Application guidelines
The following application guidelines provide assistance for submitting an application through the foundation's online application system. For questions related to the content of the application, you can seek advice from the foundation's manager Valtteri Simola. In case of technical issues, the technical support team for the application service will assist you. You can message technical support through the application system. Please read these instructions before proceeding to fill out the application form.
Application period
PHP Foundation grants can be applied for once a year.
The application period for grants is 1.3.-30.4.
Applications must be submitted to the foundation through the online application service, ensuring they are saved by 23:59 Finnish time on the last day of the application period. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. Technical support is available on weekdays between 9-16.
Online application
The application is submitted through the online grant system. You can access the homepage of the grant system via the button at the top of this website.
The online application system includes login instructions. You must first register, after which you will receive a confirmation request in your email. After this step, you can fill out and edit the application form within the application period. The completed form is submitted to the foundation through the system. Therefore, the form does not need to be printed and sent by mail. The foundation will only process applications that have been submitted through the online application system during the grant application period. Late or otherwise submitted applications will not be considered.
After submitting the application through the system, you will see a notification on the screen confirming receipt of your application. You will also receive an email confirmation of the application's receipt.
Who can apply?
A grant can be applied for by
- an individual under the application category "private person"
- a working group consisting of multiple individuals
- a community, e.g. a non-profit association or cooperative
A grant cannot be applied for on behalf of another person.
When applying for a grant for a working group, fill out the applicant page with the details of the group’s responsible person. The responsible person is accountable to the foundation for the granted funding and, if necessary, to various authorities (e.g. the pension institution Mela and the tax authority).
List in the application form the members of the working group for whom work grants are being applied, who are specifically affected by any expense item applied for in the group's name, or who are otherwise central to the project.
The composition of the entire project team can be presented in more detail, for example, in the work plan.
Only individuals engaged in scientific work are eligible to be grant recipients as members of the working group. For example, a research assistant does not conduct scientific work but is considered auxiliary staff, for whom the grant recipient should provide compensation for the work performed in the form of a salary.
For what purposes can grants be awarded?
General principles
- A grant cannot be applied for on behalf of another person.
- The foundation awards grants for a maximum of one year at a time.
- Grants are primarily intended to cover expenses or work incurred after the official granting date.
According to its rules, PHP Foundation promotes and supports economic and social development in Päijät-Häme and supports education and research activities related to ICT business.
Grants are primarily awarded for education and research projects directly or indirectly related to ICT business, as well as for projects aimed at developing education.
PHP Foundation is open to various projects that promote and support economic and societal development in Päijät-Häme.
The key aspect of the evaluation is that the grant target must align with the foundation's rules and be meaningful. The applicant must always describe and justify how the target/activity for which the grant is applied relates to the objectives outlined in the rules of the PHP Foundation.
For what purposes grants are not awarded
- Grants are not awarded for general cost shares of equipment acquisitions
- Grants are not awarded for scientific undergraduate degrees
- The foundation generally does not award individual travel grants
Attachments
A project plan/research plan must be attached to the application. The attachments must be submitted in PDF format.
Application processing
Grant applications are processed and evaluated during April and May.
Recipients of the awarded grants will be notified personally in May, and applicants can view the decision in the grant system.
The names of the grant recipients will be published on the foundation's website in May.
Individual grant decisions are not justified, which is a common practice in foundations.
The grant recipient's reporting obligation
The grant recipient is obligated to report on the use/results of the grant upon the completion of the project or at least once a year.
The report is created and submitted through the grant system.
Is a grant taxable
Grants are generally not subject to income tax. However, the tax exemption limit applies only to grants awarded to individuals and working groups. Grants paid by foundations and other similar entities are tax-free up to the amount of the annual state artist grant (23,668.35€/year in 2021). Grants are considered income for the tax year in which they are paid.
If the grant recipient uses the expense grant for hiring labor, they are personally responsible for the usual employer obligations, such as withholding taxes.
The foundation reports to the tax administration about a grant awarded to an individual or a working group if at least 1,000 euros of the granted amount has been paid during the tax year (Tax Administration Decision 1052/2003).
Note that tax regulations may change, and their interpretation can vary to some extent. If necessary, grant recipients should seek guidance directly from the tax authority.
