The Academy of Finland has granted funding from its supplementary budget to four new Flagships for the years 2020–2024. The University of Eastern Finland is involved in three of them. The Flagships create future knowledge and know-how and sustainable solutions to societal challenges, and advances economic growth by, for example, developing new business opportunities.
Coordinated by the University of Eastern Finland, the UNITE Flagship in the field of forest sciences, i.e. Forest-Human-Machine Interplay - Building Resilience, Redefining Value Networks and Enabling Meaningful Experiences, was granted significant funding at UEF. The Flagship is led by Professor Jyrki Kangas.
Also coordinated by the University of Eastern Finland, the GeneCellNano Flagship, i.e. Gene, Cell and Nano Therapy Competence Cluster for the Treatment of Chronic Diseases, was granted considerable funding at UEF. The Flagship is led by Academy Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala.
Coordinated and led by Professor Markku Kulmala at the University of Helsinki, the ACCC Flagship, i.e. Atmosphere and Climate Competence Centre, was granted significant funding at UEF. The ACCC Flagship focuses on research addressing climate change and deteriorating air quality. Professor Kari Lehtinen from UEF is the consortium’s deputy director.
According to Rector of the University of Eastern Finland Jukka Mönkkönen, the excellent success of the university's researchers in the Flagship call speaks volumes of the extremely high quality, broad scope and diversity of research at the University of Eastern Finland.
“This is also an indication of how topical and important our themes of research are for societal and economic impact alike. All of this guarantees strong networking and the emergence of influential ecosystems around our research.”
The total funding granted to the Flagships amounts to 45 million euros, promotes increasingly close collaboration between various stakeholders and makes it possible to systematically develop and expand activities.
Close collaboration with business and industry
The fourth new Flagship to secure funding is Innovation Ecosystem Based on the Immune System (InFLAMES), coordinated by the University of Turku.
The Academy of Finland has earlier granted the Flagship status to six Finnish research consortia, with UEF a partner in one of them, i.e. the PREIN Flagship. Among other things, PREIN focuses on basic research in photonics, as well as on the utilisation on research findings in various applications and innovations.
The Academy of Finland’s Flagship Programme is an instrument that supports high-quality research and increases the societal impact emerging from the research. The Finnish Flagships represent an effective mix of close cooperation with business and society, adaptability and a strong commitment from host organisations.
For further information, please contact:
Rector Jukka Mönkkönen, tel. +358 40 728 8057
Professor Jyrki Kangas, tel. +358 50 344 9888
Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala, tel. +358 40 355 2075
Professor Kari Lehtinen, tel. +358 40 867 7844
Academy of Finland’s Flagship Programme website