It is possible to apply for grants with an online application annually in August and September. The call for applications closes on the final day of the application period at 16.00 Finnish time. Applications cannot be edited after the application period, and the foundation can only process applications sent during the application period. Applications are processed in October and November, after which the Board decides on the recipients of grants. The recipients will be notified by email and their names will be published on the foundation's website.
Grants can be applied for by
Scientific grants can be applied for mainly by doctoral researchers in universities located in Turku carrying out research in the fields of humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, law, economics and business studies or technology.
Artistic grants can be applied for mainly by individuals and institutions based in the Turku region.
Groups of several individuals can apply for a working grant for the group's members, project expenses or both. In the grant application, write the names of group members for whom you are applying for a working grant, who an expense applied for in the group's name directly concerns, or who otherwise hold a significant role in the project. The group's principal applicant is responsible for the grant to the foundation, the relevant authorities (such as Mela and the Tax Administration) and other members of the group. We recommend listing the names of all group members in the application. As this is not always possible, however, it is also possible to apply for a grant for members of the group who have not yet been named. If you are applying for a grant for unnamed members of the group, enter their share under the initials N. N. However, please note that working grants are primarily intended to be applied for based on the recipient's own merits. Applying for a grant for one or several unnamed persons is not in the intended spirit of the grants.
You can apply for a grant for scientific or artistic activities and various projects in the fields of science and arts. The grant is intended to support the applicant's scientific research and encourage the progress of the research, to support artistic work in the fields of music, literature, dance, visual arts and theatre and cover expenses related to these, or both.
The grant is mainly intended for expenses incurred and/or work carried out after the grant decision. The grant is in the form of a merit award and does not require the recipient to refrain from other gainful employment, nor is the grant tied to the number of months worked.
Typical grant purposes include doctoral dissertation research, artistic work and events. In the same application, you can apply for a grant for the artistic work of a private individual or group member included in a production or the expenses of the project or project-based activities, such as rental costs of facilities used in the production or exhibition costs. Grants can also be applied for to cover research, travel and conference expenses.
TOP Foundation does not currently fund medical research. The foundation does not award grants for individual purchases of equipment such as musical instruments or computers.
The amount of grant that can be applied for depends on the project. TOP Foundation awards merit awards of around 1,000 to 5,000 euros annually. The maximum grant that can be awarded to an exceptionally distinguished project is 10,000 euros. TOP Foundation may grant a smaller amount than originally requested by the applicant.
In total, the foundation has around 200,000 euros in funds available for distribution each year.
Applicants whose language is Finnish or Swedish are asked to write the entire application, including attachments, in Finnish or Swedish. If the working language is English, the attachments can be in English, but the actual application form must be submitted in Finnish or Swedish. In other cases, the application can be written in English.
For scientific grants, the most common attachments include the research plan, CV and separately submitted references.
For artistic grants, the most common attachments are the project plan, CV or annual report, references and possible work portfolio.
How do I submit attachments with the application?
Attachments can be submitted with the online application in JPEG, JPG or PDF format. The maximum size of a single attachment is 4 MB.
In the application under the section "Lausunnonantajat" (Referees), write the referee's name, position, employer, phone and email address. The referee will receive a request for a reference letter to the email address you entered automatically after the application is submitted. The reference request contains instructions for submitting the reference. Please note that references must be submitted within four (4) days of the end of the application period.
Under section 82 of the Income Tax Act, scholarships and other grants received for studies, scientific research or artistic activities and awards received as recognition for scientific or artistic activities or activities for the public good are tax-exempt income under certain conditions. The grant recipient must declare the grant received from the foundation in their tax return. We report grants paid to private individuals and group members to the Tax Administration if at least 1,000 euros of the granted amount has been paid during the tax year in question (Tax Administration ruling 1052/2003). Grants are listed in the pre-completed tax return according to information reported by the payer. Grants are considered income for the tax year during which they are paid.
Please note that the regulations on taxation may change, and their interpretation may vary depending on the situation. TOP Foundation is not liable for the accuracy of the information and does not provide advice on taxation. In case of ambiguity, the grant recipient is advised to contact the Tax Administration directly for advice.
The pension, accident and group life insurance coverage of grant recipients is administered by the Farmers' Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Mela).
TOP Foundation is liable to report its grants to Mela and to provide further details where necessary. We report working grants awarded to private individuals and groups to Mela if the duration of the grant is at least four (4) months and the amount of the grant exceeds the minimum required for social insurance.
Grant recipients should contact the Farmers' Social Insurance Institution of Finland Mela to take out and pay for insurance cover if the grant has been awarded for artistic or scientific work lasting at least 4 months and the amount of the grant is at least 1,535 euros, corresponding to 4,605 euros in annual earnings (as of 2025).
It is important that you ask for the latest instructions that apply to your situation from the insurance provider Mela. If you are awarded a grant, you must contact Mela yourself to take out the insurance. Read more about insurance contributions at www.mela.fi/en/grant-and-scholarship-recipients/
If there are changes in the composition of the group, TOP Foundation must be notified of the changes in writing. The grant is intended for the group members named in the application.
If the contact person of the institution changes, a representative authorised to sign for the institution must report the details of the new contact person.
Grants awarded by TOP Foundation are in the form of merit awards and targeted grants and not tied to the number of months worked. The grants are mainly intended for expenses incurred and/or work carried out after the grant decision.
The grants are paid simultaneously to all recipients in December. Grant recipients will receive instructions for reporting their bank account details. PLEASE NOTE: The grant can only be paid to a Finnish bank account.
The grant is paid to the account reported by the grant recipient. Please note that if the grant has been applied for and granted to a private individual or group, a notification will be submitted to the Tax Administration for supervisory purposes in due time under the grant recipient's name. For example, if the grant is requested to be paid to the account of an organisation behind the private individual receiving the grant, this does not change the official grant recipient.
A grant awarded to a group can be paid in full to one bank account or divided among the group members named in the application.
The name, address, personal identity code and bank details of the group member and the number of months worked under the grant must be reported for the payment of the grant.
The grant recipient must submit a written report on the use of the grant to the foundation's Board of Trustees within one year of receiving the grant. The report can be submitted in the grant system, which can be accessed from THIS link. The reporting instructions will be delivered to recipients after the grant has been awarded.