Turku Urban Research Programme’s Call for Research Projects

A call is open for research projects matching the Turku Urban Research Programme 2022-2025 (pdf). The call applies to research groups, led by and including researchers affiliated with the University of Turku (UTU) or the Åbo Akademi University (ÅA). The consortiums can involve also researchers from other Finnish or foreign universities, research institutes and applied universities, yet the UTU’s or the ÅA’s share of each project’s value must be minimum 50 per cent. The projects are required to apply multi-, inter- or transdisciplinary research approach.

The research funding will be provided up to a maximum of €600.000. The expectation is to fund four projects, valued €150.000 each, including minimum one project focussed on housing research.

The research funding is provided by the City of Turku, the West-Finland Housing Association of Public Utility, the University of Turku, and the Åbo Akademi University.

The Turku Urban Research Programme’s funding rules are as follows: The workload of the project director (and directors of potential sub-projects in a consortium), usually a professor, is considered as the institution’s (usually university’s) self-funding, which is not covered. However, a working hours report is not required. The employment costs of the researchers hired for the project are fully covered, calculated with real employer’s costs (30%, not according to “the full cost model”). A fixed 18% overhead is accepted in the funded part of the project. The funder accepts the use of funding as salaries and grants, as well as data and travel costs. The research projects are required to begin during 2024, and to finish by the end of 2025. The City of Turku will set up a steering group for each project.

The Turku Urban Research Programme provides funding for academically relevant research, which is expected to deliver also policy advice. The evaluation of applications (a research plan) will focus on the scientific merit, feasibility, applicability, topicality, and originality of the contributions. The desired applicability is insights into options for influencing urban development or improving governance – with future orientation, but acknowledging the importance of historical perspectives, too. The funded empirical research does not have to concern Turku, if the applicability of the results for developing Turku is otherwise justified.

The call is arranged in two stages. The City of Turku will inform applicants selected for the second round how their research plans should be developed. The final plans are not expected to be much longer than the initial versions.

The applications should be submitted by 1st November 2023, by 14.00, and the final applications by 1st December 2023, by 14.00 (Finnish time). The funding decisions will be made by 31st December 2023.

The applications should be sent electronically to the City of Turku registration office (turun.kaupunki@turku.fi), with the topic indicated as “Kaupunkitutkimusohjelman hankehaku”. We will process only applications received on time. The application must follow the structure given below.

The application (1+6 pages)

The first page should present:

  • The title of the research project
  • The name(s) and site(s) of research of the director of the project or consortium, as well as those of the possible subprojects + e-mail address of the consortium director
  • The director's personal address or the date of birth, required by the official registration of the application. 
  • An abstract (maximum 2000 characters)
  • A justification for how the research project matches the Turku Urban Research Programme 2022-2025 

The following maximum six pages should present:

  • The background, relation to previous research, and objectives of the project
  • A description of the project, separated between the potential sub-projects, including the data and methods applied
  • Expected results, their scientific novelty, and applicability to developing Turku
  • A description of the research team, including added value generated by the potential consortium
  • Potential national and international cooperation within the research project
  • The total funding applied for, specified by sites of research, and detailed at person level (researchers’ salaries)
  • Project schedule
  • References (only the most important ones)

Additional information is provided by Research Director Sampo Ruoppila (sampo.ruoppila@turku.fi)