The Government bill on research and innovation 2008 proposed increased support for strategic research areas. 24 strategic research areas were considered strategic for Swedish competitiveness and growth. Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet, VR), Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS), Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences, and Spatial Planning (Formas), Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten), and Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA) was commissioned to organize, review and recommend the allocation of funds to Swedish universities in 20 of these research areas, which VINNOVA is responsible for 6 areas.
The Government used three criteria in prioritising the 24 strategic areas. Strategic initiatives should address:
- research that, in the long term, has the prerequisites to be of the highest international quality,
- research that can contribute towards fulfilling major needs and solving important problems in society,
- research in areas that have a connection to the Swedish business sector.
June 15, the authorities presented a joint proposal for funding within the 20 research areas, which, after evaluation of the international expert panels, were considered to have the greatest strategic potential in their respective fields.
Two main criteria have guided the selection of the strategic applications:
- Highest scientific quality in an international comparison
- Strategic importance for society and the business sector
In total the agencies recommended an allocation of funds of 5270 MSEK for the 20 areas, i.e. the level of increase in grants for the areas during the period will reach 1315 MSEK per year. To the six areas where VINNOVA is the responsible agency, 1440 MSEK was recommended over the time period.
Several of the strategic research areas are also suitable for joint-programs with the business sector, where universities, governments, businesses and / or institutions collaborate through joint ventures. For areas that VINNOVA has had principal responsibility for, we see the great importance of this interaction is in place from the very beginning to ensure that the strategic research efforts produce the desired effect on society and economy.
SCA's CEO Jan Johansson, Chair in one of the panels, gives his views on the importance of the strategic investment for growth in Swedish industry.
- Research and development is ultimately a question f competitiveness in my view, and competitiveness and growth are intimately connected. Both the society as well as the industry depends on it. It is therefore important that the Government actively pursuing research and thus support the great investments done by enterprises themselves in research and development.
VINNOVA is responsible for the following areas:
| Strategic Research Area |
Responsible agency |
Consulting partners |
Budget 2010 (MSEK) |
Budget 2011 (MSEK) |
Budget 2012 (MSEK) |
| Sustainable use of natural resources |
VINNOVA |
Formas |
20 |
30 |
50 |
| Materials science, including functional materials |
VINNOVA |
VR |
45 |
55 |
80 |
| Manufacturing engineering |
VINNOVA |
VR |
25 |
35 |
65 |
| IT and mobile communication, incl. future solutions for communication and control systems |
VINNOVA |
VR |
25 |
35 |
50 |
| Security and emergency management |
VINNOVA |
VR |
5 |
15 |
20 |
| Security and emergency management |
VINNOVA |
|
25 |
50 |
80 |
VINNOVA engaged a total of 51 international reviewers to six international expert panels for assessment of applications in each field.
Results
In total, VINNOVA recommended 12 applications, 2 per areas, for funding during the period 2010-2014, an increase of 1 400 MSEK to Sweden’s higher education institutions, within the Strategic Research Areas. An investment of 151 MSEK for research infrastructure has also been recommended during a five-year period within the framework of strategic investment.
36 applications were sent in to VINNOVA and 12 were recommended, which means a success rate of 33 percent. Chalmers University of Technology, KTH and Linköping University, as the main applicant, recommended funding in three areas each, Luleå University of Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Uppsala University, as the main applicant, recommended funding in one area each.
The single largest recommendation by VINNOVA, goes to the Chalmers University of Technology. "Chalmers Sustainable Transport Initiative" recommends a total of 182 MSEK for the period 2010-2014. Chalmers as main applicant account for 85 percent and Göteborg University as co-applicants for 15 percent.
A summary of all areas of the announcement, see the press release 2009-06-15 from the five authorities.
