New law on research databases creates new opportunities for Swedish research

The new law makes it possible for higher education institutions (HEIs) to create or further develop databases based on personal data that individuals have voluntarily provided for use in future research projects. The data can then be issued to various ethically approved research projects.

“The proposed new law opens the door to new research questions, and makes the databases more complete. In this way, the quality of the databases is increased, and thereby also the quality of the research. It is also an advantage that the databases will be able to function as the foundation for more research projects in the research fields in question, instead of each project having to create its own database,” says Katarina Bjelke, Director General of the Swedish Research Council.

According to the proposal, an HEI shall apply to the Government to set up a database. The Swedish Research Council will then assess whether the database fulfils the requirements set, and whether has a specific scientific value.

The law is proposed to come into force on 1 January 2025, and will complement the existing data protection regulation.

Read the press release on the new proposed law on the Government’s website (in Swedish) External link.