University of Eastern Finland

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is one of the largest and the most multidisciplinary universities in Finland. It has two campuses in two cities: Joensuu and Kuopio. NOVEL is offered in the Kuopio campus, where the interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Community (NEURO RC) coordinates the programme.

Finding solutions to the complex problems of our changing world calls for an ability to think and combine things in a novel way. The University of Eastern Finland responds to global challenges through a high standard of interdisciplinary research and education. In doing so, we build a responsible and sustainable future.

UEF has received the European Commission’s acknowledgement of HR Excellence in Research as a provider and supporter of a stimulating and favourable working environment, and it is internationally recognized for its state-of-the-art research.

Read more about the University of Eastern Finland

Neuro Research Community

UEF has chosen interdisciplinary, thematic Research Communities to pursue top-edge science in its profile areas. Research carried out by these university’s strategically significant Research Communities is international and of a high scientific standard, generating interdisciplinary research knowledge and solutions to global challenges.

NOVEL is coordinated by the interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Community (NEURO RC). The NOVEL postdoctoral researchers will be members of NEURO RC and pursue their research in its research groups.

The multidisciplinary Neuroscience Research Community (NEURO RC) at the University of Eastern Finland aims to understand the disease-specific and common molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases and epilepsy, and to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic approaches for their prevention and cure. Comprising 20 research groups, NEURO RC integrates biological neurosciences with data sciences, neuro-innovations, and neuro-ethics.

Neuroscience Research Community from three faculties: Faculty of Heath Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies; and Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology.

NEURO RC connects groups and 193 researchers from three of the University of Finland’s faculties and several disciplines:

  1. Molecular medicine and Clinical neuroscience in the Faculty of Health Sciences
  2. Innovation management and business studies and the Social Sciences and Law in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
  3. Science, Technology and Computing in the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology.

This combination creates an exceptionally interdisciplinary platform for brain health research. NEURO RC has been given the highest score of 6/6 in two consecutive international evaluations (UEFRAE2019 and UEFRAE2023).

North Savo Innovation Hub

NEURO RC works in collaboration with regional and national health innovation ecosystems (f.ex., Kuopio Health and Neurocenter Finland, partners in this project). Within these impactful ecosystems, the latest research findings and university-driven expertise are extensively made use of by companies, health organisations and other stakeholders, including patient organizations.

NOVEL’s postdoctoral researchers will be part of the innovation hub in the Northern Savo region and the Savilahti Campus Area, the home of the University of Eastern Finland’s Kuopio campus. It is calculated to attract 1.5 billion euros investment by 2030 to become a remarkable educational, business, and residential district with 35,000 workers, students and residents.

This center of health expertise also comprises Kuopio University Hospital (KUH), Biobank of Eastern Finland, Neurocenter Finland and its regional Kuopio Brain & Mind network, KuopioHealth community, Genome Centre of Eastern Finland, Biocenter Kuopio Infrastructures, and several health-related businesses.

The Neurocenter Finland network, a platform that links neuroscience researchers with business collaborators and promotes R&D, is coordinated at UEF. UEF is also a partner in the KuopioHealth open innovation ecosystem, a co-operative combining the public sector, academia, businesses, and end users that enables the creation of new solutions and networks.

The European Structural and Investment Funds of the EU Commission have invested over nine million euros to UEF and almost eight million euros to the other partners of this health cluster (2014-03/2020), which is one of the target areas in the Northern Savo Smart Specialization strategy on health technologies, services, and business models. NOVEL aligns with the EU-driven Northern Savo Smart Specialization strategy that promotes the regional health cluster.