Advice for grantees during the coronavirus pandemic

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of our grantees find themselves unable to go on with their projects as planned. We have gathered instructions for those whose project plans have been or will be affected by the pandemic.

What should you do if the coronavirus pandemic is disrupting your grant project plan? We understand very well the disappointment and worry you may be experiencing.

To address this critical situation, the Foundation will respond by being as flexible as possible. Grant payments will be issued normally, even though significant changes to project plans may be required due to the pandemic.

Please follow these instructions if your project plan is affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

• We request that all project participants be paid as agreed and no one is to be left without their fee due to the pandemic.
• If it is not possible to go on with your research or artistic work, you may consider adapting your plans to better suit the current situation. You may present us with an alternative plan for using your grant if the coronavirus pandemic prevents your project from being conducted according to the original plan. Please let us know about any changes via the online grants system.
• If you have forfeited travel, conference or production costs due to the pandemic, we recommend that you contact the organisers to whom the payments were made to discuss alternatives with them. If you have coverage, please remember to use your insurance. Kone Foundation will not request repayment of already issued grant payments if you are forced to cancel your journey, presentation or event, and if the costs of cancellation remain to be paid from your project budget. Please let us know about these costs in your interim or final report.
• If your grant project is affected by the pandemic, we will extend the period in which the grant may be used by 12 months. Please let us know if you wish to use this option.
• We recommend that you include all loss of income due to the pandemic.
• We ask you to make travel decisions as well as the decision about forthcoming events based on the emergency laws authorised by the Finnish parliament or the guidelines set forth by public authorities in the country or countries of your destination. We recommend that you keep in mind that the coronavirus pandemic may not pass as quickly as estimations predict.
• If you have a research project, you can contact Director of Research Funding Kalle Korhonen directly by email or phone. For all practical matters, our grants team will help you: koneensaatio@koneensaatio.fi, +358 9 260 0617 (Mon–Thu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).