The Riitta and Jorma J. Takanen Foundation´s purpose is to advance economic life, especially the industry of technology, through know-how, development and international competitiveness in the area of Central and Northern Finland (provinces of Lapland, Northern-, Central-, and Southern Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia, Kainuu region and Central Finland). The Foundation provides grants especially for applied research and for internationalization in the area of Central and Northern Finland.
The Foundation awards grants to support:
- Internationalization of students at universities and universities of applied sciences having a student exchange or internship program abroad.
- Research that takes place at universities, universities of applied sciences and research units
- Researcher visits and conference trips abroad and are related to research activities that take place at universities, universities of applied sciences and research units
The applicant must notice that when making decisions on grants the Foundation must comply with the foundation´s purpose, the field of industry and the connection to the area of Central and Northern Finland. The better the applicant and the application meet these conditions, the more advantageous it is considered when making grant decisions.
When applying for a grant one must use the electronic grant applications and provide all the necessary attachments. The grant application form can be found at www.rjtsaatio.fi.
When filing an application, the applicant consents to the registering of personal data. The data is filed in an electric secure data register for grant application procedure. The data registers will be erased in a reasonable time. For more information www.rjtsaatio.fi (Säätiön tietosuojaseloste).
All the applicants will be informed personally about the decision made by the Foundation. If a grant is awarded the Foundation requires information on payment procedures and for taxation authorities.
Special instructions on applications of grants for student exchange and internship
These grants are intended for university and university of applied sciences bachelor’s as well as master’s level students who are going abroad for a long term exchange program (generally more than one month) of for an equivalent duration of internship as an employee.
The application period is twice a year, usually 1.3. – 30.4. and 1.9. – 31.10. A notification of an application period will be found on the Foundation web site (www.rjtsaatio.fi). The Foundation grant application processing will take approximately one month.
Generally, an application form should be filled in before the start of the exchange or internship period. In exceptions an application form can be filled in after the exchange or internship period has started, but however, the period must not finish before the relevant grant application period ends.
A certificate regarding a student exchange or internship period issued by a receiving unit can be delivered also after an application period has closed.
A decision on a grant and on an amount of a grant is affected inter alia by
- the faculty and program an applicant is studying
- merits, weighted GPA of studies
- the length of exchange study and internship period
- an applicant´s connection and ties to Central and Northern Finland
Special instructions on applications of grants for research projects
These grants are intended for doctoral and post-doctoral researchers.
The application period is once a year, usually 1.3. – 30.4. A notification of an application period will be found on the Foundation web site (www.rjtsaatio.fi). The Foundation grant application processing will take approximately two months, unless the Foundation has not prolonged the processing time.
The grant application may concern an encouragement grant or a full-time research grant.
A decision on a grant and on an amount of a grant is affected inter alia by
- the topic of the research and its connection to the focus themes the Foundation has possibly chosen
- an applicant´s connection and ties to Central and Northern Finland
- how the research affects, directly or indirectly, on the Foundation´s geographical area
The amount of time for a grant to be utilized can vary up to three years.
The Foundation may decide on the focus themes before the relevant application period, and these will be informed on the web site of the Foundation (www.rjtsaatio.fi) (“Ajankohtaista”).
An amount of an encouragement grant awarded will be approximately 5.000 – 30.000 euros, but however, for one calendar year approximately 5.000 – 10.000 euros. An amount exceeding 5.000 – 10.000 euros will be allocated for one or two following years and will be subject to interim reporting agreed with an applicant and a new positive decision by the Foundation.
The maximum amount of a full-time research grant is equal with the maximum amount that is exempt from tax pursuant to the Finnish Income Tax Act (in 2024 26.355,60 euros).
The foundation has a right to amend these amounts and any amendments will be informed on the Foundation´s web site.
The applicant for a full-time research grant may be employed for a maximum of 20,0 % (one day a week).
Grants are not awarded for the purchase of basic work equipment (a phone, a laptop).
The application must describe the scientific and technical significance of the research, as well as its social and economic impact in Finland.
A statement from the research supervisor or equivalent must be attached to the application.
The foundation may also use external parties to evaluate applications, and the applicant accepts this processing when submitting the application. The applicant also accepts that the recipients of the granted scholarships and the research topics will be published.
The application with attachments must be in English, unless there are special reasons for using the Finnish language.
Special instructions for grant applications for research visits and conference trips
These grants are intended for doctoral and post-doctoral researchers.
The application period is twice a year, usually 1.3. – 30.4. and 1.9. – 31.10. A notification of an application period will be found on the Foundation web site (www.rjtsaatio.fi). The Foundation grant application processing will take approximately one month.
The duration of a research visit is generally at least one month.
An application for a conference trip requires that the applicant has a presentation, prepared speech, or equivalent at the conference.
An application for a research visit must include an invitation for the visit. For a conference trip, the conference program indicating the applicant’s role in the conference must be attached.
The application with attachments must be in English, unless there are special reasons for using the Finnish language.
