News

28.09.2026

FIRE develops the conditions for register-based research – new insights into permit processes, training and more flexible use of FIONA

The Finnish Infrastructure for Register-Based Research (FIRE) is moving towards practical solutions that make it easier to use register data in research. At the FIRE webinar on 22 September, current development work within the infrastructure was presented, including challenges and...

28.09.2026

80% of researchers find data permit processes difficult

One of FIRE’s key development areas is the permit process for accessing register data for research. In a study presented by Aki Koivula, Senior Research Fellow at INVEST, the permit process was examined from the perspectives of both researchers and...

28.09.2026

National course trains a new generation of register-based research experts

In autumn 2026, FIRE is responding to the growing need for expertise in register-based research. Laura Kananen, Docent at Tampere University, presented the new online course Introduction to Register-based Research in Finland at the FIRE webinar on 22 September. The...

25.09.2026

More flexible resources and new tools for FIONA

At a FIRE webinar on 22 September 2026, Valtteri Valkonen from Statistics Finland presented ongoing work within FIRE to further develop the FIONA remote access system. FIONA is Statistics Finland’s secure remote access environment for analysing sensitive register and survey...

01.09.2026

New multidisciplinary online course “Introduction to Register-based Research in Finland” launching in autumn 2026

FIRE’s new multidisciplinary online course, Introduction to Register-based Research in Finland (5-6ECTS), introduces students to the opportunities offered by Finnish register data in business andeconomics, health sciences, and social sciences research. The course is delivered throughDigiCampus, the nationally shared learning...

28.08.2026

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health joined the FIRE infrastructure as an external member

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health has joined the Finnish Infrastructure for Register-Based Research (FIRE) as an external member. The collaboration strengthens opportunities to develop Finland’s register-based research ecosystem and facilitates the use of research data. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health...

29.06.2026

Visiting Fellow Hye Won Kwon sees register-based research as key to advancing social science

Assistant Professor Hye Won Kwon from Ewha Womans University will visit the University of Turku in August through the FIRE infrastructure visitor programme. During her visit, Kwon aims to deepen collaboration with researchers at FIRE and INVEST and explore the...

22.05.2026

FIRE Visiting Fellow Li Calls for Greater International Collaboration in Register-Based Research

“I believe register-based research offers unique opportunities for advancing sociological research, particularly for understanding life-course processes and social inequalities, the next FIRE infrastructure Visiting Fellow”, postdoctoral researcher Mengxuan ”Suri” Li says. She starts her visit in the University of Helsinki...

08.05.2026

FIRE Visitor Samuel Solomon sees Finnish register data opening answers unavailable elsewhere

FIRE Visiting Fellow Samuel Solomon says Finland’s unique population-wide registers open new possibilities for research. According to Solomon, the future of register-based research lies increasingly in combining register data with other data sources and self-collected survey data. The Finnish Infrastructure...

17.04.2026

Finland’s register data draws international scholars – Luisa Wallosek among the first fellows

Public economist Luisa Wallossek from the University of Oslo will visit Finland in May to collaborate with researchers at Tampere University and the VATT Institute for Economic Research as part of the Finnish Infrastructure for Register-Based Research (FIRE) Visiting Fellow...

The Research Council of Finland funds the development and construction of the FIRE infrastructure during 2025–2028 (decision number 367675).

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