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Finland’s social and health care system is at a turning point where industry challenges, societal factors and global changes are increasingly burdening the system. Fundamental changes must be made to ensure the functioning of the system.
Sitra is launching a funding call (in Finnish, summary in English) for trials that employ proactive data and/or AI-based methods, enabling early intervention to promote people’s health and well-being.
The rapid advancement of technology, digitalisation, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) supports renewal and paves the way for proactive social and health care. In this way, hidden risks threatening health and well-being can be identified before symptoms appear, and they can be addressed early. Technology allows for more precise identification of risks and easier planning of preventive measures than before, thus strengthening people’s well-being and alleviating human suffering.
With proactive social and health care, service costs can be curbed in the long term while developing more individual services. For example, the prevention and good management of type 2 diabetes prevent complications, which is much cheaper and easier for the individual than treating severe symptoms. This is crucial for Finland as the population ages.
According to Sitra’s recent study, many countries have already adopted new methods. Experiences from Denmark and the Netherlands show that proactive operational models prevent diseases and enhance resource utilisation.
“Finland has excellent prerequisites to be a pioneer in adopting proactive social and health care methods, as we have a wealth of health data and AI expertise. Trials are a key means of accelerating the start. Wellbeing counties have the opportunity to experiment with new methods and expand their use with our funding call. We hope they seek new proactive solutions together with companies,” says Senior Lead Petri Lehto at Sitra.
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Efficiency and well-being through proactive social and health care methods
Sitra is launching a funding call for trials of proactive methods. The call is targeted at the wellbeing services counties.
In this call, we particularly emphasise methods that encourage prevention and utilise data and/or AI. The developed method or solution must demonstrate how digital methods for proactive social and health care can be applied in the wellbeing services counties within the current regulatory environment (Sitra’s working paper in Finnish, summary in English). We expect the recipients of funding to commit to widely sharing their experiences, lessons and materials generated during the trial.
The maximum amount of funding from Sitra is 500,000 euros, with a single project eligible to receive up to 200,000 euros. Sitra’s contribution can be up to 50 percent of the total project costs.
Detailed information about the funding call and application instructions can be found on the application page (in Finnish, summary in English). Applications must be submitted in Finnish by Thursday, 17 April 2025, at 12:00 noon (+3 UTC) via Sitra’s electronic service platform.
Sitra produces ideas and develops and experiments with solutions to renew Finland in cooperation with its partners. We strengthen society’s ability to find new solutions and bring together the actors to make the change possible. Our goal is to serve Finnish society by helping our partners succeed in this renewal work.