Newsletter 
The French Institute in Finland, the French Ministry of Research and the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters launch a joint call for projects to initiate and strengthen bilateral cooperation in science, innovation and higher education.
For this purpose, two sub-calls are considered:
1. Researcher Short Mobility (RSM)
To initiate or strengthen cooperation in science, innovation and higher education on all disciplines, this sub-call allows selected young or established researchers from Finland and France (both ways) to visit their counterparts for a short period from a few days up to a few weeks. The sub-call is open to the following target outcomes:
- Explore cooperation opportunities in science or innovation and, possibly, on higher education: mobility of students, dual/joint degree, joint PhD, EU application…
- Identify short- and longer-term perspectives for collaboration and official cooperation formalisation in order to build sustainable cooperation between research teams, departments, or institutions.
Mobilisation of regional, national, or European complementary support mechanisms (e.g.: Horizon Europe, ERASMUS+ calls) is encouraged.
- Start or advance joint activities: Joint publication, learn a methodology, access an infrastructure…
- Network with potential new partners, within or outside the host institution, to explore additional cooperation opportunities, also in a multidisciplinary approach.
- Find a suitable laboratory for a post-doc to initiate or pursue a French-Finnish cooperation.
Young researchers including doctoral students are encouraged to apply.
Grants will range from 1 200 to 2 400 euros according to the duration of mobility and will cover travel, accommodation and living expenses.
2. “Higher Education, Research and Innovation” Workshop (ERI-W)
The ERI-W sub-call is aimed at strengthening collaborations between researchers in France and Finland through a workshop of a few days involving several researchers (around 15). The workshops can take place in Finland or in France and are open to all disciplines. The workshop topic should be focused and concrete. The format of the workshop can be multilateral instead of bilateral, especially in view of a future Horizon Europe or ERASMUS+ application.
The workshop, based on state-of-the-art research, should also explore broader impacts in the realm of the three pillars of the knowledge triangle:
- Research: initiate, strengthen, and foster all cooperation opportunities to move from the researcher-researcher collaboration to a team-team or lab-lab collaboration.
- Higher Education: explore all the possibilities to foster and implement student mobilities, dual degrees, joint PhD…
- Innovation: explore opportunities for technology transfer and innovation and collaboration with the private sector from each country.
The participation, in addition to researchers, of students, companies, technology transfer offices, innovation councils, officials from the workshop organisers’ institutions and from local authorities is encouraged. The participation of potential funders of anticipated future collaborations is also recommended: local authority, association, companies, Principal Investigators of national or international grants.
Institutions from all the countries involved in the cooperation should support the organisation of the workshop. It is expected that the Maupertuis grant will cover at most 50% of the workshop costs. Other sources of funding should allow more students and researchers to attend the workshop.
Grants will amount of up to 6 000 euros.
Grant Modalities
Mobilities and workshops should be planned from March 2027. Most of them are expected to occur by December 15, 2027, but 2028 Is possible as well if relevant.
Applications will be reviewed by both Finland and France. Review criteria cover the quality of the project, expected impacts (incl. potential for France-Finland cooperation) and implementation. The selection will follow the recommendation of a joint committee comprised of representatives of the funding organisations. Selection outcomes will be forwarded to the applicants by February 2027.
A maximum two-page activity and financial report will be requested within two weeks after the end of the mobility.
Grantees should acknowledge the funding organisations by using their logos in any communication material (leaflet, website, emails for talk invitation …).
Call documents
How to apply
The templates (see the section above) describe the expected information and documents to compile your application. Applications are submitted using the following online forms:
Contact: science@france.fi