Tampere University gets eight projects in new SRC programmes

The new SRC programmes under which funding was granted are Security and trust in the age of algorithms (SHIELD), under which four consortia will be funded, and Children and young people – healthy, thriving and capable makers of the future (YOUNG) which encompasses five consortia.

Both programmes will run for six years, ending in 2028. Each consortium will receive an average of €3.1 million during the first three-year period.

The funded consortia were selected in a two-stage call from among those invited to the second stage.

Knowledge base for identifying and preventing security threats

The SHIELD programme focuses on researching security and trust in the age of information technology and hybrid influencing. The objective of the programme is to identify and tackle different types of security threats and to strengthen crisis management and resilience.

The funded consortia represent 11 different disciplines, and the projects involve 12 organisations such as universities, municipal actors and businesses.

The multidisciplinary Valuable breakages: repair and renewal of algorithmic systems (REPAIR) consortium, for example, will provide research-based practical models and starting points for the construction and renewal of algorithmic systems. The consortium will support the development of systems in a way that promotes the core values of the Nordic welfare state: equality, openness, autonomy, and inclusion.

The consortium encompasses researchers in the fields of sociology, anthropology, data analytics, consumer research, science and technology studies, knowledge management, social policy, law, and practical philosophy at the University of Helsinki, Tampere University and LUT University. Demos Helsinki coordinates the consortium’s co-operation with businesses, organisations, and other stakeholders.

Professor of Sociology Turo-Kimmo Lehtonen and Professor of Social Policy Minna van Gerven, both from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Tampere University are involved in the REPAIR consortium.

Katja Lehtisaari, university lecturer in journalism at Tampere University (ITC), is involved in the project Democratic epistemic capacity in the age of algorithms (DECA).

Professor of Human-Centred Design Thomas Olsson from Tampere University (ITC) is a member of the Designing Inclusive & Trustworthy Digital Public Services for Migrants in Finland (Trust-M) consortium.

Research to promote the well-being of children and young people

Research under the YOUNG programme will seek solutions to ensure equal opportunities for all children and young people for a good life and for safe growth and development.

The selected consortia represent 14 disciplines, and the projects involve 12 organisations, for example, universities and government research institutes.

Among the funded projects is the IMAGINE consortium, which aims to improve access to psychosocial interventions in educational, primary healthcare and correctional settings. In addition, the project will focus on how to reach young people and encourage their continued inclusion in welfare services. Investing in the mental well-being of young people is now critically important as specialised mental health services for this age group are severely stretched and mental ill-being has increased during the pandemic. IMAGINE will complement the objectives set out in Finland’s National Mental Health Strategy 2020–2030. The consortium will actively involve young people and professionals at all stages.

From Tampere University, Klaus Ranta, university lecturer in welfare sciences (SOC), is a member of the IMAGINE consortium.

University Lecturer Noora Ellonen (SOC) from Tampere University leads the Adverse childhood experiences in the life course: Long-term consequences and effective institutional responses (ACElife) consortium.

Research Director Tiina Soini-Ikonen (EDU) is involved in the Future School of Comprehensive Well-Being (SCHOOLWELL) consortium.

Professor of Social Psychiatry Sami Pirkola (SOC) is involved in the Out of Despair - providing solutions to break the pathways leading to violent, suicidal and drug-induced deaths of young people (Young Despair) consortium.

Strategic Research Council’s media release 13 September 2022