You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reason:

Only users who are logged in using ORCID can make a change or add a contribution. Please login here.

Back

Edit facts & figures

Before you submit, please be aware of our community guidelines.

Report

In 2019, there were 51,500 full-time researchers in Finland <ref>1.     Statistics Finland. 1. Research and development 2019. 2020 Oct 29. [cited 2021 March 8]. Available from:

https://www.stat.fi/til/tkke/2019/tkke_2019_2020-10-29_kat_001_en.html</ref>. Finland has 14 universities, 22 universities of applied sciences, 12 state research institutes, 4 science agencies and research institutes under the steering of the Ministry of Education and Culture, 4 academic institutes abroad and non-profit limited company: CSC – IT Center for Science Ltd (owned by the State and higher education institutions) <ref name=":0">Ministry of Education and Culture. Higher education institutions, science agencies, research institutes and other public research organisations. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from:  https://minedu.fi/en/heis-and-science-agencies</ref>.

Finland has several research libraries: The National Library of Finland, the libraries of universities and universities of applied sciences, Library of Parliament, Library of Statistics and other specialised libraries at research institutes, government agencies and museums <ref name=":0" />.

{{{!}} class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="604"
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}'''Organisation'''
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}'''City'''
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}'''Public universities'''
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.aalto.fi/en Aalto University]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Espoo
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.helsinki.fi/en University of Helsinki]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Helsinki
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.uef.fi/en University of Eastern Finland]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Joensuu, Kuopio
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.jyu.fi/en University of Jyväskylä]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Jyväskylä
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.ulapland.fi/EN University of Lapland]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Rovaniemi
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.lut.fi/web/en/ LUT University]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Lappeenranta, Lahti
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.oulu.fi/university/ University of Oulu]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Oulu
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.hanken.fi/en Hanken School of Economics]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Helsinki, Vaasa
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.uniarts.fi/en/ University of the Arts Helsinki]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Helsinki, Kuopio, Seinäjoki
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.tuni.fi/en Tampere University]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Tampere
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.utu.fi/en University of Turku]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Turku
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.univaasa.fi/en University of Vaasa]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Vaasa
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.abo.fi/en/?lang=en Åbo Akademi University]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Turku
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="226" valign="top"{{!}}[https://maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu.fi/en/frontpage National Defence University]
{{!}} width="378" valign="top"{{!}}Helsinki
{{!}}}
<references />

In 2013, Finnish government launched the Finland’s Strategy and Roadmap for Research Infrastructures 2014-2020. The Strategy’s main scope was to be recognized for its “internationally competitive science and high-quality research infrastructures” by renewing teaching, society and the business sector using following measures: long-term development of research infrastructures, improvements to the access to and collaborative use of research infrastructures, supporting of the funding base of research infrastructures, provision of a basis for the methodological development of research infrastructures and evaluation of the significance and impact of research infrastructures <ref>Finland’s Strategy and Roadmap for Research Infrastructures 2014-2020. The Finnish Infrastructure Committee. 2014. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from: https://www.aka.fi/globalassets/2-suomen-akatemian-toiminta/4-julkaisut/webroadmap2014eng.pdf?_t_id=0_0szSg0ut6-HZKSE3qI6A%3D%3D&_t_uuid=KXU9ajPzQU6G-6JJwq_yJA&_t_q=roadmap&_t_tags=language%3Aen%2Csiteid%3A89e2ba17-5f81-4e18-a6e2-27ce1774d3e5%2Candquerymatch&_t_hit.id=AkaFi_Web_Models_Media_PdfFile/_26807aeb-59d9-45d6-991e-c28219d77720&_t_hit.pos=3</ref>.
<references />

Finland has several national bodies for research ethics and research integrity. Finnish National Board on Research Integrity (TENK) is appointed by the Ministry of Education and Culture on the proposal of the scientific community. TENK monitors research integrity by following and compiling statistics on violations of responsible conduct of research and acting as an appeal body on RCR investigations. It has issued national guidelines on research integrity and on ethical review in the human sciences. All Finnish research organisations are committed to these guidelines <ref>Finnish National Board on Research Integrity Tenk. TENK. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from: https://tenk.fi/en/tenk</ref>. Besides research integrity TENK also coordinates the ethical reviewing of the human sciences. Ethical review of non-medical research involving human participants is based on a set of guidelines drawn up by the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK - [https://tenk.fi/sites/default/files/2021-01/Ethical_review_in_human_sciences_2020.pdf The ethical principles of research with human participants and ethical review in the human sciences in Finland. Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK guidelines 2019].

TENK has created a network of Research Integrity Advisers. It has trained more than 144 advisers in 74 research organisations that provide advices to researchers and other staff in their organisations <ref>Finnish National Board on Research Integrity Tenk. Research Integrity Advisers. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from: https://tenk.fi/en/research-misconduct/research-integrity-advisers</ref>.

Finland has 9 regional research ethics committees established by the University hospital districts <ref name=":0">1.     European Network of Research Ethics Committees Eurec. National information: Finland. [cited 2021 March 4]. 
Available from: http://www.eurecnet.org/information/finland.html</ref>. There are independent and voluntary based research ethics committees for other fields, such as humanities or studies on national registers at universities and research centres <ref name=":0" />. There are also many local ethics committees in hospitals, research institutes and universities <ref>Ethics Committees in Finland. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from:

https://www.tenk.fi/sites/tenk.fi/files/Ethics_committees_in_Finland.pdf</ref>.

Finnish institutions have a high degree of cooperation when it comes to handling violations of research integrity and research ethics. Procedures for dealing with misconduct can be found in TENK guidelines which were signed by all universities, majority of universities of applied sciences and publicly funded research institutions. Guidelines suggest that each institution should deal with possible cases of misconduct <ref>Finnish National Board on Research Integrity Tenk. Organisations committed to the RCR guidelines. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from:

https://tenk.fi/en/research-misconduct/organisations-committed-rcr-guidelines</ref>. Research organisations who signed the agreement for adhering to TENK guidelines have taken the responsibility to follow the procedures named in guidelines when it comes to dealing with cases of alleged violations of the responsible conduct of research. The decision whether a violation of research integrity occurred is brought by the rector of the university, or if the university so decides, the chancellor, the rector of a university of applied sciences, or the director of the research organisation. The allegations of research misconduct and decision related to the allegations are reported to TENK for the purpose of monitoring the compliance with guidelines. If a party in the process is unsatisfied with the decision, the TENK statement regarding the case can be requested. As of 2023, the due time for provision of a TENK statement is one month.

TENK does not publish its concrete decisions, but according to the Finnish law of general publicity, all official documents are available for stakeholders. Usually, rector investigates the alleged violations of research integrity upon the notification but in some cases, it can conduct the investigation of allegations that have come to his/her attention from other channels. Furthermore, TENK can also initiate the investigation if it has reasons to suspect misconduct occurred at the research organisation.

If the allegations of research misconduct are unfounded, the rector’s decision to stop the investigation process can be publicly announced. Moreover, if the investigation confirms the research misconduct the findings contained in the final report must be published at least in the publication channel where the fraudulent research findings or results based on fraudulent means have already been published. If the investigation finds that the person alleged of misconduct has not violated the responsible conduct of research, an effort must be made to publish the findings of the investigation in an appropriate publication channel if the person alleged of misconduct wants, or if there are other compelling reasons. TENK statements are publicly available and in its annual report cases of research misconduct are presented in the anonymous form <ref>Finnish National Board on Research Integrity Tenk. Investigation of allegations. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from: https://www.tenk.fi/en/investigation-of-allegations</ref>.

According to TENK guidelines, the written allegation of research misconduct cannot be submitted anonymously. Moreover, in accordance with The Act on Openness of Government, the research organisation is when sending the documents to TENK, obliged to take into account the secrecy obligations that apply to the information included in the documents <ref>Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity. Responsible conduct of research and procedures for handling allegations of misconduct in Finland. Guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity 2012. 2021 Nov 14. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from: https://www.tenk.fi/sites/tenk.fi/files/HTK_ohje_2012.pdf</ref>.

Interventional clinical trials on medicinal products must be reported to the Finnish Medicine Agency (FIMEA). FIMEA does not need to be notified of investigations other than interventional trials <ref name=":1">Fimea. Clinical Drug Trials. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from: https://www.fimea.fi/web/en/supervision/clinical_drug_trials</ref>. The sponsor or the person responsible for the trial must provide a report on the results of the trial to FIMEA, not later than one year after the trial ends. The report on the results must also be submitted to the EU Clinical Trials Register <ref name=":1" />.
{{{!}} class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"
{{!}} width="236" valign="top"{{!}}'''Bodies for RE+RI'''
{{!}} width="516" valign="top"{{!}}'''Scope'''
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="236" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.tenk.fi/en Finnish National Board on Research Integrity (TENK)]
{{!}} width="516" valign="top"{{!}}Promotes the responsible conduct of research, prevents research misconduct, promotes discussion and spreads information on research integrity in Finland. It has issued national guidelines on research integrity and on ethical review in the human sciences. It acts as an appeal body on RCR investigations, monitors RI by following and complying statistics on violations of RCR, coordinates the ethical reviewing of the human sciences and provides advice in problematic situations.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="236" valign="top"{{!}}[https://etene.fi/en/frontpage National Advisory Board on Social Welfare and Health Care Ethics (ETENE)]
{{!}} width="516" valign="top"{{!}}Discusses general principles in ethical issues in the field of social welfare and health care.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="236" valign="top"{{!}}[https://tukija.fi/en/frontpage National Committee on Medical Research Ethics (TUKIJA)]
{{!}} width="516" valign="top"{{!}}Serves as an expert on research ethics, advises regional ethics committees in the matters of ethical principle related to medical research and provides training. It is responsible for issuing opinions on the ethics of clinical drug trials that are to be run in Finland unless this task is delegated to a regional ethics committee. The Committee also evaluates the conditions for establishing a biobank.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="236" valign="top"{{!}}[https://mmm.fi/en/laboratory-animals Council on the protection of animals used for scientific or educational purposes]
{{!}} width="516" valign="top"{{!}}Monitors and promotes the implementation of the principle of replacement, reduction and refinement (“3R principle”). It issues proposals and statements to promote the principle and gives statements on other important measures and proposals concerning the use and welfare of animals used for scientific or educational purposes.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="236" valign="top"{{!}}[http://www.btnk.fi/en/ National Advisory Board on Biotechnology]
{{!}} width="516" valign="top"{{!}}Promotes cooperation between authorities, researchers and operators in biotechnology, monitors developments and research in gene technology as well as its health and environmental impacts. In addition, the Board monitors and promotes international cooperation in biotechnology and takes into account the ethical considerations of gene technology.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="236" valign="top"{{!}}[https://geenitekniikanlautakunta.fi/en/frontpage Board for Gene Technology]
{{!}} width="516" valign="top"{{!}}Acts as the authorising body regarding the use of genetically modified organisms in accordance with the Gene Technology Act (377/1995).
{{!}}}
<references />

A number of laws regarding RE and RI are officially instated in Finland.
{{{!}} class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
{{!}} width="271" valign="top"{{!}}'''Law'''
{{!}} width="480" valign="top"{{!}}'''Scope'''
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="271" valign="top"{{!}}[https://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2010/en20100820_20100820.pdf Decree  on the National Committee on Medical Research Ethics]
{{!}} width="480" valign="top"{{!}}Supports and coordinates the  activities of the regional ethics committees in connection with the  procedures regarding requesting opinions, participates in international  cooperation regarding research ethics issues and collects and conveys  information on research ethics issues. It also conveys information on the  international discussion on ethics in the field of medical research and  promotes the public discussion on medical and biomedical research.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="271" valign="top"{{!}}[https://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990488_20100794.pdf Medical  Research Act]
{{!}} width="480" valign="top"{{!}}Provides basic rules for medical  research with humans.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="271" valign="top"{{!}}[https://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1995/en19950377_20100955.pdf Gene Technology Act]
{{!}} width="480" valign="top"{{!}}Promotes safe and ethical use  and development of gene technology. It protects human and animal health and  the environment when carrying out the contained use or deliberate release of  genetically modified organisms into the environment.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="271" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1992/en19920785 Act on the Status and  Rights of Patients]
{{!}} width="480" valign="top"{{!}}Regulates the patients’ status and  rights in health care and medical care.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="271" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/2006/en20060062.pdf Act on the Use of  Animals for Experimental Purposes]
{{!}} width="480" valign="top"{{!}}Ensures keeping and using animals in experimental  animal activities only for necessary and important reasons.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="271" valign="top"{{!}}[https://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2001/en20010101_20130277.pdf Act on the Medical Use  of Human Organs, Tissues and Cells]
{{!}} width="480" valign="top"{{!}}Lays  down provisions on the use of:

-  human organs, tissues and cells for the treatment of human disease or injury

-  organs intended for transplantation

- human  embryos for a purpose other than fertility treatment or medical research-

- human  organs, tissues, cells and tissue samples for a purpose other than that for  which they were removed or retained

- cadaver  for medical teaching and research etc.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="271" valign="top"{{!}}[https://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990523_20000986.pdf Personal Data Act]
{{!}} width="480" valign="top"{{!}}Implements  the protection of private life and other basic rights which safeguard the  right to privacy and in the processing of personal data. It also promotes the  development of and compliance with good processing practice.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="271" valign="top"{{!}}[https://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990621_20150907.pdf Act on the Openness of  Government Activities]
{{!}} width="480" valign="top"{{!}}Defines  objectives of the right of access and the duties of the authorities regarding  openness and good practice on information management in government.
{{!}}}

RI training

There are various resources for RE and RI training. TENK has issued several guidelines.

Research misconduct:

[https://tenk.fi/sites/tenk.fi/files/HTK_ohje_2012.pdf Responsible conduct of research and procedures for handling allegations of misconduct in Finland. Guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity 2012]

[https://tenk.fi/sites/tenk.fi/files/RCR_notification_form.docx Template for reporting allegations of violation of the responsible conduct of research (DOCX)]

[https://tenk.fi/sites/tenk.fi/files/TENK_Research_Integrity_Advisers_2018.pdf Recommendations of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK for Research Integrity Advisers]

Ethical review in human sciences:

[https://tenk.fi/sites/default/files/2021-01/Ethical_review_in_human_sciences_2020.pdf The ethical principles of research with human participants and ethical review in the human sciences in Finland. Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK guidelines 2019]

Curriculum vitae:

[https://tenk.fi/sites/tenk.fi/files/TENK_CV_template.pdf Researcher’s Curriculum Vitae Template. Recommendation of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK 2020]

[https://tenk.fi/sites/tenk.fi/files/TENK_CV_template.docx Researcher's Curriculum Vitae Template. Recommendation of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK (DOCX)]

Authorship:

[https://tenk.fi/sites/tenk.fi/files/TENK_suositus_tekijyys.pdf Agreeing on authorship. Recommendation for research publications]

Doctoral dissertations:

[https://tenk.fi/sites/tenk.fi/files/TENK_UNIFI_recommendations_supervision_of_doctoral_dissertations.pdf Supervision of doctoral dissertations and their review process in Finland with a special emphasis on research integrity. Recommendations to universities by the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity and Universities Finland UNIFI.]

National Committee on Medical Research Ethics (TUKIJA) provides [https://tukija.fi/en/seminar-materials TUKIJA’s seminar materials] for RE and RI training.

RI dialogue and communication

A “Science Barometer” is published every third year. It reflects opinions of the public to on the impact of research to the society and credibility of universities and other research institutions in comparison to other societal institutions (church, parliament, court, police etc.). According to the Barometer, public perception of research integrity and trust in science in Finland is on a high level <ref>Summary of the Finnish Science Barometer 2019. A study of the Finns’ Attitudes towards Science and Their Opinions on Scientific and Technological Progress. 2019. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from:

http://www.tieteentiedotus.fi/files/Sciencebarometer_2019_23122019.pdf</ref>.

Research integrity is discussed in the lay press occasionally. The Finnish media wrote about scientific misconduct and TENK’s role and authority in the control of scientific misconduct <ref>Salminen A, Pitkänen L. Finnish Research Integrity Barometer 2018. The Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK 2/2020. [cited 2021 May 25]. Available from:  https://tenk.fi/sites/default/files/2020-12/Finnish_Research_Integrity_Barometer_2018.pdf</ref>.

RI incentives

Research integrity is a party of institutional quality assessment in Finland <ref>Aalto University. Research Ethics and Research Integrity. 2020 Dec 9. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from: [https://www.aalto.fi/services/research-ethics-and-research-integrity) https://www.aalto.fi/services/research-ethics-and-research-integrity]</ref>. The universities have a duty to organise an international research assessment every sixth year to measure the quality of research. The Academy of Finland conducts, coordinates and commissions evaluations of research with a view to improving both its performance and the quality and impact of Finnish science and research <ref>Academy of Finland. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from: https://www.aka.fi/en/</ref>.

TENK provides annual training for advisers who are later appointed to research institutions to give advice concerning research integrity <ref>1.     Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity. Action Plan: 1 February 2016-31 January 2019. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from:

https://www.tenk.fi/sites/tenk.fi/files/media/TENK_action_plan_2016_2018.pdf</ref>.

PhD programs at universities use online courses for the education on research integrity. There is also some training in research integrity for teachers at universities and universities of applied sciences regarding RI but it should be further developed and adapted in institutions <ref>Löfström, E. Teaching and learning Research Integrity. Responsible Research. 2018 May 19. [cited 2021 March 4]. Available from: https://vastuullinentiede.fi/en/doing-research/teaching-and-learning-research-integrity</ref>. 
{{{!}} class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}'''Initiatives'''
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}'''Scope'''
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://tenk.fi/en/research-misconduct/research-integrity-advisers TENK’s annual training for research integrity advisers]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Training
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.aka.fi/en/ The Academy of Finland]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Accreditation
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[http://www.aka.fi/en/about-us/scientists-behind-the-research/academy-of-finland-awards/ Academy of Finland Awards - awards for outstanding researchers]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Support
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[http://www.nfid.org/awards/finland The Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Support
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://taf.fi/millennium-technology-prize/ The Millennium Technology Prize]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Support
{{!}}}
<references />

Logo

Summary:

This is a minor edit
Watch this page

Cancel

Edit Report: Report:2e3c5d2d-ea34-40f6-86ac-67fbc796919f

Edit facts & figures