Academy Programme for Sport Science and Physical Activity (ACTIVE)
Academy Programme for Sport Science and Physical Activity (ACTIVE) supports teams and consortia researching sport, exercise and physical activity to inform policy and practice and address societal challenges.
Funder: Research Council of Finland
Due Dates: October 21, 2026 (Opens) | November 18, 2026 at 23:59 Finnish time (Application) | November 18, 2026 at 16:15 Finnish time (Paper application)
Funding Amounts: Up to €450,000 per individual project or €650,000 per consortium over three years; total call budget up to €2.45 million
Summary: Supports innovative sport and physical activity research addressing societal and public health challenges and informing policy and practice.
Key Information: Funding requires a Finnish research organisation as host and a PI with a close connection to Finland.
Description
ACTIVE is run by the Research Council of Finland in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. It funds individual research teams and consortia producing new knowledge about physical activity, exercise and sport. Research should combine scientific excellence, novelty and scientific and societal impact, with applicability to planning, decision-making or practical promotion of physical activity.
Projects must address one or more programme themes: active lifestyles, fitness and exercise effects; equitable access, inclusion, community, accountability and environmental sustainability; or results and ethics in competitive and elite sports. The programme values multidisciplinary research, national and international cooperation, attention to societal change, and interaction with users of research findings. It aims to strengthen research competence, cooperation and sustainable development across population groups and amateur and professional activities.
