Tutkimusalat

Tutkimusalat is a Finnish term that refers to broad domains or fields of research, commonly translated as research fields or disciplines. It is used to classify scientific activity in universities, funding agencies, and statistical reporting. The concept helps organize and compare research across institutions and time, and it supports planning, funding decisions, and performance assessment.

In practice, tutkimusalat cover large, umbrella categories such as natural and technical sciences, health and welfare sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts, as well as agricultural and forestry sciences. The exact set of tutkimusalat can vary by year or by institution, as classifications are updated to reflect evolving scientific landscapes and cross-disciplinary work. Researchers typically work within one or more tutkimusalat, and interdisciplinary projects may span several fields.

The term is widely used in Finland by bodies like the Academy of Finland and Statistics Finland, as well as in higher education policies and grant calls. It serves to standardize reporting, facilitate national comparisons, and guide strategic investments in research infrastructure and training. Because research areas shift with technological and societal changes, the definitions of tutkimusalat are periodically revised, allowing new disciplines to be recognized while maintaining continuity for longitudinal analysis.

In summary, tutkimusalat denotes the major fields of research used in Finnish higher education and public funding contexts. It functions as a practical framework for organizing, evaluating, and funding research activities, while accommodating growth and interdisciplinarity within the scientific landscape.