The happiest country in the world
Finland was ranked as the happiest country in the world in 2026… for the ninth year in a row. Or the most content country, as we Finns understand it. Nevertheless, it reflects our country’s high levels of overall well-being, including GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, and freedom.
Situated in northern Europe, Finland is renowned for its thousands of lakes and vast forests, providing abundant opportunities to enjoy nature. The country also excels in providing free and accessible education, with a system that prioritises equality and innovation.
Work-life balance is a crucial ingredient in Finnish society. Both parents can easily pursue their careers thanks to high-quality state-supported schooling and daycare structures.
Finns are renowned for their impressive language skills. While Finnish and Swedish are the official languages, a significant portion of the population is also proficient in English.
Finland is also a leader in sustainability, with ambitious goals for reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy. Its cities are known for their green spaces and efficient public transportation, making them attractive to live in for families.
This all is built on research and innovation.
Research and innovation landscape in Finland
Strong commitment to research and innovation has made Finland one of the leading knowledge-based economies in the world. An efficient network of higher education institutions and the public/private research sector provide a stable environment for research and collaboration.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture ensures the overall functioning of higher education and science in Finland. It is responsible for planning/preparing and implementing related policy, statutes, national budget proposals, and government decisions. In turn, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is responsible for preparing and implementing Finland’s innovation policy, while the Research and Innovation Council coordinates the development of Finland’s innovation system.
The Finnish higher education system consists of 13 universities and 22 institutes of applied sciences that operate under the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. Additionally, 12 public research institutes work under related ministries.
Finnish research funding is robust, with significant investments from both public and private sectors. In 2023, the Scandinavian country’s total investment in research and development (R&D) was around €7.2 billion. This funding continues to come from both public and private sources, with the private sector contributing around two-thirds of the total. The Research Council of Finland is also a key player, supporting high-quality scientific research and promoting international collaboration. This strong financial backing helps maintain Finland’s position as a leader in innovation and scientific advancement.
The Research Council of Finland funds advanced scientific research, provides expertise in science policy and strengthens the position of science and research overall. To promote scientific excellence and researcher training, and to improve the framework conditions for research, the Council grants funding through open competitive calls. It also serves as a ‘national expert’ in science and research for collaborative networks (both domestic and internationally), and it collects and analyses data on science and scientific research in Finland.
Team Finland helps to internationalise and boost Finnish higher education and research. The network is tasked with attracting talented people to Finland and building contacts for sharing Finnish knowledge, expertise, and educational innovation. Established by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the network comprises eight higher education and science councellors working in London, Los Angeles, New Delhi, Beijing, Pretoria, Sao Paulo, Singapore, and Washington. The tasks performed by senior specialists stationed in Pretoria, Sao Paulo and Singapore are regional in nature.
Business Finland is a part of the Team Finland network. Every year, the organisation finances business-oriented R&D projects. The global network of Business Finland has over 100 experts in 40 countries.
EURAXESS Finland provides information and assistance to mobile researchers with the support of our national EURAXESS Service Centres in Finland. The network covers all universities in the country, so please approach these Service Centres directly if you are planning a research stay at a Finnish university.
