Linnaeus Grants allocated – 20 environments selected in new funding form

The aim of the Linnaeus Grants is to enhance support for research of the highest quality that can compete internationally. It also aims to encourage universities and colleges to prioritize research fields and to allocate funding for them. The geographical spread of the allocation of the funds was not taken into consideration.

“The international reviewers were commissioned to look at the academic quality but also at the capacity for academic innovation, which is apparent in their findings,” claims Pär Omling , director general of the Swedish Research Council.

Stiff competition

Among the 20 environments, no fewer than eight are from Lund University. The remaining environments also represent the older universities. Pär Omlings not surprised:

“It´s not unexpected that the well-established universities did best in this first round. The competition has been razor sharp. It will be interesting to see what happens in coming calls.”

Long-term importance

Applications were invited in a joint effort from the Swedish Research Council Formas and the Swedish Research Council. The Linnaeus Grants are a complement to the universities´ and colleges´ – grants paid directly to universities and university colleges. The 20 environments will share SEK 140 million annually for ten years.

“One aim of this commitment is to increase the collaboration between our institutions of higher learning and research financiers to make it possible to back a concerted, long-term, and strategic investment in Sweden´s leading research environments,” says Lisa Sennerby Forsse, chief secretary at the Swedish Research Council Formas.

Forms to be evaluated

This is the first time that the Swedish Research Council Formas and the Swedish Research Council have invited applications in this way. The form of the round grew out of a dialog with universities and university colleges. The next round of applications is planned for 2007, and ahead of this the forms of the first call will be assessed.