Research at the cutting edge of science

The University of Helsinki has established itself at the international forefront of research and doctoral education. It is the only Finnish university in the League of European Research Universities LERU, founded in 2002.

LERU: Banding together for European Research innovation

The quality of the University’s research is reflected in the high number of Centres of Excellence that operate there as well as the University’s many Academy Professors, Academy Fellows and researchers funded through the Finland Distinguished Professor Programme (FiDiPro) or the European Research Council (ERC).  

In 2013 the University had 22 national Centres of Excellence designated by the Academy of Finland as well as 24 Academy Professors and 15 FiDiPro professors. A total of 29 groups led by top researchers operate at the University of Helsinki with highly competitive funding from the ERC. Of them, 13 have received an ERC Advanced Grant and 16, an ERC Starting Grant.

The research funding of the University of Helsinki consists of government funding, the University’s own financial resources and external funding.

Researchers at the University of Helsinki have been very successful in obtaining competitive research funding. Approximately 60% of the University’s research funding comes from external sources.

The University also participates actively in the Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation (SHOK), which enable leading research units as well as companies that use their findings to collaborate innovatively and closely with each other in order to implement jointly defined research programmes.
The University of Helsinki receives a considerable share of its international research funding from the EU’s seventh framework programme, with half of the funds channelled to the University through ERC funding programmes.  

In recent years, the University has strongly developed its doctoral education together with national and international partners. The University will introduce a doctoral education system consisting of four doctoral schools at the beginning of 2014.

Graduate Schools
International Evaluation of Research and Doctoral Training at the University of Helsinki 2010–2012
LERU: Banding together for European research innovation