We analyse and evaluate

We monitor developments in research, both nationally and internationally. Our analyses, surveys and evaluations provide the foundation for the recommendations that we make on research policy issues.

Analyses, surveys and evaluations are used to compile report

Through regular follow-up and analysis, we can draw conclusions about what our support means for the development of Swedish research. We also study how the Swedish research system works overall. Examples of what we analyse and follow up are:

  • researcher career paths and mobility
  • gender equality at HEIs
  • the scientific quality of Swedish research and its importance to societal development
  • targeted Government initiatives and the impact of research support
  • how our research grants are allocated among research fields and researcher groups.

We evaluate quality and importance

The Swedish Research Council is an important channel for the Government's research funding. Our directive gives us a Government mandate to evaluate the research, its scientific quality and its importance to societal development. Do the Government’s investments result in high quality research? What is the importance and impact of research on society?

We rely on experts in specific areas when conducting evaluations. The experts form a panel that assesses the documentation collected for evaluation, such as surveys, hearings with representatives of the HEIs, statistics and bibliometrics. To avoid any conflict of interest, we often recruit international experts. They strengthen the legitimacy of the surveys and provide scope for international comparisons of research.

All our analyses and evaluations can be downloaded from our publication service. Information on some of our ongoing evaluations is available in the section on our Government mandate.

National evaluations of research subjects and thematic research areas

An important aspect when evaluating research is to follow up the research results. We have developed a model for evaluating the quality and significance of research.

The Swedish Research Barometer provides an international comparison

Every two years, we summarise the state of Swedish research in The Swedish Research Barometer. We use around thirty indicators to create an overview of the publicly funded research system in Sweden, which is then compared with other countries.

The Swedish Research Barometer describes

  • how research is funded and how resources have been allocated
  • research personnel and their prerequisites
  • research results in the form of scientific publications and citations.

Every four years we collect underlying data and information for the Government Bill on Research Policy

Our work also includes collecting various types of data and making recommendations to the Government for the Government Bill on Research Policy.

The data consists of four components:

Research surveys, including highlighting strengths and weaknesses, impact, challenges and opportunities for development in our subject areas.

Mapping the need for research infrastructure, where we highlight researchers’ needs for advanced tools, such as databases, biobanks, advanced research facilities or large-scale computational tools.

Research policy and statistical analyses, on subjects such as gender equality, career paths, mobility, research publication or the impact of various reforms.

Statistics on how our research grants have been allocated between men and women and among HEIs, during different periods.

Based on our documentation, we recommend the choices we feel are the most worthwhile to pursue in the coming years.

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Contact

Analysis and evaluation

forskningspolitik@vr.se

MORE WITHIN THE SAME SUBJECT AREA

  1. New statistics for applications and decisions

    We have now published overall statistics for applications and grant decisions for 2023. To make the statistics more useful, we have divided up the subjects differently compared to previous years.

  2. Swedish research can be enhanced without expensive reorganisation

    The Swedish Research Council rejects the proposal for three new public agencies in our response to the consultation document proposing a new public agency structure for funding research and innovation. We consider that the proposal has too narrow a s...

  3. The Committee for Development Research is being disbanded

    In light of the Government's decision in June 2023 that the Swedish Research Council will no longer receive targeted funding for new calls within development research, the Swedish Research Council’s Board has decided to disband the Committee.

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