Research-funding in Sweden

Research-funding agencies

There are four major research-funding agencies. The largest is the Swedish Research Council, which in 2010 shared out SEK 4,5 billion to basic research in natural sciences, technology, medicine, the humanities and social sciences.

The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas) supports basic and needs-driven research in the fields of environment, land-based industries and spatial planning. In 2010 Formas distributed about SEK 895 million.

The Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS) distributed some SEK 393 million in 2010 and supports and initiates basic and needs-driven research in the fields of the labour market, work organisation, work and health, public health, welfare, the social services and social relations.

The Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA) distributed some SEK 1.94 billion in 2010, primarily to needs-driven research in the fields of technology, transport, communications and working life.

In addition to the agencies mentioned above, several other agencies finance research funding in various areas. In these cases,s it is common for a lesser amount of the agency's appropriation to go to research funding.

Research foundations

A number of foundations that fund research were established in the mid-1990s using capital from the former wage earner investment funds. These foundations are the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF), the Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (MISTRA), the Knowledge Foundation (KK), the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, the Swedish Foundation for Health Care Sciences and Allergy Research (Vårdal) and the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT).

Support from public research foundations is an important addition to central government investments in research. It is estimated that these foundations will have invested some SEK 1.4 billion in research in 2010.

The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation (RJ) is yet another foundation which was created with public funding and which supports research.

Private research funders

Many private financiers also give significant amounts to research. These include the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. Over the last five years, almost SEK 4 billion has been awarded to scientific research and education at higher education institutions and academies. In addition, the Swedish Cancer Society is distributing SEK 389 million in 2011 for research in its field.

Income received by higher education institutions for research and postgraduate studies

The revenue received by other higher education institutions for research and postgraduate education totalled almost SEK 30 billion in 2009. This is an increase of around SEK 2 billion, or 7 per cent, in fixed prices compared with the previous year. Revenues have never previously increased by so much. Both direct government appropriations and higher eduction institution revenues from external financiers have increased. Public funding accounted for over 80 per cent of these revenues.

Just under half of the total funds come from direct appropriations for research and postgraduate studies at higher education institutions. Remaining funds come from external financiers, both public and private.