Newsletter 
The Institut français in Finland, the Embassy of France in Finland and the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research have partnered again this year with the Finnish Society for Sciences and Letters to open the call for proposals of the seed funding program to initiate and strengthen bilateral cooperation in natural science, humanities and social sciences as well as innovation and higher education in the fields of interest for both countries.
For this purpose, two joint programs are open:
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Researchers Short Mobility program (RSM)
In order to initiate or strengthen cooperation in science, innovation and higher education on all research topics of mutual interest, this program allows selected young or more experienced researchers from France and Finland (both ways) to visit their counterparts for a short period (from a few days up to 4 weeks). The objectives of the visit are the following:
- To discuss the possibility of scientific research cooperation and, if possible, on higher education (mobility of students, dual degrees, joint PhD, EU applications for grants…)
- To meet with several researchers within the host institution to explore other cooperation opportunities, also in a multidisciplinary approach
- To identify short-, medium- and long-term perspectives of collaborations and official cooperation formalization in order to build a sustainable cooperation between research teams, research laboratories, departments and institutions.
- To find a suitable laboratory for a post-doc to initiate or pursue a French-Finnish cooperation
Doctoral students and young researchers are encouraged to apply!
A grant of up to 1200 euros will cover travel, accommodation and leaving expenses for a first short visit in the hosting country.
A grant up to 2000 euros will cover travel, accommodation and leaving expenses for a 2 weeks or more working visit in the hosting country, when there is already an existing and strong collaboration between the researchers or laboratories.
The selection committee is comprised of representatives of funding institutions.
A 2 pages report (including final agenda/conclusions on science collaborations and outcomes + final budget) will be asked within 2 weeks after the end of the visit.
Download the RSM application form here
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“Higher Education, Research and Innovation” Workshop (ERI-W)
The ERI-W is aimed at strengthening identified collaborations between researchers in France and Finland through specific workshops that can take place in Finland or in France on all research topics. It is recommended to have focused and concrete topics for the workshop that may last 2 to 4 days and involve several researchers (around 15 but not limited). The 2023 call will highlight the opportunity for the applicant to organise multilateral (instead of only bilateral) meetings, especially if motivated by the application to Horizon Europe call for funding. In that case, all the parties participating to the workshop should contribute to its implementation.
These workshops, based on state-of-the-art research, will have to cover the three pillars of the knowledge triangle:
- Research: initiate, strengthen, foster all research cooperation to move from the researcher-researcher collaboration to a team-team or lab-lab collaborations
- Higher Education: explore, all the possibilities to foster and implement mobility of students, 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, tech transfer offices, innovation councils, officials from the Institutions and from local authorities is encouraged. The participation of potential future funders of these collaborations is also highly recommended during the workshop: local authority, association, companies, PIs of national or international grants.
Institutions from all the countries involved in the cooperation must also support the organization of the workshop by jointly co-funding it at least at the same level of the program contribution. It is indeed asked to find other sources of funding to allow more students and researchers to attend the workshop.
A grant of up to 6000 euros will support each workshop. The host institution of the workshop will manage funding and administration.
The selection committee is comprised of representatives of the partnered institutions.
A 2 pages report (including final agenda/conclusions on science collaborations and outcomes, participants, and final budget) will be asked within 2 weeks after the end of the workshop.
Download the ERI Workshop application form hereWorkshop -Maupertuis_2023
Please be aware that all selected grantees will have to acknowledge the support provided by the Institut Francais de Finlande, the Embassy of France in Finland, the French Ministry of Higher Education, and Research, and the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters by using their logos in any communication material (leaflet, website, emails for talk invitation …).
For more information, please contact uniscience.iff@france.fi