Evaluation of the Academy of Finland

The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture in Finland (later referred to as the ”Contracting Entity”) requests your tenders for an Evaluation of the Academy of Finland as set out in this call for tenders and its Appendices. The objective of the evaluation is to produce a comprehensive view of the activities of the Academy of Finland based on international and national expertise and to find means for improving the Academy's impact, operation and structures. The evaluation aims to assess how the Academy of Finland should develop its activities in the changing operating environment, to ensure that it can optimally contribute to enhancing the quality and impact of research and the functioning of the innovation system. The evaluation also aims to produce additional information and development proposals to improve performance steering of the Academy by the Ministry. During the implementation period, the following will be completed: 1. visits and interviews by the evaluation panel, 2. collecting the required documentation, 3. taking part in meetings necessary for project implementation in Finland, 4. drawing up an interim and final report on the evaluation project and 5. taking part in publishing the results of the evaluation. The Client will organize a publication seminar for the evaluation. Background, objective and aims of the procurement are described, and key background material listed in Appendix 1.

The evaluation should include following aspects: 1) The role of the Academy of Finland in the RDI system – The contribution of Academy's structure, the Ministry's (performance) steering and the operating practices in serving the overall development of the Finnish RDI system and the strategic development of key research actors, in particular universities and research institutes. 2) The role of the Academy of Finland in promoting international scientific cooperation. 3) The organisation and operations of the Academy of Finland: the roles of the Board, the Research Councils and the Administration Office, including the impact of changes in the organization of the Academy of Finland to its performance. This aspect notices facilitation of the Strategic Research Council and the Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee. All above stated aspects should be evaluated from following perspectives: a) Evaluating the current operation of the Academy of Finland b) Evaluating the operation of the Academy of Finland with a view to the future c) Drawing up conclusions and development proposals. The Contracting Entity will select one (1) supplier, with whom it will conclude a contract.