HELSINKI, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Academy of Finland and the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes) will provide special funding for key researchers in science and technology from abroad to Finland, according to a Finnish media report on Friday.

The Academy of Finland and Tekes have decided to fund 24 research projects with 17.5 million euros (about 22 million U.S. dollars) within the funding program for visiting top researchers in science and technology. The funding will be available to recruit 24 visiting top researchers to 12 Finnish universities or research institutes for 2-5 years. The first top researchers will begin work at the beginning of 2007.

The goal of the Finland Distinguished Professor Programme (FiDiPro) is to raise the level of scientific and technological knowledge and know-how in Finland and add a more international element to the Finnish research system.

It is also geared towards supporting research-driven profiling of universities and research institutes and creating new kind of international cooperation between university-based research and business companies.

"The FiDiPro call generated exceptionally strong interest among universities, and the professors selected through international reviews proved to be top-rate researchers. It's also interesting to note that some top researchers, who have long worked abroad for a long time are willing to return to their home country," President Raimo Vayrynen of the Academy of Finland said. Enditem