New process for funding research infrastructure

The Swedish Research Council’s Council for Research Infrastructures (RFI) has recently decided which areas and existing research infrastructures will be included in the call for grants for research infrastructure of national interest, which opens on 2 December. One new feature of this call is that the funding periods will vary in length between different areas and infrastructures.

“The varying grant periods are a consequence of our current work to adapt our funding and prioritisation model. This transition is based on twelve profile areas and six-year grants,” says Lisbeth Olsson, Secretary General for Research Infrastructures at the Swedish Research Council.

Each research infrastructure will be assigned to one main profile area. Within each area, the grant periods will follow the same timetable.

“With this structure, we want to create a coherent overview of what the infrastructures offer and how this corresponds to research needs. To synchronise the infrastructures into the common timetable, grants awarded in this call will run for two, four or six years.”

The plan is that those awarded a two-year grant in the coming call will be able to apply again if a new call opens in 2029. The grant periods are also expected to vary in length then, to synchronise all profile areas for a potential call in 2031.

“During a transition period, this change in the funding and prioritisation model will unfortunately affect some infrastructures negatively. Nevertheless, I hope there will be understanding for this temporary stress. The aim is to create a system that better benefits the research system as a whole,” says Lisbeth Olsson.

Needs to be identified through reviews

Under the new funding and prioritisation model, Swedish research needs will be identified through reviews of the profile areas, rather than through an open needs inventory for research infrastructure of national interest.

“This is a major change. We hope that these reviews will enable us to better support Swedish research with the research infrastructure it needs. At the same time, this means that we are not planning to open new rounds of needs inventories, but instead hope to identify future needs in other ways.”

Lisbeth Olsson emphasises that the new funding and prioritisation model is not yet finalised, and that much work remains to be done.

“As part of this work, we look forward to collaborate with the research community, through our scientific councils and committees and through the Universities’ Reference Group for Research Infrastructure (URFI).”