A Boost to Research and Innovation
In the autumn of 2008, the Government presented a research and innovation bill entitled 'A Boost to Research and Innovation' (Govt. Bill 2008/09:50). It covers the period 2009-2012 and allocates additional resources to the tune of SEK 5 billion.
Hot air balloon over the city (cover shot)
Most of the central government funds go to higher education institutions. These totalled SEK 11.5 billion in 2008. Direct appropriations to higher education institutions will increase by SEK 1.5 billion over the period 2009-2012. While appropriations will increase, the new funds and 10 per cent of the previous appropriations will be distributed following a quality assessment. Quality will be assessed based on the ability of the higher education institution to attract external funding and the number and quality of scientific articles published by each institution.
The Government also introduced investments in areas that have been deemed strategically important to Swedish society and the business sector. The investments are being built up gradually to reach an annual level of SEK 1.8 billion in 2012. Investments will be made in areas where Swedish research is already world-class and where, at the same time, society and the business sector have a major need for new knowledge. These targeted initiatives can help make Sweden's research even better and maintain its place at the forefront of international research in the future. Over SEK 1.3 billion of the appropriations for strategic areas will gradually be added to the appropriations for higher education institutions in 2010-2012. The research funding institutions, the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS), the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning, the Swedish Energy Agency, the Swedish National Space Board, the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems and the Swedish Research Council have been allocated almost SEK 500 million for investments in strategic areas. In addition to these funds, allocations to the research councils and the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems have been increased by over SEK 650 million.
An additional SEK 150 million is being allocated to the Swedish Research Council for research infrastructure up to 2012.
Central government investments in research need to be of greater benefit to the community and the business sector. In the research and innovation bill, the Government presented an initiative to increase the commercialisation of research results. A total of SEK 150 million per year has been allocated for this purpose up to 2012.
The bill proposed that teachers at higher education institutions should inform their employers of patentable results. This will increase the prospects of research findings being used.
Opportunities for industrial research institutes to cooperate with both higher education institutions and the business sector have been enhanced through increased strategic skills development funds. A new holding company, Research Institute of Sweden (RI.SE), manages the state's shares in several institutes. Its mandate includes distributing the skills development funds and developing the sector further. The institutes will also be given opportunities to participate in initiatives in strategic areas.
