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Business Finland is a Finnish public organization that funds and supports the growth and internationalisation of Finnish companies, and it also funds public research. For a university or research institute in Finland, the relevant part is its funding for public research and for research collaboration with companies. It is not an identifier registry or a publication database, so it sits next to Finland’s research information systems rather than inside them.
This guide is written from the research office’s side: which instrument a research organisation uses, what the stated criteria are, and the steps in the application path. Details come from Business Finland’s own pages, checked on 2026-10-29. Business Finland states that its funding content is being updated during 2026, so confirm rates, calls and deadlines on the current pages before you plan a budget.
What Business Finland is
Business Finland describes itself as a Finnish public organization. It is part of the Team Finland network, which brings together public internationalisation services for companies, and its work also covers promoting tourism and investment and attracting talent to Finland. Its funding page states the core aim as accelerating the growth and internationalisation of Finnish companies.
Research organisations come in through one specific line of that work, listed on the funding page as Funding for public research. It supports high-impact research and research collaboration between research organisations. Applications, funding decisions and follow-up run through Business Finland’s online services, which the site labels the Funding e-service or Funding online service (and My Business Finland / MyBF).
Who can apply: companies versus research organisations
The funding page names three target groups: research institutions, public organisations and companies. Startup funding is aimed at companies under five years old. Large companies and research organisations can be funded for joint projects with small and medium-sized enterprises.
For a research organisation, the practical point is that eligibility depends on the instrument and the call. Two matter most for universities and institutes, and they are easy to confuse.
Co-Research versus Co-Innovation
Co-Research
Co-Research funds public research that builds new international expertise for business needs, typically disruptive or strategic projects whose results become a basis for companies’ own development. According to Business Finland’s Co-Research page:
- Applicants: Finnish research organisations (universities, research institutes and universities of applied sciences), alone or two or more together in a joint project.
- How to apply: only through calls that expressly mention Co-Research.
- Funding level: the normal level is 80%.
- Company involvement: companies usually contribute, preferably at least 10%, and usually at least three companies take part.
Co-Innovation
Business Finland says Co-Innovation is usually more appropriate when companies will use the results in their own R&D at the same time. Under the partnership-model call for Co-Innovation, which runs continuously from 31 January 2024 to 31 December 2030, companies can apply for a Co-Innovation joint project or for their own R&D project. Research organisations can apply only for a Co-Innovation joint project with companies. Applications may cover the subjects described in leading companies’ roadmaps, and decisions follow the normal funding criteria. The call page does not state a funding rate, so do not assume the Co-Research figure carries over.
| Question | Co-Research | Co-Innovation (partnership-model call) |
|---|---|---|
| Who applies | Finnish research organisations, single or joint | Research organisations only in a joint project with companies |
| Company role | Usually contribute, preferably at least 10%; usually at least three companies | Companies apply for joint projects or their own R&D projects |
| Stated funding level | Normal level 80% | Not stated on the call page |
| Fit | Public research that companies draw on for later development | Companies will use the results in their own R&D at the same time |
How to apply: the Funding e-service path
Business Finland’s general funding steps are: plan the project and secure your own funding share; apply in the online service; approve the funding decision in the online service; organise follow-up and accounting; then execute the project, report, and notify any changes. For Co-Research the page adds the following:
- Discuss the idea with your own research support services first.
- Business Finland appoints a contact person, and you present the plan to them before applying.
- Submit in the Funding e-service using the Co-Research application form. Each participant in a joint project submits its own application.
- Companies attach a Notification of participation in project.
- Attach the joint project plan, which is limited to 20 pages. Cooperation agreements are not sent unless requested.
- After the decision, approve it in the online services and report progress and costs.
For general questions, Business Finland lists a customer service line on 029 50 55000 on weekdays from 8.00 to 16.30, and a Helsinki office at Porkkalankatu 1.
Reporting and follow-up
Funding does not end at the decision. The steps above include follow-up and accounting, reporting on progress and costs, and notifying Business Finland of changes. The Research Council of Finland funds a different slice of Finnish research; see our guide to the Research Council of Finland.
Related Finnish systems and funders
Business Finland funds projects; it does not hold your researchers’ identifiers or publication records. Those sit elsewhere:
- Publication reporting for Finnish research organisations runs through the VIRTA Publication Information Service, Finland’s national research data hub.
- Ownership of results from employee research is a separate question; see how Denmark, Finland and Norway abolished the professor’s privilege and our entry on professor’s privilege.
- For Nordic comparison, see NordForsk and Estonia’s ETAg funding overview.
Business Finland funding decisions are made on applications, not on ORCID or Scopus profiles, so there is no identifier-linking step in the application path described on its pages.
Common mix-ups
- Applying for the wrong instrument. Co-Research is available only through calls that expressly mention it. If companies will use the results in their own R&D at the same time, Business Finland points to Co-Innovation instead.
- Treating one application as a joint one. In a Co-Research joint project every participant submits its own application, and companies add the notification of participation.
- Exceeding the plan length. The joint project plan is limited to 20 pages.
- Carrying old rates forward. Funding content is being revised during 2026, so use the current page rather than older documents.
FAQ
What is Business Finland?
A Finnish public organization that funds and supports the growth and internationalisation of Finnish companies, part of the Team Finland network, and a source of funding for public research and research collaboration.
Can a university apply to Business Finland?
Yes. Research institutions are a named target group. Finnish universities, research institutes and universities of applied sciences can apply for Co-Research through calls that mention it, and research organisations can apply for a Co-Innovation joint project with companies under the partnership-model call.
How much does Business Finland fund in Co-Research?
The page states a normal funding level of 80%. Companies usually contribute, preferably at least 10%. Confirm the current figure on the instrument page, since funding content is being updated during 2026.
Where do I submit the application?
In Business Finland’s Funding e-service, also called the Funding online service or My Business Finland.
Does Business Finland use ORCID or Scopus IDs?
The application steps on its funding and Co-Research pages do not mention either. For identifier and publication reporting in Finland, see VIRTA above.
Sources
- Business Finland, Funding services (checked 2026-10-29).
- Business Finland, Co-Research (checked 2026-10-29).
- Business Finland, Partnership model funding call for Co-Innovation (page updated 14.4.2025; checked 2026-10-29).
- Business Finland, About us (checked 2026-10-29).
