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Government decides on themes for strategic research in 2021

Government Communications Department
Publication date 1.10.2020 14.41
Press release 617/2020

In its plenary session on Thursday 1 October, the Government decided on the thematic areas and priorities for strategic research in 2021. The thematic areas are: Demographic changes – causes, consequences and solutions, Environmental and social links to biodiversity loss, and Pandemics as a challenge for society. The Government also adopted Welfare as the cross-cutting priority of all themes for 2021.

The Government made its decision on the key thematic areas and priorities for strategic research based on a proposal from the Strategic Research Council. In 2021, the proposed authorisation for strategic research amounts to EUR 55,631 million. The Strategic Research Council will announce the launch of the call for funding at a later date.

Strategic research refers to high quality, long-term and problem-oriented research that contributes to social policymaking and the development of society’s functions and aims to find solutions to the major challenges and problems facing Finnish society.

Matters decided by the Strategic Research Council include the research programmes, organisation of funding calls and selection of research projects, and it is also responsible for monitoring and impact assessments. The projects to be funded are selected based on a review of their societal relevance, impact and scientific quality.

Inquiries:

Seppo Määttä, Director General, tel. +358 295 160 598, Prime Minister’s Office and Joonas Rahkola, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, tel. +358 295 16 001, firstname.lastname(at)vnk.fi