Associate Professor Kajar Köster and University Lecturer Ilia Moshnikov, with their working groups, received grants of over 200,000 euros for research in forest sciences and linguistics.
The Finnish Cultural Foundation awarded a total of 1.35 million euros in grants to University of Eastern Finland researchers, with 33 individual researchers and working groups securing a grant. Most of the grants awarded are year-long grants supporting the recipients’ work.
At the University of Eastern Finland, the largest grants were awarded to Associate Professor Kajar Köster at the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and to University Lecturer Ilia Moshnikov at the School of Humanities.
Kajar Köster and his working group received a grant of 209,000 euros for research examining the impacts of restoration burning and other forest restoration methods on soil, climate and ecosystem services.
Ilia Moshnikov and his working group received a grant of 200,000 euros to create an online dictionary of modern Karelian and to develop and research language technology tools to support the revitalisation of the Karelian language.
October 2025 saw a record number of applications from those working in science, research, art and culture. The Finnish Cultural Foundation awarded a total of 784 grants, totalling 29 million euros. Artistic work and doctoral dissertation work received the most funding.
The Finnish Cultural Foundation grantees of the University of Eastern Finland are listed below. For more detailed information about the grantees’ projects, grant types and specific funding bodies, please visit the Finnish Cultural Foundation website (information available in Finnish only).
- Katayun Bahrami: 11,000 euros
- Jordan Briggs: 32,000 euros
- Francesco De Pretis: 36,000 euros
- Atte Eskelinen: 36,000 euros
- Anna Haataja: 8,000 euros
- Eeva Heikkinen: 32,000 euros
- Laura Helminen: 32,000 euros
- Rasmus Hiltunen: 32,000 euros
- Valtteri Holm: 32,000 euros
- Lasse Hämäläinen: 10,000 euros
- Zunaira Jamil: 32,000 euros
- Kai Kaarniranta and Kaarniranta AMD Lab: 160,000 euros
- Lauri Kurkela: 16,000 euros
- Kajar Köster and working group: 209,000 euros
- Johnson Lok: 20000 euros
- Seyedhamed Maljaei: 11,000 euros
- Ilia Moshnikov and working group: 200,000 euros
- Wendy Moya: 24,000 euros
- Anne-Mari Mustonen and working group: 11,500 euros
- Jonna Niskanen: 16,000 euros
- Kaisa Näkki: 36,000 euros
- Teemu Ojala: 32,000 euros
- Lauri Partanen: 32,000 euros
- Aino-Kaisa Piironen: 30,000 euros
- Viola Pitkänen: 16,000 euros
- Nina Ryzhkova: 46,000 euros
- Ari Räisänen: 36,000 euros
- Umair Seemab: 16,000 euros
- Henna Soininen: 32,000 euros
- Tuomas Tikkanen: 32,000 euros
- Raija Timonen: 32,000 euros
- Emma Valima: 16,000 euros
- Peter Zorve: 36,000 euros
For further information, please see the Finnish Cultural Foundation press release.
