Funding granted for responsible and high-impact research under Academy Programme for Sport Science and Physical Activity

The Research Council of Finland has announced funding for five three-year projects under the Academy Programme for Sport Science and Physical Activity. Two of the projects are consortia made up of several projects. There were a total of 49 applications submitted to the call. The total funding granted comes to 2.45 million, while the funding applied for totalled 23.1 million. The funded projects seek solutions to societal and public health challenges related to sport and physical activity. The research focuses on both competitive athletes and casual everyday exercisers, from the prenatal period to old age.

The Academy Programme for Sport Science and Physical Activity opens funding calls on an annual basis. The Research Council of Finland and the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture jointly fund and develop sport science research in accordance with the sport policy objectives set by the Finnish Parliament. This first call launched under the new Academy Programme attracted widespread interest from researchers in the field.

The international panel that peer-reviewed the applications found them to be of good scientific quality. The panel also praised the objectives of the programme and the importance of its research for Finland. Similar funding schemes are not available in most countries.

The aim of the Academy Programme for Sport Science and Physical Activity is to advance the quality, renewal and impact of research on physical activity and sports. The programme will generate new knowledge to promote physical activity by directing funding to high-quality and innovative sport science research.

The research-based knowledge created through the programme will contribute to increasing understanding and creating solutions to societal and public health challenges related to physical activity and sports. The research knowledge can contribute to promoting conditions for a physically active lifestyle and for equality as well as for increasing participation in physical activity and sports and improving results and responsibility in performance sports.

The chair of the programme steering group, Professor Marja Kaunonen, said: “In targeting research funding, attention will be paid to the relevance of the research projects in supporting sport policy. The funding aims to strengthen accountability, inclusion, community, equality and nondiscrimination in sport science research, targeting different population groups and different forms of sport, both at amateur and competitive level. With the aim of strengthening the societal impact of sport science research, the programme gives priority to research projects with a high applicability.”