University Tour in Kuopio – Impact at the Heart of the Conversation
The Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation took part in the Association of Finnish Foundations’ (Säätiöt ja rahastot ry) university tour in November, which this time visited the University of Eastern Finland’s Kuopio campus.
Photo: UEF
Over the course of the day, representatives from nearly 40 foundations and funds explored the UEF’s research and its impact. The program included meetings with the university leadership and researchers, visits to research projects, and a panel discussion. The visit strengthened dialogue between the research community and research funders.
The common thread throughout the discussions was impact and its many forms—how research is reflected in society, everyday life, and future solutions. In Finland, support from foundations and funds is a major enabler of scientific research. Finnish foundations provided €327 million in funding for science in 2024. The discussions highlighted, among other things, the importance of high-quality research communication and media literacy, the value of interdisciplinarity in strengthening research, and the idea that impact is built first and foremost on top-level research. In addition, there was an emphasis on researchers taking an active and wide-ranging role in public debate, and on sharing research findings also with the communities whom the research concerns.