Foundation of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East

Foundation of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East promotes and supports the research and teaching of the Middle Eastern languages and cultures. To realise its aim, the Foundation supports the Finnish Institute in the Middle East and gives out research and travel grants to graduate and advanced students as well as professionals.

Grants

FIME awards grants for postgraduate studies, research and field work and for Arabic language courses. Every other year FIME grants the Aimo T. Nikolainen Grant aimed at ecumenical and other research in line with Aimo T. Nikolainen's life work.

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Become a friend of the Institute

Become a friend by joining to the non-commercial and apolitical association that supports the institution. 

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Awarded grants 2025

The Foundation of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East awarded three Travel Grants for research and three Grants for Arabic Language Courses at its board meeting on 17 March 2025. The travel grants will be used to study the administrative structures created by civilians during the Syrian war, to monitor the movements of shepherds and map the use of pastures in different administrative regions in Lebanon, and to study inscriptions and papyri concerning the relationships between the Jewish population and the Greco-Roman gods in Egypt. Earlier this year, the board also awarded two 30th Anniversary Scholarships. You can read about the Anniversary Scholarships here. In addition, the board awarded six-month Research Residency grant to Dr. Adel Dashela, who is researching the role of the Yemeni diaspora in promoting national reconciliation and post-conflict transitional justice.