Donations supported research and education in 2024 with a total of 2.3 million euros – University of Oulu thanks all donors

In 2024, the donation funds helped advance, among other things, the development of energy and health applications based on 6G technology, as well as research aiming to find a medical treatment for blindness in premature babies. Donations also played a significant role in research on memory and brain diseases.

High-quality research and the education based on it require state-of-the-art research infrastructures. Donation funds have enabled several equipment purchases. For instance, the acquisition of an APT (Atom Probe Tomography) system for material analysis was partly funded with donations. This equipment is unique in Finland and serves not only various university departments but also research collaborations. The APT infrastructure significantly promotes breakthroughs in research, new innovations, and the training of experts.

Support for researchers’ career paths and student well-being

Donation funds are crucial in supporting researchers at various stages of their careers. Research work requires perseverance, and the uncertainty of funding is particularly prominent in the early stages of a research career. The donation funds have contributed to supporting several promising researchers at the beginning of their careers. Numerous doctoral theses in various fields have also been supported by donation funds.

Establishing a new professorship is an investment in advancing the research field to a new level. The University of Oulu employs an increasing number of professors and researchers whose positions are entirely or partially funded by donations. In 2024, there were 12 such researchers.

Student well-being and the development of teaching are key areas of focus in the use of donation funds. Donations have supported the development of new study programs, secured thesis and internship grants for students, helped to employ a new study psychologist, and a career counselor for international students.

Donations create new opportunities

Donation funds are often targeted to the initial stages of a new research project or the establishment of a new professorship, after which funding is typically secured through external research funding or the university’s base funding. For example, donation funds have been used to start an entire research unit when the university regained responsibility for the education in civil engineering in 2018.

"Donation funds truly enabled the launch of the Civil Engineering Unit and the renewal of necessary teaching and research equipment. The largest part of the funding went into starting the work of the professors, as their salaries had to be covered before external research funding was acquired. Now, we are in a situation where we are financially stable, and the continuity of operations is not at risk due to funding issues. I warmly thank every donor for their support," says the unit leader, Professor Pekka Leviäkangas.

Each year, the university offers donation opportunities for research themes that are significant for its strategy and research profile. The total amount of donations received in 2023 and 2024 was 4.2 million euros. The university has regular dialogue with donors regarding new donation opportunities and the impact of previous donations. The goal is to build long-term partnerships to enable solutions for a more sustainable, intelligent, and humane future together with our donors.

See the list of all funding targets enabled by donations in 2024