Deadline: 15-Aug-2026
The Foundation for Economic Education is offering multi-year grants for research group projects that address economic, business, and societal challenges while strengthening the competitiveness of Finnish companies. The funding supports 36-month research projects with total grants ranging from EUR 150,000 to EUR 300,000. The programme focuses on innovation, commercialization, growth, international scaling, digital business concepts, and pricing and sales management.
Overview
The Foundation for Economic Education is inviting applications for multi-year research group projects focused on innovation, commercialization, and growth.
The grants support research that develops solutions to current economic, business, and societal challenges.
The programme places special emphasis on research that strengthens the competitiveness of Finnish companies, particularly through pricing, sales management, innovation management, and international business growth.
Purpose of the Grant
The purpose of the grant is to support high-quality research group projects that generate practical and academic value for Finnish business competitiveness.
The programme aims to encourage research that helps companies innovate, commercialize new ideas, grow internationally, and improve business performance.
It is especially interested in projects that address pricing and sales management as strategic tools for business competitiveness.
Key Focus Areas
The programme focuses on innovation, commercialization, growth, pricing and sales management, international market scaling, innovation management, manufacturing, services, business concepts, digital channels, digital business models, sales practices, business competitiveness, Finnish companies, doctoral research, postdoctoral research, and international collaboration networks.
What the Grant Supports
The grant supports multi-year research group projects that explore business and economic challenges linked to Finnish company competitiveness.
Supported research themes may include:
- Innovation and commercialization
- Pricing and sales management
- Growth strategies
- Scaling business operations in international markets
- Innovation management
- Manufacturing and service business development
- New business concepts
- Use of digital channels
- Digital business models and concepts
- Strengthening sales practices
- Improving pricing capabilities
- Enhancing business competitiveness
- Research addressing economic and societal challenges
Projects should demonstrate strong relevance to Finnish companies and business development.
Funding Amount
Funding is available for a 36-month period.
The total grant range is EUR 150,000 to EUR 300,000.
This corresponds to approximately EUR 50,000 to EUR 150,000 per year.
Applicants should prepare a realistic funding plan that reflects the size of the research group, working periods, project activities, shared expenses, and research outputs.
Personal Grant Levels
Research group members may receive personal grants based on annual levels.
The annual grant levels are:
- EUR 27,000 for doctoral researchers
- EUR 32,000 for postdoctoral researchers
The Principal Investigator must specify the working periods for each group member.
Working periods for group members may range from 12 to 36 months.
Individual grants typically cover 4 to 12 months.
Shared Project Expenses
Shared project expenses are allocated to the host organization.
These expenses are provided without any overhead percentage.
Shared expenses may support project-related needs connected to research implementation, communication, collaboration, publications, or other justified project activities.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility is limited to Principal Investigators affiliated with a domestic host institution.
The research group must consist primarily of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
The programme does not fund undergraduate or graduate degree studies.
Individuals, working groups, and organizations may also apply under different grant categories, but this multi-year research group funding is specifically designed for group-based research projects led by an eligible Principal Investigator.
Principal Investigator Requirements
The Principal Investigator is responsible for preparing and leading the application.
The Principal Investigator must:
- Be affiliated with a domestic host institution
- Lead the research group project
- Define the research group structure
- Specify working periods for group members
- Describe time allocations and other duties
- Include supplementary salary funding details
- Explain senior researcher roles
- Coordinate the research and funding plan
- Ensure the project aligns with the programme focus areas
The Principal Investigator should clearly show how the project will contribute to business research and Finnish company competitiveness.
Research Group Requirements
The research group should primarily include doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
The application should clearly describe:
- Each member’s role
- Working period
- Time allocation
- Research responsibilities
- Supplementary salary funding
- Other duties during the grant period
- Collaboration arrangements
- Senior researcher involvement
- Foreign member participation, if relevant
The group structure should support the successful delivery of the research project over 36 months.
International Collaboration
The programme encourages international collaboration networks.
The research and funding plan should describe international cooperation, publications, communication, and research networks.
If foreign members are included in the research group, the application must outline their funding sources.
This should include complementary support from their home countries where applicable.
Required Application Documents
The application must include a structured plan and supporting documents.
Required components include:
- One-page project summary
- 3–5 page research and funding plan
- Communication plan
- Publication plan
- International collaboration network description
- Roles of senior researchers
- Funding sources for foreign members
- Details of complementary support from home countries
- Working periods for group members
- Supplementary salary funding details
- Time allocations and other duties
- CV compilation of all participants as one attachment
Applicants should ensure that all required documents are complete, clear, and consistent.
Research and Funding Plan
The 3–5 page research and funding plan should explain the project’s purpose, research approach, expected outcomes, and funding structure.
It should include:
- Research objectives
- Key research questions
- Methodology
- Relevance to Finnish companies
- Link to innovation, commercialization, and growth
- Pricing and sales management relevance, if applicable
- Research group roles
- Timeline
- Communication and dissemination
- Publications
- International collaboration
- Funding plan and budget justification
The plan should show both scientific quality and practical business relevance.
Why It Matters
Finnish companies face changing market conditions, international competition, digital transformation, and pressure to improve growth and competitiveness.
Research on innovation, commercialization, pricing, sales, and international scaling can help companies respond to these challenges more effectively.
This grant matters because it supports long-term research that can generate new knowledge, strengthen business capabilities, and contribute to economic development in Finland.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a complete application that clearly presents the research idea, group structure, funding plan, and expected contribution to Finnish business competitiveness.
Step 1: Confirm Principal Investigator Eligibility
The Principal Investigator should confirm affiliation with a domestic host institution.
The PI should also ensure that the proposed research group is primarily composed of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
Step 2: Define the Research Theme
Applicants should select a theme aligned with innovation, commercialization, and growth.
Themes may include pricing and sales management, international scaling, digital channels, innovation management, manufacturing, services, or business concepts.
Step 3: Build the Research Group
The PI should identify doctoral researchers, postdoctoral researchers, senior researchers, and any international collaborators.
The application should clearly define each participant’s role and working period.
Step 4: Prepare the Project Summary
Applicants must prepare a one-page project summary.
The summary should clearly explain the research problem, objectives, relevance, methods, and expected contribution.
Step 5: Prepare the Research and Funding Plan
Applicants must prepare a 3–5 page research and funding plan.
The plan should include the research design, communication strategy, publication plans, international collaboration, group member roles, and funding structure.
Step 6: Detail Working Periods and Funding
The PI must specify working periods of 12 to 36 months for group members.
The application should also describe individual grant periods, supplementary salary funding, time allocations, and other duties during the grant period.
Step 7: Explain Foreign Member Funding
If the research group includes foreign members, the application should describe their funding sources.
This should include any complementary support from their home countries.
Step 8: Compile Participant CVs
Applicants must submit a CV compilation of all participants as a single attachment.
The CVs should demonstrate relevant expertise, research experience, and capacity to contribute to the project.
Step 9: Submit the Application
Applicants should submit the complete application with all required documents, including the project summary, research and funding plan, CV compilation, and supporting information on group roles and funding.
Selection Considerations
Applications are likely to be assessed based on scientific quality, business relevance, feasibility, and contribution to Finnish competitiveness.
Key assessment areas may include:
- Relevance to innovation, commercialization, and growth
- Strength of pricing and sales management focus
- Contribution to Finnish company competitiveness
- Quality of research questions and methodology
- Strength of the research group
- Role of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers
- Feasibility of the 36-month plan
- Clarity of funding structure
- Communication and publication plans
- International collaboration potential
- Practical relevance to current economic and business challenges
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Clearly connect the project to Finnish company competitiveness
- Align the proposal with innovation, commercialization, and growth
- Highlight pricing and sales management where relevant
- Present a focused and feasible 36-month research plan
- Define each group member’s role clearly
- Show strong doctoral and postdoctoral researcher involvement
- Include realistic working periods and time allocations
- Explain communication and publication plans
- Demonstrate international collaboration value
- Provide a clear funding plan for foreign members
- Submit all CVs as one complete attachment
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common mistakes include:
- Submitting a proposal not clearly linked to Finnish business competitiveness
- Ignoring the programme’s focus on innovation, commercialization, and growth
- Providing a weak or unclear pricing and sales management connection
- Including undergraduate or graduate degree studies as funded activities
- Not defining group member roles
- Missing working periods or time allocations
- Not explaining supplementary salary funding
- Providing an incomplete research and funding plan
- Missing international collaboration details
- Failing to submit the CV compilation as a single attachment
- Requesting overhead costs for shared project expenses
FAQ
1. What is the Foundation for Economic Education multi-year research group grant?
It is a 36-month funding opportunity for research group projects that address economic, business, and societal challenges while strengthening the competitiveness of Finnish companies.
2. How much funding is available?
The total grant range is EUR 150,000 to EUR 300,000 over 36 months.
3. What is the annual funding range?
The funding corresponds to approximately EUR 50,000 to EUR 150,000 per year.
4. What are the personal grant levels?
Doctoral researchers may receive EUR 27,000 per year, while postdoctoral researchers may receive EUR 32,000 per year.
5. Who can apply?
Principal Investigators affiliated with a domestic host institution may apply for multi-year research group funding.
6. Are undergraduate or graduate studies funded?
No. Undergraduate and graduate degree studies are not funded.
7. What documents are required?
Applications must include a one-page project summary, a 3–5 page research and funding plan, details on communication, publications, international collaboration, senior researcher roles, funding sources for foreign members, and a single CV compilation of all participants.
Conclusion
The Foundation for Economic Education multi-year research group grants support ambitious research projects that advance innovation, commercialization, growth, and business competitiveness in Finland. With funding of EUR 150,000 to EUR 300,000 over 36 months, the programme helps research groups explore important economic and business challenges, especially pricing and sales management, international scaling, digital channels, and innovation management. Applicants should submit well-structured proposals with strong scientific quality, clear business relevance, defined research group roles, realistic funding plans, and strong links to Finnish company competitiveness.
For more information, visit Foundation for Economic Education.