Universities key messages for the government budget negotiations: Investments in education and research boost productivity and sustainable economic growth

Finland needs more highly educated experts to reform society and business life. We also need groundbreaking research, which forms the basis for new and radical innovations. Universities play a key role in creating the preconditions for future sustainable growth, and need adequate resources to maintain the high quality of education and research.
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The Finnish Government will meet in April for government budget negotiations to outline the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2026-2029. The challenges facing public finances and finding new sustainable ways to boost economic growth frame the task.

The Council of Rectors' of Finnish Universities UNIFI emphasises the positive impacts of high-level expertise and innovative research on growth of labour productivity and the economy in the long term.

The educational attainment of younger adults between 25 and 24 must be raised with adequate resources. Finland also needs more international students, and their integration into the labour market must be supported. Funding for the R&D activities of universities must be increased to strengthen the prerequisites for internationally high-quality, pioneering research conducted at universities.

Key messages from the universities in 2025:

  • Raising the educational attainment level
  • Helping international talent integrate into the labour market
  • Allocating funding to strengthen the R&D activities of universities
  • Strengthening researcher training

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Last updated: 30.1.2025