16 environments are recommended for funds within new strategic research areas

The Swedish Research Council recommends that the Government allocate funds to 16 research environments within the new strategic research areas. The funds are intended to enable higher education institutions to build up research at the highest international level over a long-term basis within eight strategic research areas.

Here you can find the environments we recommend the Government to approve

– This is a very important initiative for Sweden and Swedish research. The overarching areas identified by the Government in the bill are those where Swedish research has great potential to make an impact,” says Katarina Bjelke, Director general of the Swedish Research Council.

It is the Government that, following the Swedish Research Council’s recommendations, makes the final decision on funding. It is also the Government that allocates the funds as earmarked portions of the higher education institutions’ research grants.

The initiative on new strategic research areas is intended to contribute to mobilised efforts and increased profiling of Swedish research. The task of the higher education institutions is to build research environments of the highest international standard within the areas for which they have been granted funding. These environments must strive for excellence and pave the way for research breakthroughs within their respective fields.

– The strategic research areas mean that higher education institutions are to focus on fields where they have the opportunity, either individually or in close collaboration with other institutions, to build internationally leading environments based on scientific excellence. “These environments will thus have significant opportunities to make a difference within their respective research fields, strengthen the universities’ profiles and enhance Sweden’s international research impact,” says Katarina Bjelke.

The Swedish Research Council received a total of 49 applications in the call for proposals, which closed on 4 November last year. Since then, international review panels have carried out a comprehensive evaluation process. They have shortlisted the applicants, interviewed them, and subsequently agreed on recommendations for funding within each strategic research area.