Eight Finns party MPs and two from the Left Group signed a request for the committee to investigate.
They want to ascertain whether Katainen acted unlawfully when he helped secure funding for Himanen’s report on sustainable growth.
The memo asks that the committee call experts and the Prime Minister before presenting their conclusions to the main chamber of parliament.
The case aroused controversy after an article by Long Play detailed how 700,000 euros had been allocated to Himanen's project via Tekes, Sitra and the Academy of Finland without competition.
Katainen surprised
Speaking to Yle in Abu Dhabi, where he was on a trade mission with Finnish companies and Foreign Trade minister Alexander Stubb, Katainen told Yle that the move came as a surprise to him.
He added that there would be no uncertainties after the matter had been dealt with by the committee.
The case has already been referred to the Office of the Chancellor of Justice.
