Kuopio Biomedical Unit/A.I.Virtanen Institute at the University of Eastern Finland will acquire a small animal MRI system, operating at 9.4 T. The system should be a standalone unit. The system will be one of the two main in vivo MRI instruments in our imaging center, which currently serves as a national core facility for small animal MRI. Therefore, smooth transition to new system is essential. The main application areas are currently neuroimaging (e.g. functional and diffusion) and cardiac imaging. However, as a national service facility there is also need for all kinds of imaging and spectroscopic applications with short lead time. Therefore, flexible multinuclear capabilities, availability of tested protocols and technical support for rapid implementation and the use of new methodology are of utmost importance.