and the way in which we organise the processing of the applications. With the reform programme, we will focus especially on improving our own ways of working. For applicants and grantees, the reforms will manifest themselves in smoother and quicker processes.” Vauhkonen is in charge of the implementation of the programme.

The Academy’s reform programme will be carried out in 2023–2024, and the new online service is due to be introduced in 2025.