Kela research programme 2026–2028
Kela’s research unit conducts topical, multidisciplinary research on themes of national and global importance. We produce effective research information that can be utilised in society for the development of social security and health insurance.
Research is one of Kela’s statutory functions (finlex.fi, in Finnish). Our three-year research programme describes and guides the emphases of our research operations on issues related to social security that we identify as important.
Our values are
- reliability,
- impact and
- cooperation.
We conduct independent, scientifically high-quality research and participate actively in societal discourse.
During the research programme period 2026–2028, the focus areas of our research operations are particularly affected by the significant changes and cuts in the social security system. We will expand our cooperation with other research institutes and universities. In our publication operations, in addition to the impact and societal visibility of research, we will aim to increase the number of peer-reviewed publications.
We seek answers to topical questions
Our research programme is based on the traditional and strong competence areas of Kela’s research, that is, social security and health insurance. In addition to long-term projects, when necessary, we rapidly produce and interpret research data to meet the current information needs of society.
Our research supports Kela’s strategy (kela.fi) which emphasises understanding the needs of customers and developing service models for customer groups in various life situations. We use research data to support the development of Kela’s services and productivity as well as knowledge-based management, such as the achievement of the objectives of Kela’s Eepos development programme. We examine the impacts of technological development, digitalisation and artificial intelligence on the social security system.
Our research and expertise support the drafting of legislation and the ex-ante and ex-post evaluation of legislative reforms.
Towards a sustainable and evolving security system with the help of research information
In all our research projects, our goal is to produce information that increases wellbeing in society.
Based on more than 60 years of experience, we produce research information that can be used to develop an equal and fair society and sustainable and evolving social security and health insurance. We produce information especially for the purpose of increasing employment and inclusion.
There are megatrends in the background of the research programme, the most significant of which are
- the ageing population and demographic change
- polarisation and the scarcity of resources
- geopolitical tensions
- digitalisation and artificial intelligence, and
- climate change and biodiversity loss.
We conduct multi-method research
We use the data in Kela’s benefit registers in a versatile manner, also combining it with other register data, such as the data in the Kanta services.
We also collect information through surveys, interviews and observation.
We aim to find innovative research designs, methods and approaches. We invest in analysing more comprehensive and diverse data sets, which helps understand the customers’ benefit and service system as a whole.
We communicate about research actively and rapidly
Communication is a key part of the impact of research. Our research communications are based on topicality, clarity and a multi-channel approach, so that research information can reach key target groups in an effective and timely manner. Through communications, we support both decision making and public discourse on issues related to social security and the health and social services sector.
We conduct research communications in a goal-oriented manner. The key channels for this include cooperation with journalistic media, Kela’s research blog published on Kela’s Info Tray, and social media services. We also try out new forms of communication at a low threshold.
Our publication series are available for reporting research results: Studies, Theme Books, Reports and Openings. We also publish research in other scientific publications. Kela’s research publications are openly available free of charge. We follow the principles of the Declaration for Open Science and Research (www.avointiede.fi).
Research focus areas
We have organised our research topics under focus areas where we implement both long-term research projects and more rapid studies on topical issues.
During the research programme period 2026–2028, research will be conducted in three focus areas:
- sustainable health insurance
- income in different life situations
- functional capacity, work ability and rehabilitation
Some research topics are connected to more than one focus area.
Sustainable health insurance
The research conducted in the focus area centres on the use of health insurance benefits and services, their costs and efficiency, and the health market. We examine the role of health insurance as part of the social welfare and health care system and its benefits and challenges, especially from the perspective of the availability, funding and non-discrimination of health services. In addition, we produce information on the interaction of health insurance with the market and wellbeing services counties.
We study how experiments, new digital operating models and cost and market structures affect the provision, use and availability of health services. One of the key research topics is assessing the effects of the trial on freedom of choice for people aged 65 or over. In addition, we produce information on the use of medicines, the prescription of medicines, the pharmaceutical market and the reimbursement system, as well as their impacts on customers and the health and social services system. We will also assess the functioning of the pharmaceutical credit trial.
We examine the significance of student and occupational health care, private health services and health insurance in the health service system as a whole in supporting the health and wellbeing of different population groups. Mental health challenges are a particular focus of our research. We produce information that supports the balanced development of the health market and promotes the efficiency and effectiveness of the service system on a sustainable basis.
Income in different life situations
The research conducted in projects of the focus area centres on the livelihood and wellbeing of different demographic groups. Among other things, we examine the formation of livelihoods for students, families with children, older people, people living in different areas and people in different life situations.
We examine the livelihood of social security benefit recipients and the simultaneous use of multiple benefits. We monitor how income changes as the life situation changes and the significance of social security as a balancing factor of income as work income changes. We also study the adequacy and development of basic social assistance.
We will produce research information on the achievement of the goals of the social security system reforms and the effects of the reforms on income, work, the use of benefits and benefit expenditure. We will also examine how recent changes in social security have affected the combining of benefits and earned income. In addition to the effects on employment, we will examine the effects of the reforms on wellbeing.
During the research programme period, changes in the social security system to be monitored will include the overall reform of social assistance, the overall reform of student financial aid and the general support for the unemployed. We will also assess the effects of the family leave reform on parents’ employment, health and other wellbeing.
Functional capacity, work ability and rehabilitation
The research conducted in the focus area centres on the use of benefits and services related to work, education and functional capacity, changes in them, and differences between population groups and regions. We examine the changes in the service system and the legislation on disability and rehabilitation and their effects on customers, different actors and the development of the number of benefit recipients. The position and needs of young people, older people, persons with partial work ability and the unemployed are key perspectives in these reviews.
We study the implementation and impact of rehabilitation services and benefits. In the four sub-studies of the Impact of Rehabilitation research project, we examine the effects and impact of Kela’s rehabilitation from different perspectives. The studies include professional, discretionary and demanding medical rehabilitation services.
The seven sub-studies of the Change 4 project will strengthen Kela’s rehabilitation implementation research. Among other things, we will examine the implementation and perceived benefits of Kela’s job coaching based on the Placement and Coaching model and the Tules course organised as entirely remote rehabilitation.
We examine how rehabilitation benefits and rehabilitation services – including remote rehabilitation and digital solutions – can support the functional capacity, work ability and rehabilitation of people of different ages in different life situations. We also produce information on the processes of the loss of work ability in order to reduce sickness absences and periods of the loss of work ability and in order to promote participation in employment.
Cross-cutting themes of research
Where applicable, several cross-cutting themes are taken into account in each focus area and the research projects under them.
Customers and trust
Customers and trust form a cross-cutting theme in Kela’s research operations, centring on the needs and position of social security users at the centre of services, supporting customer orientation. In the studies, we examine the customer relationship from the perspectives of both the individual and the benefit and service system.
Key research topics in the theme include encounters between Kela and the customer, customer service paths, customer trust in Kela services, customer experiences, accessibility of benefits and services, and the impact of social security in daily life.
Changes and costs
Guided by the theme Changes and costs, we monitor changes in social security and the development of social security costs and support decision making with research data. Changes in social security may be the subject of the study, the justification for initiating the study or part of the operating environment behind the study.
We make preliminary estimates of the impacts of changes on the users and costs of the benefits, and after the changes, we examine their impacts on social security users, people’s wellbeing, expenditure and public finances. We also study the effects of the reforms in the long term as well as monitor changes in the social security systems and operating environments in other countries. In addition, we examine changes in social security both implemented before and implemented later during the research programme period.
Non-discrimination
The theme of non-discrimination guides research projects to examine the allocation of benefits and services to different population groups and to examine how the benefit and service system supports the wellbeing of various vulnerable population groups and people in different life situations.
We examine socio-economic differences, gender differences, regional differences and other differences between population groups in the use of benefits and services, etc. The goal is to produce research information to support the building of a non-discriminating social security system.
