Research Grants on Media, Communications, and Freedom of Speech

Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Research Grants

Funds Finnish media, communication, and journalism research programmes through continuous Sanoma Foundation grants.

Helsingin Sanomain Säätiö (the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation) is a Finnish private non-profit established in December 2005 through a merger of two predecessor foundations dating to the 1980s. Since inception it has distributed approximately EUR 51 million across 424 research grants and 187 journalist fellowships. Its declared mission is the promotion of quality journalism and freedom of speech. The foundation's research grant programme accepts applications year-round via the online portal at apurahat.net/hssaatio, with funding decisions issued twice per year. In the November 2025 round, the foundation awarded nine grants totalling EUR 1,017,500, with individual awards ranging from EUR 17,500 to EUR 250,000. Prior rounds distributed approximately EUR 475,000 in March 2025, EUR 600,000 in September 2024, and EUR 600,000 in October 2024.

Eligible applicants include researchers, universities, non-profit organisations, and individuals working on topics in media, communications, journalism, freedom of speech, AI and journalism, disinformation, local journalism, and media industry transformation, with a focus on Finland. For-profit entities are not eligible. The foundation follows a two-stage process: applicants first submit a concept paper of up to three pages covering the research question, purpose, methods, research group, duration, and amount requested; those invited to the second stage submit a full research plan, budget, CV, and publication list.

Applications are assessed on innovativeness, novelty value, societal relevance to the academic community and the media sector, feasibility of the research plan, and qualifications of the team. Interdisciplinary and internationally collaborative proposals are viewed favourably. Multi-year grants require written progress reports by 31 January each year before the next disbursement is released. Recipients must declare grants as taxable income under Finnish law, and those working for four or more consecutive months are required to take out MYEL pension insurance. The foundation does not fund core operating costs; proposals must address a defined project or research question.