Who has advanced Northern Finland’s prosperity? - Nominate a recipient for the Pentti Kaitera Award

The Fund is accepting nominations for the award until September 15, 2026. Nominations can be entered using a form on the Fund’s website. The Fund’s board will process the nominations and make its decision in September.

The Fund was established in 1988 to honour the memory of Pentti Kaitera (1905–1985), the first rector of the University of Oulu. Kaitera played a crucial role in the creation of the University of Oulu. The Fund has presented 21 awards so far. Its purpose is to promote well-being and economic health and economic well-being of Northern Finland.

The award alternates between being presented to honour work done in the University of Oulu and to work that is done outside academia, for example in arts and culture. The award has been presented to Domestication in Action, a project led by Anna-Kaisa Salmi, Polar Bear Pitching ry, head of 6G research in Oulu, Professor Matti Latva-aho and nature photographer Jari Peltomäki, among others. In 2022 there were two recipients, dance artist, director Pirjo Yli-Maunula and violinist, conductor John Storgårds. Most recently the award was presented to professor Simo Saarakkala in 2024.

In addition to the Pentti Kaitera Award, the Fund also supports other endeavours aiming to improve Northern Finland’s vitality or further the University’s goals.

The nomination form on the homepage of the Pentti Kaitera Fund

Further information: rahasto@penttikaitera.fi