Sprint funding to encourage ambitious R&D continues
Sprint funding will continue after the pilot phase ending on 31 August. The funding pilot targeted at small companies developing new innovative solutions for international markets has proven warrarted. Sprint funding is expected to strengthen the emergence of new innovative companies and leverage increased business R&D investments. Business Finland will open the funding for continuous call from 1 September 2026.
The new Sprint funding call will open on 1 September 2026
The call for applications will be published on the Business Finland website in late August.
In a short period of time, over 200 Sprint applications have been submitted, clearly demonstrating strong demand. Customer feedback has also been positive based on surveys. The funding call was launched as a pilot on 2 March 2026.
A first boost for systematic R&D
“It is essential for the renewal and growth of the Finnish economy that more companies and industries engage in goal-oriented R&D activities. Sprint plays an important role in this: it helps small companies seeking growth in international markets to take their first ambitious step towards systematic R&D. The purpose of public R&D funding is to enable companies to take bold risks that would often not be undertaken without support. At the same time, the benefits of high-quality R&D extend far beyond individual companies – they strengthen capabilities, generate new innovations, and improve the competitiveness of the national economy,” says Director General Lassi Noponen of Business Finland.
“Sprint is designed as the first step on the development path of small, growth-oriented companies. With the funding, companies can build stronger proof of business potential and customer need, enabling better targeting of future, larger product development investments. Based on the pilot, we will further clarify the funding criteria for Sprint,” says Director Marjo Ilmari from Business Finland.
Sprint is the first step in a new service offering for growth companies.
“We are currently renewing our funding services, and Sprint is the first step in a new service offering for growth companies. Additional new initiatives will be introduced alongside it, aiming to support companies’ growth more effectively across different stages of their development,” Noponen says.
How to apply: start from My Business Finland
Applying for Sprint funding starts with registering in the My Business Finland service and submitting company background information. If the company meets the basic eligibility criteria for Sprint funding, it can proceed to a discussion with a Business Finland expert. The actual funding application is submitted after the discussion.
“During the pilot, we received clear evidence of the benefits of pre-sparring project proposals, and we will continue using this approach in the new call. In the My Business Finland service, companies were able to assess their readiness to apply and refine their project proposals with expert support already before submitting an application. This significantly improved both the success rate of applications and the processing time,” says Ilmari.
The new Sprint funding call will open on 1 September 2026. The call for applications will be published on the Business Finland website in late August.