Alakirjanpitoon

Alakirjanpitoon refers to a financial budgeting system used in Finnish academia and research institutions. The term translates to "side budget" or "second budget" in English.

In Alakirjanpitoon, each researcher or research group is allocated a separate budget, often referred to as the "side budget," in addition to the main institutional budget. This system allows researchers to manage their funds independently and make decisions on how to allocate their resources, promoting autonomy and flexibility.

The side budget is typically used for research-related expenses, such as equipment, travel, and personnel costs. Researchers can allocate funds from the side budget to support their projects, collaborations, and other research activities. This system also enables researchers to pursue interdisciplinary or international collaborations, as they can manage their own finances and make decisions on how to allocate their resources.

Alakirjanpitoon is considered a unique feature of Finnish research culture, and it has been recognized as an effective way to promote research autonomy and innovation. By allowing researchers to manage their own finances, Alakirjanpitoon enables them to pursue high-risk, high-reward research projects that may not have been possible within the constraints of the main institutional budget.

The use of Alakirjanpitoon has been found to have positive effects on research outputs and collaborations. Researchers who have access to a side budget are more likely to publish their findings, engage in international collaborations, and pursue innovative research projects.

The system has also been shown to facilitate collaboration between researchers from different disciplines and institutions. By allowing them to manage their own finances, researchers can pursue projects that bring together expertise from multiple fields, leading to a more diverse and innovative research landscape.