tutkimustarkoitukseen

Tutkimustarkoitukseen is a Finnish phrase meaning "for research purposes." It is commonly used in Finland to indicate the intended purpose for collecting, storing, or processing personal data or biological materials within a research project. The phrase appears in participant information sheets, consent forms, data processing notices, and ethics approvals, signaling that the data will be used to conduct scientific or scholarly investigations rather than for routine administrative tasks or commercial use. In practice, labeling data with "tutkimustarkoitukseen" triggers governance such as data minimization, safeguarding measures, and, where required, ethical review.

In the legal and ethical framework, Finnish data protection follows the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Article 5 sets the purpose limitation principle; Article 89 provides derogations for processing for archiving, scientific or historical research, or statistical purposes, subject to appropriate safeguards. National laws and ethics committees in Finland can further define requirements for handling identifiable data, facilitate pseudonymization and anonymization, obtain informed consent where appropriate, and impose distribution and access controls. The phrase does not by itself authorize broader use of data; researchers must ensure processing aligns with the stated research purpose and that privacy safeguards are in place.

The term serves as a practical shorthand that underscores the balance between enabling scientific inquiry and protecting individuals’ rights. It should be used transparently and complemented with concrete details about data types, retention periods, and access rules.