Business Finland’s Rise to Challenge pilot continues as an official call in August!

Business Finland’s Rise to Challenge pilot continues as an official call in August!

BF is looking for bold openings, courage, and a willingness to take risks — research ideas that have the potential to revolutionize markets. If your research team has such an idea, you should definitely apply! Rise to Challenge is by far Business Finland’s largest funding opportunity for research organizations. The funding for a project can be as much as 5–10 million euros over five years.

The goal of the funding is to build the expertise and capabilities needed in the growth sectors of the future. Funded research projects can last up to five years, with funding granted in stages. In the initial two-year phase, the focus is on projects with recognized productivity benefits or commercial potential, though not yet fully measurable. Participation from companies is not required in the first phase. The second phase may begin if the first phase goals are met, and at that point, beneficiaries of the results must be involved.

The call opens in August and closes in winter 2026. Read more here.

If you want to apply or have any questions about the call, please contact the Innovation Centre’s experts:

Maria Juurikka, yritysasiantuntija 
maria.juurikka@oulu.fi 
+358294487646  

Kaisa Still, asiakkuuspäällikkö 
kaisa.still@oulu.fi 
+358294488030