New initiatives in the Government’s research bill that relate to the Swedish Research Council

Six new ten-year national research programmes will be established. The Swedish Research Council will be responsible for four of these: viruses and pandemics, the consequences of digitisation, criminality, and segregation. In addition to this, the Government wishes to make additional investments in research in a number of areas.

“I think that the bill that has been proposed is both insightful and comprehensive, with a clear investment in research for societal development,” says Sven Stafström, Director General of the Swedish Research Council.

He is particularly pleased with the increased support for research infrastructure, which we have long highlighted as a priority area.

“The fact that the Government is now also emphasising undirected research as an important part of the support for research is also gratifying. We have received an increase that in practice means that by the end of the funding period, we will have supported around 200 additional projects where the researchers themselves have chosen the research question. The investment in a new national research programme relating to viruses and pandemics is also important, and in line with our wish for a continuation of last year’s Government assignment relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, but with a wider scope. Here, the pandemic has shown the importance of research, both for existing societal challenges, but also for preparedness for future challenges.

The Government is proposing a framework for new initiatives covering just over 1.1 billion SEK per year for 2021 to 2024. The way the funding is divided up is shown below. In addition to increased research funding, the Government bill also includes proposals for other assignments to the Swedish Research Council.