Annika Östman Wernerson: Research and education need long-term financing

What we do know, however, is that university education and research are not saving us any costs.

On the other hand, there are signs that excellence and quality along with internationalisation and innovation can determine how the basic appropriation is distributed. We’ll know the actual outcome of this once the government presents its research and innovation bill at the end of the year. They’ve already announced that pioneering technology and life science will be prioritised, but the actual investments that will be made remain to be seen.

Financial security when it comes to the direct grants and the basic appropriation for research and the compensatory amounts for higher education is essential if KI is to create attractive career paths and positions for research and teaching staff, and to attract and retain future students. Long-term financing is also needed if we’re to hold onto our status as a globally leading medical university.

Meeting with the Nordic rectors

On 23 and 24 September, I will be in Brussels to take part in the Nordic University Days conference with rectors from other universities in the region. On the agenda will be the next European framework programme – FP10 – for research and innovation. 

Research funding from the EU is another important condition for research at KI. So far, we’ve been very successful at obtaining grants from the ongoing Horizon Europe programme. We can also feel proud about this year’s Starting Grants for junior researchers and academics throughout Europe. Six project applications from researchers at KI and grants totalling EUR 9.8 million were distributed by the European Research Council this year – important recognition indeed of KI’s standards. Congratulations to you all!

KI, an attractive employer

KI also has an honourable place amongst Sweden’s employers. For the third year in a row, Karolinska Institutet is on the list of Sweden’s 100 most attractive employers, according to students and young academics - this year in the company of Lund and Stockholm universities. Personally, I feel that this placing confirms that we staff and students have managed to create a welcoming and creative work and study environment.

This year’s reputation survey also shows a positive trend. KI has climbed four points from 66 to 70, bringing it into the upper half of the top list of this year’s index; and the curve is pointing steadily northward.

Continuing to strengthen life science

Anna Martling has decided to resign as Scientific Director Life Science at KI. Her decision comes as a result of the university management finding a conflict of interest in her former role, which cannot be combined with her engagements on external boards in the private medtech and life-science sector.

Anna Martling will continue to be an important asset for KI in the other university contexts in which she operates, and where her involvement in the private sector doesn’t entail a conflict of interest. We’re now reviewing how KI’s strategic investment in this field will continue and grow stronger.

We’re now looking forward to the Nobel period, which begins with the announcement of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on 7 October. Above all, all Nobel prizes are a golden opportunity to discover and delve deeper into discoveries that have been of greatest benefit to humankind. I wish all staff and students an intellectually inquisitive and wonderful autumn!