The Fulbright-Nokia Distinguished Chair in Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) offers a unique opportunity for a U.S. scholar and/or specialist to engage in research, collaboration, teaching, and guest lecturing at a higher education institution in Finland and simultaneously networking in the Finnish R&D society. The intention is to further enhance collaboration between U.S. and Finnish research groups and also to boost industrial-academic collaborations.
The research questions are expected to be related to the digital infrastructure of future societies and industries, as well as directly connected to disciplines of the digitalization era. Topical research areas of interest include software or hardware and algorithms, data science, advanced network technologies, and design issues related to digitalization. Interdisciplinary research agendas in human-computer interaction, business practices. Also, topics in law, policy, and socio-economic development, directly related to the evolution of information and communications technology, will be considered.
The Fulbright-Nokia Distinguished Chair in Information and Communication Technologies award emphasizes projects that prioritize active research work, including publications, with plans for long-lasting collaboration between Finnish and US research groups. Target is that the award helps in establishing new research collaboration that will continue after the visit has taken place. Some guest lecturing and/or supervising students is therefore welcomed. While the main aim of this Chair position is designed to promote international exchange, the selected Chair is encouraged to network with the whole Finnish research and high-tech industrial community, additionally to create joint publications with Finnish colleagues, develop international exchange collaboration between U.S. Finnish host institution, and otherwise engage with the host community and Finnish companies. Fulbright scholars are often invited to give guest lectures in other Finnish higher education institutions. The Fulbright-Nokia Chair may also be asked to give a guest lecture at Nokia, or other Finnish high-tech companies, in order to increase the impact of the visit in the society and industry.
The scholar and the Finnish host institution work together in designing the Chair position activities. Candidates should discuss and come to an agreement with the host about the ratio of teaching to research, as well as the number and level of courses to be taught. The host may expect the scholar to supervise students who are completing their master’s theses or Ph.D. dissertations.
The host should be from the information and communication technologies field, with the same definitions as above stated for the Chair applicant.
A research and teaching plan should be included in the project statement of the Distinguished Chair application. The project statement should also include a plan describing the candidate's research activity after the visit (including the promotion of the new collaboration). If a scholar proposes to collaborate with more than one host institution, the project statement must clearly indicate the exact period of time the scholar will be affiliated with each host. However, as stated it is also encouraged to have this kind of wider networking.
The Fulbright-Nokia Distinguished Chair in Information and Communications Technologies is funded by the Nokia Foundation and the Fulbright Finland Foundation. The U.S. program partner is the Institute for International Education (IIE).
The Fulbright Distinguished Chair position is viewed among the most prestigious appointments in the Fulbright Scholar Program. The Chair is able to engage in a variety of professional activities, such as:
The starting date is late August or January unless otherwise agreed upon with Fulbright Finland.
The Fulbright-Nokia Distinguished Chair in Information and Communications Technologies is available for visits of 3–6 months. It includes:
* amounts are subject to change due to currency fluctuations.
** should be confirmed in the letter of invitation.
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.
Distinguished Chair eligibility guidelines and review criteria are published on the Fulbright U.S. 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.
Finland is technologically one of the most advanced countries in the world. One quarter of the Finnish labor force is directly or indirectly employed by the technology industry and three quarters of private-sector R&D investment goes to the technology sector. The size and the role of Information and Communications Technologies in the Finnish economy and R&D have grown considerably along with the Nokia’s worldwide success.
Finnish higher education institutions engage in world leading research and offer high quality academic programs. In relation to the gross domestic product, Finland invests more in research and development than almost any other OECD country. Finnish institutions and researchers are also among the most active scientific publishers in the world.
Together with a welcoming and intriguing environment, Finland offers interesting opportunities for American researchers and lecturers both professionally and socially. Please visit the following websites to begin your search.
The Nokia Foundation was formed in 1995 and supports the scientific development of information and telecommunications technologies and promotes education in the sector in Finland.
The U.S. program partner in the Fulbright Distinguished Chairs 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 Fulbright Finland 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.
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. Please note that the Fulbright Finland Foundation office observes the summer Finnish holiday season and is closed in July. If you have urgent inquiries, kindly contact us prior to July.
TIMELINE | |
|---|---|
| Application period start: | February, 2025 |
| Application period end: | September 15, 2025 |
| Earliest possible starting date: | August 2026 or January 2027 |
| Mandatory orientation: | TBC (expected to take place in mid-August 2026 or mid-January 2027) |
Affiliation
The purpose of the Fulbright-Nokia Distinguished Chair in Information and Communications Technologies is to enhance cooperation between Finnish and American higher education institutions and academics in the field.
Candidates are expected to secure an affiliation with a Finnish institution themselves. However, assistance in locating possible host institutions and making connections is available from Fulbright Finland if needed.
The candidate and the Finnish host institution work together in designing the Chair position activities. Candidates should negotiate and agree with the host on the teaching and research ratio and the number and level of courses to be taught. The host may expect the scholar to supervise students who are completing their master’s thesis or Ph.D. dissertation. A research and lecture plan should be included in the project statement of the Distinguished Chair application.
The Finnish host institution is expected to arrange and pay for housing for the scholar. Candidates should communicate their housing needs to the host institution so that appropriate housing can be arranged for them.
The Distinguished Chair application should include a letter of invitation from a Finnish higher education institution. The letter should include information on the agreed teaching and research plan, details of housing, and length and dates of the proposed visit (Finnish host institution should refer to these instructions).
Useful links:
The Fulbright Finland Foundation is a private, independent, not-for-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. The Foundation’s aim is
Fulbright-Nokia Distinguished Chair in Information and Communications Technologies program is part of the global Fulbright program operating in over 160 countries worldwide.
