hankemuotoiset

Hankemuotoiset is a Finnish adjective form used to describe activities, financing, or procurement that are organized as separate projects rather than as ongoing programs. The term comes from hanke (project) and muotoinen (in the form of). In practice, hankemuotoiset arrangements have defined objectives, budgets, timelines, and deliverables, with each project typically having its own governance, reporting requirements, and performance criteria. They are common in public administration, research funding, and development policy, as well as in EU structural funds and procurement processes.

Hankemuotoista rahoitusta, or project-based funding, is characterized by competitive calls or merit-based allocations and a focus on measurable outputs. Financing often covers a limited period and is tied to specified results, monitored through project-level reports and audits. In procurement, hankemuotoiset contracts are awarded for discrete sets of activities with clear milestones and acceptance criteria, rather than sustaining services over many years.

Advantages of hankemuotoiset models include targeted use of funds, clearer accountability for outcomes, and flexibility to support diverse projects. Disadvantages can include administrative overhead, fragmentation of funding, coordination challenges across projects, and uneven capacity to achieve goals.

The concept is widely used in Finland in contexts such as research and development programs, regional development initiatives, and support for startups and innovation, as well as in national and EU funding schemes that disburse money per project. Related ideas include projektimuotoinen rahoitus and kehittämishankkeet, which describe accompanying project-based approaches in practice.