Water research

The development of water research is critical for Finland, a country with abundant water resources. Eastern Finland is home to a significant portion of Finland’s freshwater reserves, making the responsible use of the region’s water reserves critical going forward. Furthermore, water research aims to address the effects of climate change on the global water cycle.

Together with the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation and the OLVI Foundation, Saastamoinen Foundation supports the University of Eastern Finland’s project “Water environment as an accelerator of prosperity and well-being in Eastern Finland”. The project has been granted EUR 4.55 million for the period 2019–2025.

Research on sustainability law and economics

Research on sustainability law and economics aims at addressing the sustainability gap in a fair and welfare-promoting manner. The research focuses on structural factors in the legal and economic systems that hinder progress towards a sustainable future. It examines issues such as economic growth and foundational principles of the legal system, including the protection of property rights. Case studies within the project will concentrate on the restoration of freshwater ecosystems in Finland’s rivers and peatlands. Saastamoinen Foundation has granted the research EUR 1.7 million in funding for the period 2024–2028.

Epilepsy research

Epilepsy is a significant public health problem, which has implications within society that are on a level with those of breast or lung cancer. Epilepsy is not just one disease, but a group of diseases differing by mechanism, clinical definition and predictability. With the Foundation’s support, a national epilepsy information pool is being created in Finland, which will significantly help both the individual treatment of epilepsy and international research aimed at developing cures. Saastamoinen Foundation has granted the project EUR 645,000 in funding for the period 2024–2027.

Fulbright-Saastamoinen Grant

The grant programmes jointly funded by Saastamoinen Foundation, the Fulbright Finland Foundation and the University of Eastern Finland bring top researchers in the fields of health sciences and environmental sciences from the U.S. to the University of Eastern Finland and open opportunities to enhance the networks for teaching and research between Finland and the U.S. The strong cooperation across the Atlantic is an indication of how internationally valued the research conducted at the University of Eastern Finland really is.