Jorma Ollila Grant
Scholarship Overview
The Jorma Ollila Fund was created to support recently graduated doctors to further develop their research careers in the field of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) or in areas supporting the development of these branches of science. Target group for the Fund are postdoctoral researchers as well as younger scholars on the tenure track (assistant professor level) in Finnish universities. These personal grants are awarded for the purpose of gaining international experience and research excellence for a period of 0,5-3 years. In addition to the financial support, the Fund will support the selected applicants through the contact network of the Nokia Foundation.
All applications should comply with the charter of the Nokia Foundation. In particular, the research should:
Relate to Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) — this can include multidisciplinary research that strongly bridges other related fields, like social, behavioral, economics and service sciences, to Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).
Support and promote education and research within Finland.
Relate to one of the following focus areas of the Jorma Ollila Fund:
Data Science and AI, including research on novel methods, tools, applications and implementations of data science, machine learning and augmented as well as artificial intelligence.
Wireless and Network Technologies, including research on future networking and communication technologies for fixed and wireless connectivity.
Future Microelectronics, including research on enablers and practices of information and communication driven technologies, methods and systems for the digital revolution.
How to apply
Applications can be submitted twice a year. First call for applications in 2025 took place as part of the Tutkijat maailmalle program in spring 2025. Second call for applications is open is open from 4 August until 18 September 2025. You can submit your application via the grant system here.
Deadlines
18 September 2025 for the second call for applications.
Additional Info
Maximum amount of Jorma Ollila grant is 30 000 € for a 12-month visit. However, with an exceptionally good justifications the granted amount can be up to 50 000 € for a visit of 12 months, for example if the applicant is travelling with her/his family. For shorter visits the granted amounts are smaller in proportion to one-year visits.
Primary purpose of the grant is to cover costs of the visit (not salary). Funds are available for one year after the funding decision.
Grants are applied and given for maximum one year at a time (maximum of three years in total). Recommendation is to apply for a grant for a visit with one host organization and for a period of one year. Applications for a second or third year are encouraged and can be done during the ongoing Jorma Ollila Scholarship.
The use of an awarded grant may be deferred by one year for personal reasons if the project plan remains the same. Decisions concerning longer deferrals are made by the Nokia Foundation Board on a case-by-case basis.
An invitation letter from the academic host of the visit is required to be included in the application.
If you apply for a grant for the second or third year, remember to report on the progress of the previous/ongoing grant. The report must include an account on the progress of the scholar’s research project and a list of any completed articles, manuscripts in progress, attendance at conferences, posters and presentations to academic and other possible communities/audiences.
Applicants who have the official permission to defend their doctoral thesis can apply for the grant. In such cases, pre-examiners’ statements on the thesis must be enclosed with the application. The visit can take place only after the doctoral degree is completed.
Please note: You may partially complete an application (save a draft) and continue with it later. The grant application tool will provide additional instructions for completing the application form.