Statement by the Finnish Union Of University Professors on the amendment of the Act on Research and Development Funding

Union has issued a statement on R&D funding and proposes that the review period specified in the Act on Research and Development Funding should not be shortened from two years to one, as has been proposed.

According to the Union, the primary purpose of the Act is to improve the predictability and long-term stability of government R&D funding. An annual review would be inconsistent with this objective and could undermine the long-term planning horizon that the legislation is intended to provide.

Furthermore, the Union maintains that other forms of funding should not be used to replace R&D funding when calculating the target level of 1.2% of GDP. The target should be met through genuine investments in research and development rather than by substituting or reclassifying other funding sources.