Orion Research Foundation Grants for 2027

Applications for the Orion Research Foundation Grants for 2027 can be submitted between 10 August and 10 September 2026.

Grants are designated to support academic research for Finnish medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and natural sciences related to those, such as chemistry and physics according Orion Research Foundation’s rules.

Grants are awarded in two categories:

1. Larger postdoctoral grant (maximum EUR 50,000). For researchers who have obtained their doctoral degree within the past five years* (date of doctoral defense on or after 10 September 2021*) to support the continuation of their research.
2. Smaller doctoral researcher grant (EUR 6,000). For early‑career researchers who have not yet completed their doctoral degree, to support work on their doctoral thesis.

*) By completing the degree of specialist, specialized dentist or specialized veterinarian or for other special reasons (such as maternity, paternity, parental or nursing leave, conscript or non-military service or long-term sickness) applicant has completed with thesis defense after 10th September 2019. In such cases, applicants are required to provide a clarification in their application.

Conditions for receiving a grant

An applicant may receive the larger grant (maximum EUR 50,000) only once. The smaller grant (EUR 6,000) intended for doctoral research may be awarded no more than twice.

Both grants may be awarded either as a personal working grant or as an expense grant to cover other research costs.

In the case of the larger grants, merit is given to:

• undertaking a postdoctoral research period abroad,
• extending an ongoing postdoctoral research period abroad,
• returning from a postdoctoral research period abroad, or
• establishing an independent research group.

When applying for the larger postdoctoral grant involving research abroad, the application must include the engagement letter from place of performance (university or research institute).

Applying for a grant

Grants are applied for using an online form. A link to the application system will be published on the Research Foundation’s website closer to the opening of the call.

Please note that the larger and the smaller grants are applied for using separate application forms.

The application may be completed in Finnish, Swedish or English. The Foundation does not take additional attachments or recommendation letters into account.

Application timeline

The grant application period opens on 10 August and ends on 10 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Applications cannot be submitted after the application deadline.

Decisions on the grants will be published towards the end of 2026 on the Research Foundation’s website.

In addition, all applicants will be informed of the decision by email in November 2026.

The awarded grants will be paid to the recipients’ bank accounts in January 2027.

Mela

The Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution (Mela) handles statutory earnings-related pension and occupational accident insurance of those receiving a grant or scholarship from Finland. Recipients of scientific grants and scholarships are considered as customers of Mela. Please take this into account when applying for the grant. Further information is available from the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution (Mela) at https://www.mela.fi/en/grant-and-scholarship-recipients.

Contact information

tutkimussaatio(at)orionpharma.com.

Further information and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the Research Foundation’s website.