Statement form the Union of Research Professionals Spring Union Meeting on 23 May 2025
Scientific freedom is one of the cornerstones of a democratic society. The development in recent years that has downplayed the importance of the freedom of research and research-based knowledge is a source of concern for the science community.
Even though Finland has traditionally placed highly in international comparison, in 2025, we were not, for the first time, among the top countries in terms of the freedom of research and teaching (Kinzelbach et al. 2025). This is a serious warning signal.
Structures that threaten scientific autonomy are not born out of nothing. Finnish science already has exceptionally strong performance responsibility by international standards due to the Ministry’s competitive financing model (Kivistö et al. 2019; Pinheiro et al. 2019; de Boer et al. 2015). The insecurity of an academic career forces researchers to compete with one another for results. Pressurised, deeply ingrained competition as part of the daily work of researchers is, in itself, a significant risk.
When researchers have to assess what makes strategic sense in terms of funding and career prospects, the instrumental value of science is emphasised. The increasingly centralised internal governance models of Finnish universities are a challenge for scientific self-government on the local level (Silvén 2023). Political guidance is having a more effective impact on the everyday life of universities. The Trump administration has shown how funding can be used to aggressively interfere with science and research (CNN).
Researchers are increasingly being bullied online and harassed. The victims of such attacks are unfortunately often female researchers and certain disciplines, such as gender studies, climate change research, or immigration research (Committee for Public Information TJNK 2025). This selective anti-scientific attitude is a direct threat to the diversity of research. In the worst-case scenario, harassment creates an atmosphere that causes researchers to withdraw from public debate or to avoid sensitive research topics. It impoverishes social debate, weakens the quality of decision-making and, above all, limits the freedom of research.
As political guidance and financial control increase, there is a risk that researchers will begin to censor themselves. This development is particularly alarming in the field of social sciences, which study society and its phenomena and vulnerable groups.
The independence and freedom of research are the cornerstones of democracy and the democratic development of society. Without the freedom of research and bold discussions, the most important pillar of decision-making will be lost: reliable and up-to-date information. Policymaking based on scientific knowledge requires information diversity, research-based public debate, and an atmosphere that fosters the production of critical information.
The freedom of science does not diminish overnight. It slips away gradually as a result of concessions, fear, and silence. Now is the time to wake up and act. This is not just a problem for the scientific community, as the consequences are widely reflected in society as a whole.
The Union of Research Professionals demands
- The strengthening of the freedom of research and the autonomy of science at all levels.
- Critical examination of financing models and governance structures.
- Protection of researchers against online bullying and harassment.
- The defence of policymaking based on scientific knowledge and critical public debate.
Sources:
de Boer, H., Jongbloed, B., Benneworth, P., Cremonini, L., Kolster, R., Kottmann, A. & Vossensteyn, H. (2015) Performance-Based Funding and Performance Agreements in Fourteen Higher Education Systems. Enschede: Center for Higher Education Policy Studies, University of Twente.
Kinzelbach, K., Lindberg, S. I., Lott, L., & Panaro, A.V., (2025). Academic Freedom Index – 2025 Update. https://academic-freedom-index.net/
Kivistö, J., Pekkola, E., Berg, L. N., Hansen, H. F., Geschwind, L., & Lyytinen, A. (2019). Performance in higher education institutions and its variations in Nordic policy. In Reforms, Organizational Change and Performance in Higher Education (pp. 37–).
Owermohle, S. (2025) Trump’s diversity purge freezes hundreds of millions in medical research at universities across the country. 8 May 2025. CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/08/politics/universities-medical-research-funding-frozen-trump-diversity-purge
Pinheiro, R., Geschwind, L., Hansen, H. F., & Pulkkinen, K. (Eds.). (2019). Reforms, organizational change and performance in higher education: A comparative account from the Nordic countries. Springer Nature.
Silvén, Paula. 2023. Managerialistinen siirtymä (Managerialist transfer). Tiedepolitiikka 28(4): 18–32.
Committee for Public Information TJNK 2025. Tutkijoiden ja asiantuntijoiden sananvapauden turvaamiseksi. 12.3.2025. https://edition.fi/tsv/catalog/view/1352/1469/5729-1