2026 Call for Research into Social Work (Invitation Only)
2026 Call for Research into Social Work (Invitation Only) supports research teams studying social work to improve population wellbeing, social welfare services, and evidence-based practice.
Funder: Research Council of Finland
Due Dates: October 22, 2026 (Opens) | November 5, 2026, 23:59 Finnish time (Online applications) | November 5, 2026, 16:15 Finnish time (Paper applications)
Funding Amounts: €3,925,000 total call funding; projects start in 2027 and last up to 48 months; RCF covers up to 70% of total costs
Summary: Supports high-quality social work research that improves population wellbeing, social welfare services, and evidence-based practice.
Key Information: Invitation only for researchers whose unfunded applications to the Ministry’s 2026 social work research call scored at least 96 points.
Description
The Research Council of Finland (RCF) runs this invitation-only call following a Finnish Government decision to allocate funding to social work research. It supports high-quality, high-impact research focused on the healthcare and social welfare system, with the goals of promoting population wellbeing, improving the impact of social welfare services, and strengthening an evidence-based approach to social welfare. Funded research is expected to deliver scientific and societal impact and follow responsible science principles.
Projects must address one or more of these focus areas:
- Impact, quality, and client safety in social work.
- Life situations and service needs of vulnerable clients.
- Preventive and structural social work, and social work innovations.
- Client participation and agency in social welfare.
- Social work personnel, expertise, and work structures.
- Evaluation of research projects funded under section 60c of the Social Welfare Act.
