A broad coalition of organizations across the research community are calling on political parties and candidates to explain how they will safeguard the conditions for freedom and independence of research.
Finland’s position as a leading country in freedom of research and academic freedom has weakened.
Researchers face more harassment and online bullying than before, and the political and economic
influence over research has strengthened. At the same time, the ecological crisis and other security
threats, economic uncertainty and disinformation are increasing the need for independent, evidence
based knowledge.
In Finland’s Parliamentary Elections in spring 2027, voters will choose decision-makers who
determine the conditions under which research and new scientific knowledge will be created. Voters
have the right to demand clear answers from candidates: How will they defend the freedom and
independence of research and researchers? How will they secure long-term funding for research and
strengthen the role of research-based knowledge in decision-making?
A broad coalition of organizations from across the research and science community will bring these
questions into the election debate through the Freedom to Research campaign.
The campaign highlights the importance of safeguarding freedom of research and ensuring adequate
resources for research in an era marked by multiple, overlapping crises.
The 2027 Parliamentary Elections – A Possibility to Set the Course
The coming electoral term presents a clear choice: do we strengthen the conditions for free and
independent research, or do we allow them to erode further?
“It is important that in the Finnish society, we broadly recognize the key role of independent, long-term
research for societal development, stability and democracy. Together, we must strengthen freedom of
research and actively counter developments that threaten it,” says Rector Jari Ojala, Chair of Unifi.
Freedom of research is guaranteed by the Constitution of Finland. Research is guided by ethical
principles, peer review and good scientific practice. The entire research community, together with
every individual researcher, shares responsibility for upholding high standards of research integrity.
Free and Independent Research Opens New Horizons
When freedom of research and sufficient resources are guaranteed, significant breakthroughs emerge,
from renewable energy solutions to research that transforms mental healthcare. In this way, research
renews and strengthens society, the economy, security and people’s everyday lives.
Research is characterized by openness, critical debate and a self-correcting nature. Knowledge is
refined, and accumulates and develops over time, deepening our understanding. Research findings
are published and increasingly made openly available so that society can benefit from them as widely
as possible.
“At the heart of research lies the intellectual freedom of researchers to determine what is worth
studying, how research should be conducted and how its results should be communicated. The same
freedom extends to teaching and pedagogical choices. Such freedom carries great responsibility,
which researchers take seriously. It is therefore worrying that a growing number of researchers face
pressure, threats and targeted harassment. Free and independent research is not a privilege of the
research community; it is a safeguard for the society as a whole,” says Antti Pajala, President of the
Union of Research Professionals.
Freedom to Research campaign is backed by a broad coalition of organizations from across the
research community: Maj ja Tor Nesslingin säätiö, Nuorten Tiedeakatemia, Professoriliitto, Sivistysala
ry Sivista, Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura (SKS), Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Suomen kulttuuri- ja
tiedeinstituutit ry, Suomen Tiedeseura, Suomen yliopistojen rehtorineuvosto UNIFI ry, Svenska
litteratursällskapet i Finland, Svenska tekniska vetenskapsakademien i Finland, Säätiöt ja rahastot ry,
Tieteellisten seurain valtuuskunta ja Tieteentekijät – The Union of Research Professionals.
Throughout the autumn and winter, the campaign will be visible in the communications of
participating organizations and in their meetings with policymakers.
#FreedomToResearch