Instructions for applicants

GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES 2026

The call for Lieto Savings Bank Foundation’s 2026 grants and subsidies is
16.2. – 16.3.2026. Applications, including all required attachments, must be completed during the application period in the grant application system https://liedonsaastopankkisaatio.apurahat.net/ The foundation will not process applications submitted in any other way.

SUBSIDIES 2026

Lieto Savings Bank Foundation awards annual subsidies to support civic activities, culture and educational institutions in Southwest Finland. Grants supporting academic research are awarded through a separate application process. The foundation wants to support people in Southwest Finland in their efforts to improve the well-being of our society. Registered associations and similar organisations can apply for a subsidy. However, individuals are not eligible.

The subsidies were awarded for initiatives that support activities within the following themes: activities for children and young people, services for the elderly, services for persons with disabilities, cooperation with educational institutions, arts and culture, development and protection of the living environment.

Instructions for applying and submitting the subsidy application
The application including required annexes must be filled and completed in the grant applying system on foundation’s websites during the subsidy call period. You can access the grant system at https://liedonsaastopankkisaatio.apurahat.net/
All prior subsidies or pending applications to other funds should be mentioned in the application.

The application system closes on 16.3.2026 at midnight.

Processing of the applications, payment and decisions
The foundation’s Board of Directors will decide on the subsidies during April 2026, after which a list of awarded subsidies will be published on the foundation’s website. You will also receive an email notification if you are awarded the subsidy.

The foundation does not provide explanations for individual decisions. The applications that do not comply with the application guidelines may be removed and will not be processed. If no sufficiently high-quality applications are received, the foundation is not obligated to award any subsidies.
Read carefully the insltructions for applying here.

GRANT CALL 2026

Lieto Savings Bank Foundation supports academic research with annual grants and special donations. The foundation wants to operate close to the business sector and promote the conditions for academic research, education and training in Finland, particularly in Southwest Finland. Most of our annually awarded grants are intended for multidisciplinary research teams, but you can also apply for a grant for a doctoral thesis or postdoctoral research. As part of its annual call for grant applications, the foundation releases a main theme and more specific sub- themes to guide the grant applications.

The 2026 call for Lieto Savings Bank Foundation’s grants is 16.2.-16.3.2026.

The main theme of the 2026 grant call is “Sustainable economic growth”
Slow economic growth and its impact on the sustainability of the welfare state are major challenges for both Southwest Finland and Finland. Lieto Savings Bank Foundation supports research projects seeking solutions to stimulate and sustain economic growth.

Subthemes the main theme “Sustainable economic growth” may include, for example:
• Factors that slow economic growth and the role of regulations in economic growth
• Change management and its impact on economic growth
• Arctic geopolitics as an enabler of economic growth
• Tax policy and economic growth
• Innovations as enablers of sustainable economic growth
• The development of infrastructure, especially transport and logistics, and its impact on economic growth

For the subthemes “Innovations as enablers of sustainable economic growth” and “The development of infrastructure”, projects that focus on the development of the Southwest Finland region will be considered welcomed.

Instructions for applying and submitting the grant application
In 2026, grants will be focused on research carried out at universities and higher education institutes in the Turku region, with priority given to applications of research teams. Grants may be awarded for up to max three years.

The foundation also offers grants to support doctoral and postdoctoral research. Funding may also be provided for conference travel, research visits, study trips, organizing a conference, or other specified and research related purposes.

Grants cannot be awarded for completing a basic degree or an EMBA.

The application including required annexes must be filled and completed in the grant applying system on foundation’s websites during the grant call period. You can access the grant system here: https://liedonsaastopankkisaatio.apurahat.net/

All prior grants or pending applications to other funds should be mentioned in the application. Please note that you cannot edit your application after submitting it, so it is essential to carefully review the application and annexes before submitting it in the grant application system. Read carefully the insltructions for applying here.

The application system closes on 16.3.2026 at midnight.

Duration of the funding period
Research teams can apply for a grant for a maximum funding period of 36 months. Doctoral or post-doc grants are awarded for a period of 4 to 12 months.