The Swedish Research Council's research strategy 2009-2012

In its strategy for the years 2009-2012, the research Council recommends a number of actions. See summary below. The full strategy can be downloaded in pdf format.

Summary

Research-policy assessments

• Swedish research funding must be strengthened.
• Research policy needs to be long-term.
• Quality and competition should be leading principles of resource allocation.
• The division of responsibility among higher education institutions should be clarified for the purpose of attaining both broad education and cutting-edge research.
• Knowledge should be put to use more rapidly.
• Confidence in research and research policy should be strengthened.

The Swedish Research Council's work in 2009-2012: orientation and resources

• Free basic research should receive an extra SEK 270 million a year, i.e. a total of SEK 1,080 million. Quality and renewal are best fostered if research resources are distributed after peer review. The Research Council seeks to become the 'principal owner' of projects and increase its support for humanities and social sciences.
• Basic research in areas of high priority should receive an annual increment of SEK 200 million, i.e. a total of SEK 800 million over the planning period. Initially, two programmes are to start: 'Globally Changing Societies' and 'Energy, Climate and Environment'. Additional high-priority areas will be identified, after which the Board will decide which programmes to start in the latter part of the period.
• Support for strong research environments should receive an additional SEK 400 million altogether during the period.
• Resources for international collaboration should be boosted by a total of SEK 320 million over the four-year period. The Swedish Research Council wishes to help realise the European Research Area (ERA) and promote Nordic and global cooperation. Sweden may thereby be expected to strengthen its position as an attractive country to carry out research in and collaborate with.
• Good infrastructure is a prequisite for research of top quality, and a national concern. Besides the resource increments mentioned above, infrastructure investments should be boosted by an extra SEK 800 million during the four-year period.
• Requirements for setting up a scientific council for health research in the Swedish Research Council should be investigated, the aim being to adopt a comprehensive approach to the field.

The Swedish Research Council's work from 2013

• Resources for basic research, infrastructure and European, Nordic and global cooperation and integration should continue to increase.
• Support for research environments, including the Linnaeus Grant, should continue during the period 2013-2016 and an evaluation should be carried out in the latter part of this period to provide a basis for decisions on the future of this form of support.