In the research call, it is possible to apply for public research funding (Co-Research) for research projects related to the campaign's themes. The results of the research projects serve as a foundation for both companies' own research and development projects and for broader initiatives aimed at Co-Innovation and international funding calls.
Background
Business Finland has launched a Zero Waste Mining and Critical Minerals campaign. The objective of Zero Waste Mining and Critical Minerals Campaign is to position Finland as the leading country of sustainable mining and mineral technology. Finland's mining and minerals sector is being renewed through new innovations, circular economy, and zero-waste solutions. The demand for critical minerals creates new international business opportunities. The campaign supports Finnish companies to develop their competitive edge in global markets via RDI investments. The campaign supports the renewal of mining and mineral industry from the beginning of the value chain until to the end – from mine planning to industrial recycling, considering processing of raw materials and also mining machinery. The funding is intended for creating knowledge base and innovations for future breakthrough solutions.
Goals and scope of the funding call
In this call, Business Finland is looking for research projects that build the foundation for a significant improvement of the availability of raw materials and the sustainability of the mining and minerals sector. The call aims at research projects which take a comprehensive look at the future challenges and changes of mining and raw materials sector and improve the international competitiveness of the Finnish industry in the long term.
Examples of focus areas:
- Significant improvement of the availability of raw materials.
- Circular economy and zero-waste solutions for the optimal utilization of side streams and material losses, as well as the recycling of raw materials.
- New solutions in the mining and minerals sector leveraging data, digitalization, and artificial intelligence.
- Substitution of critical raw materials.
- Reducing the environmental impacts of mineral exploration and mining, and improving energy efficiency.
- Significantly increasing added value, e.g., through new circular economy-based business models or by boosting the processing value of minerals in Finland.
- Novel circular economy solutions and value chains of the future emerging at the intersection of different industries.
Applicant eligibility
In this funding call Finnish public research organizations, such as universities, universities of applied science and governmental research organizations, can apply funding for so called Co-Research projects in accordance with Business Finland's instructions and funding terms and conditions for the public research funding.
Requirements for the public research projects
In the research call, it is possible to apply for public research funding (Co-Research) for research projects related to the campaign's themes. The projects are required to involve close collaboration with companies. Priority will be given to projects where the combined funding contribution from companies is at least 10% of the costs and where at least three export-oriented companies participate in the steering of the research.
The call aims to support research projects that comprehensively address future challenges and changes in the mining and raw materials sector, while also improving the international competitiveness of Finnish industries in the long term. Otherwise, the standard Co-Research funding criteria from Business Finland will be applied to the funding.
The research projects are required to involve international collaboration and must support preparation for EU funding opportunities. The goal is to ensure broad utilization of the public research results among the funding companies and other businesses. Therefore, the project plan must include a description of the actions for leveraging the results.
The results of the research projects will serve as a foundation for companies’ own research and development projects, as well as for broader initiatives aimed at Co-Innovation and international funding calls.
- Co-Research funding service with instructions
- Funding terms
- Notification of participation in project (docx)
Funding criteria
The research funding to be granted based on this call is estimated to amount to approximately €3 million. The funding is competitive and discretionary. Not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be automatically granted funding. The standard Co-Research funding criteria of Business Finland will apply to the funding. The following specific selection criteria will be used during the evaluation of applications:
- The alignment of the research content with the objectives and focus areas of the call.
- The international novelty value of the results targeted by the research.
- The potential benefit of the research results to Finland's national economy.
- The quality and interdisciplinarity of the research consortium.
- The extent and quality of the international collaboration involved in the research project.
- The quality of the research plan, including a description of the actions for leveraging the results.
- The participation of export-oriented potential beneficiary companies in the planning of the research project, monitoring its implementation, and co-financing.
Preparing and submitting a funding application
The funding applications are completed in Business Finland's online service. All participants applying for the funding use the Co-Research application form. Please read the instructions. Business Finland funding covers 80% of total eligible project costs.
Each participant of the joint project applying for their own sub-project must submit their own participant application. Please enter the project name in the following format: “Kestävä kaivos – [project name]”. All applicants in the consortium must use the same project name.
Schedule and instructions
- We recommend a discussion with Business Finland's experts before submitting applications. Please remember to book an appointment for the presentation of the research idea (Teams discussion) via the contact persons well in advance, preferably at the latest during September.
- Submit your funding application by October 31st 2025 via Business Finland’s online system. As the evaluation of the applications will start right after this, please submit all application attachments by the deadline.
