Type of research supported and forms of funding
Research supported
As set out in the charter of the foundation, the mandate of the Nessling Foundation is "to promote engineering and scientific research with the objects of directly and indirectly preventing water and air pollution, establishing methods for the clean-up of polluted waters, and developing other forms of environmental protection. The Foundation achieves its objectives by distributing grants and awards and extending other forms of recognition to persons engaged in the said engineering or scientific research, by making facilities and equipment available, by supporting the dissemination of information and related activities that will influence public opinion in favour of such research and its objectives, and by other suitable means."
The Foundation supports scientific research in all areas of environmental protection. Support has mainly been given to research focusing on local environmental problems (Finland and its nearby countries such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland). Foundation emphasizes environmental research that is solution-oriented. The main criteria for research to receive support are:
- Applicability and policy relevance of the research results in advancing environmental protection
- Scientific quality and innovativeness of the research
- Scientific competence of the applicant and the research group
- Co-operation with other researchers / research groups
- Training environment
The research areas supported are:
1. Atmospheric research
Air pollutants: composition and behaviour; monitoring and evaluation of climate change
2. Research on the water environment
Structure, functioning and diversity of ecosystems; impact of environmental loading
3. Research on soil ecosystems and groundwater
Structure, functioning and diversity of ecosystems; impact of environmental loading
4. Research and development in environmental technology
Process technology aimed at reducing emissions; structural solutions; clean-up and treatment technology
5. Research on environmental social science
Means to effect societal change; environmental management; environmental legislation; environmental policy
6. Dissemination of research findings
Publications; symposia; conferences
Forms of funding
The annual grant for a project typically supports one full-time researcher with a grant, research supplies, travel and associated expenses. Grants can be awarded to PhD students, as well as to post doc -researchers. Individual researchers, research groups or communities can apply for grants.
By the end of 2009, the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation had awarded over 35 million EUR in research funds. Since the year 2000, the total sum granted annually has been about 1.4 - 2.3 million EUR (in 2003 -2008, about 17 % of the new applications have been supported). Most of the projects that have been supported have extended over several years, and have often been funded jointly with other funding agencies.
Since 1995, the Foundation has arranged symposia on current environmental problems and the search for suitable solutions. The goal of these symposia is to increase the awareness of environmental research currently being carried out in Finland and elsewhere in the world.
The Foundation also co-operates with other funding organizations, by for example participating in research programmes coordinated by the Academy of Finland, the latest is Sustainable Energy (SusEn) programme during 2008 - 2011.