Kone Foundation Thematic grant call

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Short Description

The theme for Kone Foundation’s spring 2025 thematic call is securitization. It is organized within the programme Is Democracy Eroding? Funding can be awarded to projects that, through research, increase understanding of, for example, the impact of securitization on the realization of fundamental and human rights, the narrowing of a pluralistic public debate, restrictions on the openness and accessibility of information, the growing societal power of security authorities and institutions, or the sidelining of environmental issues. Individuals, working groups, and organizations can apply for funding.

Securitization can be seen as repeated attempts to declare a state of emergency that bypasses democratic decision-making—such as was witnessed during the pandemic—or when fear is spread about an ongoing third world war or the collapse of Finland’s economy. Declaring a situation as a crisis is also a way to create threat narratives and a means to generate political capital for politicians who present themselves as crisis recognizers and solvers.

Funded projects may include research, the popularization of research, or both. Thus the foundation encourages collaboration between researchers and journalists. Additionally, cooperation between academics and artists can be supported in the thematic call (though not exclusively artistic work).

 

Eligibility

Funding can be applied for by an individual, a working group, or an organisation with a business ID. Funding is intended for:

  • Finns, for work carried out in Finland or abroad
  • foreigners, for work carried out in Finland
  • foreigners, for project work that includes participants based in Finland

Funding can be awarded for the same project for a maximum of four consecutive years. The funding can be started no earlier than in September 2025. Funding will not be awarded retroactively.

 

How to Apply

Online Application

 

Program Benefits & Awards:

The amount of the personal monthly grant varies, depending on the stage of your career.

  • Grant 1: early career applicants in arts; researchers working on doctoral thesis €2,700/month (€32,400/year)
  • Grant 2: mid-career applicants in arts (min. 10 years of artistic work); post-doctoral researchers €3,200/month (€38,400/year)
  • Grant 3: late-career applicants in arts (min. 20 years of artistic work); experienced researchers (comparable to ‘dosentti’ in the Finnish academic system, which means that the person has, in addition to the doctoral thesis, several academic publications with the quality and scope of a doctoral thesis) €3,800/month (€45,600/year).

If you are applying for monthly grant 2 or 3, please describe your career phase.

Personal monthly grants are usually awarded for full-time work for a minimum of one month. Smaller grants are available (25%, 50% or 75% of full grant) for part-time work.

 

Entry Fee:

None

 

Location:

Helsinki, Finland

 

Timeline:

  • Application Deadline: 30 April 2025

 

Website Link: https://koneensaatio.fi/en/grants/programmes/thematic-grant-call-2025-securitization-and-democracy/

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