Published 21.5.2021

The Sakari Alhopuro Foundation received 176 grant applications by the application deadline. A total of 19 applicants were approved and will share a total of EUR 750,617 in grant funding. 

‘There were many worthy applications this year, once again, which made our decisions very difficult. We endeavour to award funding to post-doctoral research work as a means of encouraging talented young people to continue to pursue a career in research’, states Sakari Alhopuro, Chairman of the Foundation Board.

Two of the projects that received grant funding will examine the impacts of environmental changes on the subarctic biocoenosis of Lapland and the biocoenosis of the brackish water in the Baltic Sea. The research will be carried out at University of Turku field stations located at opposite ends of Finland – one on the island of Seili in the Archipelago Sea and the other in Kevo, Lapland.

Grant funding was also awarded to a study that will help to understand the connection between the aerosols generated during voice production and the spread of the coronavirus. The aim is to generate action models based on researched information that would enable people to enjoy the performing arts, also during times of pandemic, without risking their health.

The names of the persons and projects that have received grant funding can be found here.

In addition to the grant funding awarded now, the Sakari Alhopuro Foundation also exceptionally donated one million euro to the vaccine research being conducted at the University of Helsinki.

‘Finnish vaccine research and domestic vaccine production would be extremely vital in terms of the nation’s health, economy and security of supply. They would enable us to have a better opportunity to keep society functioning normally whenever the next pandemic strikes. The missing additional funding is a small sum compared to the costs incurred to this point as a result of the coronavirus’, Alhopuro emphasises.

 

Further information:
Carita Rantanen, Managing Director
tel. +358 40 503 9609, carita.rantanen(at)sakarialhopuronsaatio.fi 

                                                   

The purpose of the Sakari Alhopuro Foundation is to support and promote high-quality medical research, biodiversity, entrepreneurship as well as cultural and social well-being in Finland. The Board of the Foundation decides annually on the target areas for upcoming grant applications. The areas are stated on the Foundation’s website.