Business Finland’s Rise to Challenge funding call is open until Nov 3, 2026! Bring forward strategic research ideas that can reshape markets
Business Finland’s Rise to Challenge 2026 funding call is open from 1 April to 3 November 2026! They are now looking for radical new ideas and a willingness to take risks – strategic research ideas with the potential to disrupt markets! This call welcomes world-class ideas without thematic limitations. If your research team has one, you should definitely apply! Rise to Challenge is by far Business Finland’s largest funding instrument for research organizations: project funding for five years can amount to as much as 5–10 million euros.
The aim of the funding is to create the expertise and capabilities needed by the growth sectors of the future. The maximum duration of a research project is five years. In this call, funding is granted for the first phase of the project, lasting up to three years. Based on the results of the first phase, the project may be granted continuation funding for an additional two years.
The University of Oulu has defined its own practices for the Rise to Challenge funding call, which differ from traditional calls. Please review these instructions (University of Oulu internal link) and contact the Innovation Centre’s experts before applying for funding. At the Innovation Centre, we help applicants ensure that all requirements are included in the application and that the proposal is ambitious enough.
Here are Innovation Centre's tips for success:
Start early – Don’t wait until your proposal is almost finished. Get in touch as soon as you have a preliminary concept. The earlier you start, the more useful the sparring will be.
Reach out – Book a slot with the University of Oulu’s Innovation Centre via bf(at)oulu.fi. A sparring session isn’t just helpful, but also strategic. It can be the deciding factor in securing funding.
Be prepared – Bring a short summary of your idea, a pre-filled PowerPoint using BF’s template, and tell us what kind of feedback you’re seeking. This keeps the session focused and productive.
An info session about the call will be held on April 21, 2026. Register here.
Interested in the call? Contact us!
Kaisa Still
kaisa.still(at)oulu.fi
+358294488030