Fulbright-VTT Award in Science, Technology and Innovation

Purpose of the Grant Program

The Fulbright Finland Foundation and VTT Technical Research Center of Finland offer a unique opportunity for international research collaboration on a broad range of current issues in science, technology and innovation. The scholar will undertake research at VTT. The research project funded by the Fulbright-VTT Award can be based on either current VTT projects or the researcher can propose a project of their own.

VTT is one of the leading applied research organisations in Europe. What unites VTTers is curiosity, a passion for learning, and a purpose: to solve the biggest challenges of our time and turn them into sustainable growth and well-being. VTT’s cross-disciplinary community of over 2300 brilliant minds from almost 60 different nationalities is focused on creating impact through science-based innovation. Get to know VTT further by exploring VTT's tech & infra.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact VTT for more information and to work together in designing the grant activities. Please check VTT’s publication database before contacting VTT to find the research most closely linked to your research interest.

The Fulbright-VTT Award in Science, Technology and Innovation is jointly funded by the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland and the Fulbright Finland Foundation.

Specializations

While this award is open to any project in the disciplines represented at VTT, there is interest in scholars who are in these particular specialty areas.

Specific consideration is given in this application round to applications covering the following topics:

• Quantum Technologies and Microelectronics
• Industrial Biotechnology
• Biomaterial processing and products
• Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (Propertune ICME)
• Nuclear energy; especially small modular reactors (SMR)
• Hydrogen
• Other focus areas

Please visit the VTT website and explore VTT’s tech and infra to learn more about their operations.

Benefits

The Fulbright-VTT Scholar Award is available for visits of 4–6 months. It includes:

• Monthly grant of 5,000 EUR (approx. 5,500 USD*), paid out in euro in monthly installments.
• One-time travel allowance of 1,800 USD.
• Residence permit allowance based on the actual permit fees (incl. grantee and accompanying family members).
• Housing for the scholar and their accompanying family is arranged and paid for by the host university.
• Work facilities and administrative support.
• Flex option: The award can be split into two segments within one or two academic years. Together the two segments cannot exceed six months. Visits cannot take place in the summer months (June, July, and August).
• Orientation and support services provided by the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki. For example, the Foundation will arrange a four-day arrival orientation in Helsinki for all U.S. Fulbright grantees at the end of August each year (orientation is also arranged in January for grantees arriving for the spring semester).
• Fulbright Finland Foundation mid-year activities and networking opportunities (such as the American Voices Seminar at the University of Turku) each year.

* amounts in USD are subject to change due to currency fluctuations.

Support for Grantees with Disabilities

Extra funding support is available for grantees with disabilities. If you have a disability that would cause additional costs for the grant term, contact the Foundation to discuss reasonable accommodations. Send your self-assessment with a description of the disability and the specific accommodations requested to the Foundation ([email protected]) by the grant application deadline.

Please note that disclosing the need for disability accommodation does not affect the review and selection process.

Eligibility

The grant is awarded mainly to candidates with a Ph.D., but candidates with an MSc degree and strong expertise in their field may also be considered.

Professionals/non-academics with a minimum experience of seven years in the field will be considered.

The candidate must be a U.S. citizen. Proposals for medical research involving clinical training, patient care or patient contact are not eligible. Please contact the Fulbright Finland Foundation if you have any questions about the eligibility of your project.

U.S. Scholar Program eligibility guidelines and review criteria are published on the Fulbright Scholar Program website.

In Finland, the applications are evaluated according to the evaluation criteria set by the Fulbright Finland Foundation Board.

Applicants residing in Finland are not eligible for a Fulbright grant.

VTT Technical Research Center of Finland

VTT has office locations throughout the country.

VTT’s largest presence is in Otaniemi, Helsinki Metropolitan Area. It is known as a center for technology industry, research, and education. Other major office locations include Oulu, Jyväskylä and Tampere. Read more about Helsinki at My Helsinki and more about Espoo at Visit Espoo.

How to Apply?

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program competition for 2026-27 opens in February 2025.

The U.S. program partner in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is the Institute of International Education IIE. Applications are submitted through IIE and forwarded to discipline-based peer review committees in the U.S. Applications that pass this initial peer review in the U.S. are forwarded to the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki to be reviewed by the Foundation’s review committees. The Fulbright Finland Foundation makes the funding decisions and final selections of grantees.

Additional information and detailed application instructions are available from the Fulbright Finland Foundation and the Fulbright Scholar Program websites.

Fulbright Finland Foundation encourages potential applicants to contact the office directly with any questions.

Resources for Hosts:

• Instructions for writing invitation letters and a checklist for a U.S. scholar's host

Further Information

NOTE: Late June, July and early August are traditionally summer vacation months in Finland and responses to inquiries may be delayed. Applicants are advised to contact the Finnish host institution well ahead of time to solicit an invitation letter for their application.

Uselful Links:

• Fulbright Finland Outreach Ambassadors
• VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
• Destination Finland
• This is Finland
• The Official Travel site of Finland: Visit Finland
• More information about the city of Espoo: Visit Espoo

Alumni Experiences

Take a look at the stories and video interviews of previous Finnish Fulbright grantees.

Fulbright Professor William Collins: Navigating the intersection of science, infrastructure and society at VTT

• William Collins, 2022-23 Fulbright-VTT Award in Science, Technology and Innovation

Boreal Forest Inspired Mycelium Materials to Solve the Plastic Pollution Crisis

• Philippe Amstislavski, 2020-21 Fulbright-VTT Award in Science, Technology and Innovation

Discover additional stories about our grantees and alumni by visiting our blog or YouTube channel. Please feel free to reach out to Fulbright Finland Outreach Ambassadors.

What is the Fulbright Finland Foundation?

The Fulbright Finland Foundation is a private, independent, not-for-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. The Foundation’s aim is

• to promote a wider exchange of knowledge and professional talents through educational contacts between Finland and the United States, and
• to support the internationalization of education and research in Finland, and help U.S. and Finnish institutions create linkages.

What Makes the Fulbright Finland Foundation Programs Unique?

• In addition to the grant, the Fulbright Finland Foundation offers the grantees several additional benefits and free support services, as well as an access to a global, multi-professional network.
• We are looking for applicants who want to impact the future and to make a difference – applicants who want to facilitate positive change, develop and advance their own profession or discipline, and find solutions to national and international challenges in their field.
• The grantees also act as ambassadors for the Fulbright Finland Foundation, their home country, and their home organization and, in this way, do their part in sharing their home country and culture and contributing to the relations between Finland and the U.S.

Fulbright-VTT Award in Science, Technology and Innovation program is part of the global Fulbright program operating in over 160 countries worldwide.