How we work

Tekes funding and services are designed for promoting challenging and innovative research and development projects in companies, universities, other university-level institutions and research institutes.

Tekes assists businesses in their search for new ideas, the finalisation of business plans and their quest to carry out meaningful and valuable research and development initiatives.

Cooperation and mutual trust

Companies are encouraged to contact Tekes's experts in the initial stages of planning to allow them to formulate their research proposals with the help of a dedicated Tekes expert.

Tekes does not derive any financial profit from its endeavours, nor does it claim any intellectual property rights; these stay strictly with the enterprise.

Completed project proposals are reviewed internally by Tekes's business and technology experts, and each project is designated a Tekes expert to assist with the project and to monitor its progress.

Looking to the future

Together with the business community and researchers, Tekes identifies strategically important areas of R&D and designs programmes to provide opportunities for carrying out ambitious R&D projects and for developing business expertise and international cooperation.

Tekes programmes are forums for the exchange of information and networking between companies and research groups. Tekes bases all of its endeavours on a carefully thought-out strategy. 

R&D funding for challenging research and business development

By sharing the risks associated with challenging research and development projects, Tekes encourages businesses to take greater leaps in innovation development than would be possible without public R&D funding.

Tekes offers businesses a low-interest loan or a grant, depending on the distance to the market and on the nature of the proposed project. The projects may also involve international cooperation and researcher mobility.

Applications are submitted electronically. All funding is competition-based and guided by the same principles throughout Finland. Tekes's experts carry out a comprehensive assessment of the viability of the project, the technology involved, the potential business value, other benefits and the project coordinator.

Funding for foreign companies operating in Finland

Funding can also be awarded to foreign-owned enterprises registered in Finland. Foreign companies with R&D activities in Finland do not need to have a Finnish partner to be eligible for funding. The financed project should, however, contribute to the Finnish economy. 

Business projects are selected by assessing

• the business that the project is likely to generate
• the technology, innovation and competence that the project sets out to develop
• the resources available to the project team
• the cooperation models associated with the project
• the social and environmental wellbeing factors that the project promotes 
• the impact of Tekes's funding and expert services

Public research projects are selected by assessing

• the technology and competence that the project sets out to develop
• the cooperation models associated with the project
• the way in which the outcomes of the project will be utilised
• the resources available to the project team
• the social and environmental wellbeing factors that the project promotes
• the impact of Tekes's funding and expert services