Kone Foundation Supports Impactful Protection of Scholars Through an Initiative of Finnish Universities

Kone Foundation has awarded the Finnish Scholar Protection Scheme €450,000 in funding for the period 2027–2029.

Finnish universities are committed to defending academic freedom and supporting researchers whose freedom is under threat, regardless of their geographic location. All 13 universities in Finland have committed to a joint initiative to implement impactful scholar protection in Finland. The idea for the Finnish Scholar Protection Scheme (FSPS) initiative emerged from a survey conducted in 2024 by the Finnish section of the international Scholars at Risk network. Under the auspices of UNIFI, the Council of Rectors of Finnish Universities (Unifi), Scholars at Risk Finland (SARF) concluded that Finland is capable of offering protection to researchers facing persecution and violence. However, the impact of scholar protection has not been optimal due to short funding periods and weak integration.

Launched in 2026, the Finnish Scholar Protection Scheme establishes a national model to strengthen both the funding base and the impact of scholar protection. It introduces shared principles and implementation practices for all universities, as well as a clear division of responsibilities among actors. For protected scholars, FSPS enables realistic progression in an academic career after the protection period and provides, in addition to funding, supplementary support measures to advance career development and integration. With FSPS, universities will clarify their roles, and expertise in scholar protection will grow across all institutions.

Kone Foundation has awarded FSPS €450,000 in funding for the period 2027–2029. The funding will cover two co-funded scholar protection periods of up to three years each at Finnish universities. FSPS will publish a pre-announcement of the funding call soon.

The FSPS initiative is administered by the coordination unit of the Finnish University Partnership for International Development (UniPID), hosted by the University of Eastern Finland.

For more information, please contact:

Tommi Lehtonen, Chair of the FSPS Steering Committee, Research Director, University of Vaasa, tommi.lehtonen@uwasa.fi 

FSPS Coordination, Kaisa Kurki, Director of UniPID, kaisa.kurki@uef.fi, fsps@uef.fi 

Kalle Korhonen, Director of Funding, Kone Foundation, kalle.korhonen@koneensaatio.fi