The Strategic Research Council (SRC), which operates under the auspices of the Research Council of Finland, has granted a total of €29 million to research on the future of democracy and water security. Funding was awarded to 10 project consortia where research is carried out in different organisations. Four of the consortia are coordinated at the University of Helsinki.
Research on challenges of democracy
The research projects under the Democracy for the Future (DEMOC) programme will focus on current and future challenges of democracy in Finland and abroad. Overall, University of Helsinki researchers were awarded approximately €3.2 million in funding.
The multidisciplinary AI for Reinforcing Democracy (AIDEMOC) consortium will investigate the effects of artificial intelligence, generative AI in particular, on the future of democracy. The consortium is headed by Anna-Mari Wallenberg from the University of Helsinki.
The Resilience of liberal democracy in Finland (RESLIDE) consortium will assess the current status of such resilience and present solutions for protecting it. The consortium is headed by Åsa von Schoultz from the University of Helsinki.
The Overcoming Barriers to Democratic Participation with Minoritized and Marginalized Groups (OBAMA) will investigate inequalities related to democratic participation and inclusion. It will also develop research-based models for strengthening participation. The consortium is headed by Meri Kulmala from the University of Helsinki.
The Reducing polarization via material participation (MaterialDemocracy) will focus on the future of democracy by developing the knowledge base and expertise to respond to the radical societal shifts associated with climate change, urbanisation, the green transition and species loss. Eva Heiskanen from the University of Helsinki will contribute to the consortium.
The DEMOC programme is headed by Heidi Härkönen from the University of Helsinki.
See all consortia funded under the programme.
The societal question of water
The Water for Welfare, Security and Peace (WAVE) programme will focus on water and water resources as a societal issue in Finland and globally. A total of €2.1 million was awarded for research to be conducted at the University of Helsinki.
The Navigating the route to sustainable water–food futures consortium will investigate the effects of climate change and unpredictable societal shifts, such as wars, pandemics and economic crises, on food security, livelihoods and ecosystems. The consortium is headed by Kari Hyytiäinen from the University of Helsinki.
The Marine waterways as a sustainable source of wellbeing, security, and safety (WATERWAYS) will investigate the ongoing changes in the use of waterways in the Baltic Sea, focusing particularly on maritime safety and sustainability. Sakari Kuikka from the University of Helsinki will contribute to the consortium.
The University of Helsinki is also a partner in a consortium entitled Coastal waters under pressure – safeguarding a healthy Gulf of Finland in a changing political and environmental landscape. It aims to identify, analyse and quantify risks to the marine environment in the Gulf of Finland, especially in the current geopolitical context where Russia’s war against Ukraine has curtailed cooperation with Russia.
See all consortia funded under the programme.