€3.6 million for University of Helsinki researchers for research on future employment and economic growth

€3.6 million for University of Helsinki researchers for research on future employment and economic growth

The Strategic Research Council (SRC), which operates under the auspices of the Research Council of Finland, has granted a total of €29 million for research on economic growth and future employment.

Funding was awarded to 10 project consortia, of which University of Helsinki researchers are involved in five.

Enough skills and talent

The Skills, Labour Supply and Migration in Future Finland (SKILLS) programme investigates ways and means to ensure favourable development in Finnish society by securing a sufficient supply of labour and skills in the future. The SKILLS programme is headed by Research Director Ville-Pekka Sorsa from the University of Helsinki.

For immigrants arriving in Finland, learning Finnish is an essential step towards integrating into society and social life. In the consortium the Teaching and Learning of Finnish: AI-powered Integration for Immigrants (DALAI-FIN), researchers develop individual and flexible Finnish language teaching based on artificial intelligence. The is headed by Roman Yangarber from the University of Helsinki, with Riikka Möttönen also involved.

The Technological transformation, AI and migrant skills in the Finnish labour market (TAIMI) consortium brings together researchers, decision-makers and organisations with the goal of creating concrete solutions that strengthen the capacity of organisations to keep immigrants in employment, promote their skills development and support societal cohesion. Markku Sippola from the University of Helsinki is involved in the consortium.

The Population projections for migration scenarios, human capital development, and sustainable integration (MigScene) consortium investigates how human capital and productivity can develop in Finland through a range of scenarios related to education, immigration and integration. The researchers employ and develop Finnish and international microsimulation models, registry data and machine learning techniques to present a range of multidimensional population projections for Finland for the period 2025-2070. Mikko Myrskylä from the University of Helsinki is involved in the consortium.

All consortia funded under the SKILLS programme: Granted funding - research.fi

Favourable economic development in changing circumstances

The Economy and Welfare in an Era of Strategic Competition (WELEC) programme focuses on how and by what means the economy can develop favourably and lay the foundations for prosperity in changing circumstances.

The Advancing Sustainable Economic Growth through Space Economy (SPACECONOMY) consortium addresses the fragmentation of Finland's space ecoconsystem by fostering innovation, sustainability and inter-sector collaboration. The consortium brings together specialists in research, industry as well as the private and public sectors. It focuses on AI-powered satellite data applications, sustainable business models, international collaboration and responsible regulation. Minna Palmroth from the University of Helsinki is involved in the consortium.

The Generative AI and Digital Solutions: Enhancing Effectiveness and Productivity of Healthcare Services (GAINS) consortium investigates how digital services and generative AI can enhance productivity, accessibility and cost-effectiveness in healthcare, as well as support sustainable economic growth. Karoliina Snell from the University of Helsinki is involved in the consortium.

All consortia funded under the WELEC programme: Granted funding - research.fi