More special initiatives, intensified efforts for skills supply and a stronger voice in research policy. These are three of the strategic shifts that the Knowledge Foundation will make over the coming years. The aim is for the Knowledge Foundation to be a long-term, courageous funder that builds a stronger Sweden.
Since 1994, the Knowledge Foundation has contributed to the development of prominent research and education environments across Sweden. Now, we are taking the next crucial step to ensure that Sweden’s competitiveness remains strong in a rapidly changing world. The Knowledge Foundation’s new strategy focuses on aligning its activities with the changes that have occurred within academia, industry, and society since the Foundation’s establishment.
The strategy outlines six strategic shifts aimed at better meeting the demands and needs of the future. Among other things, the Foundation will scale up its initiatives to support the skills supply for the business sector. We do this by developing and intensifying our efforts to fund education and skills supply for traditional postgraduate students, doctoral students, and professionals. Another important shift involves implementing more special initiatives to address important societal needs. Special initiatives provide flexibility to act quickly, and are an important complement to our ordinary programme portfolio. However, the strategy does not entail a complete shift in priorities – it also reinforces five core values that will continue to guide the Foundation’s work. ”This is evolution – not revolution. Collaboration between academia and industry will always underpin our operations. Our established programmes will continue to be free from disciplinary restrictions and we will, as before, be a responsive and accessible funder”, says Eva.
The strategy is based on dialogues with all 22 target universities of the Knowledge Foundation, as well as representatives from industry, regions, and trade unions, among others. To place the strategy in a broader context, a research and education policy expert group was also attached to the project. In addition to the dialogues with key stakeholders, the strategy is built on a number of surveys and analyses that the Knowledge Foundation has conducted or commissioned.
The Knowledge Foundation has conducted and commissioned several surveys and reports that have been used as a basis for developing the strategy. Here you can access the supporting documents.
