Evaluation Report Publications of the Academy of Finland 1/11

Research environment
The unit is well equipped with state-of-the-art research equipment needed for the 
research activity. During the review period, 18 doctorate degrees and 29 Master’s 
degrees were completed. The students graduating from the group readily obtain 
relevant positions in pharmaceutical industry as well as postdoctoral positions. It is 

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noteworthy that the graduates also get positions in international pharmaceutical 
companies outside Finland.
Research networking and interaction
More than 80 per cent of the papers produced by the unit involve domestic co-
authoring and 30 per cent involve foreign co-authors.
Networking with units within the University of Kuopio and other Finnish 
universities as well as with three European universities is reported. Six staff members 
and two postgraduate students visited foreign research groups.
Recommendations
Based on the documents provided, the unit appears to have a very good research 
activity that leads to strong interactions with local industry, and this activity should 
be maintained. The unit is also providing highly relevant graduate student training, 
which should be maintained at its present level. While the graduate training and 
teaching in general have a strategic basis, the research strategy of the unit appears less 
developed, even though there is a strong strategic focus at the Department. The panel 
recommends that a long-term strategy be drafted for the unit, which would ensure the 
level of research and education in the unit also after the retirement of current faculty 
members, even though such retirements are not imminent.