Annika Östman Wernerson: Update on the Swedish Research Council’s call for strategic research areas – continued engagement and high ambitions ahead

Two applications proceed to Step 2 – important lessons learned

We have now received notification that two of our applications have advanced to Step 2 of the evaluation process. In a highly competitive call, this demonstrates that our research stands strong and that the thorough work carried out by researchers, research leaders and staff across several departments is of high quality.

At the same time, not all applications advanced in the process, and neither of the two applications with KI as lead applicant qualified for Step 2. The overall outcome reflects the intense competition but does not diminish the strong effort that has been made. The proposals developed by KI have been broadly anchored among our researchers. However, the evaluation process indicates that our applications did not fully meet the panel’s expectations.

Regardless of the outcome, the process has provided KI and our partners with an opportunity to identify both strengths and areas for development, and we will now continue working on prioritised areas. The Swedish Research Council’s evaluation process is not yet concluded, and it will take some time before we know the final results.

Thank you for an impressive effort – experiences that strengthen KI

I would already like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to all researchers, research leaders and staff who have engaged in the work on the applications in various ways. Throughout the autumn, extensive and focused work was carried out across several departments, combining scientific excellence with strategic analysis and strong commitment.

Many of you have accomplished impressive work within a short timeframe. The collective effort we have seen strengthens KI in the long term and provides a solid foundation for future initiatives.

We will now build on the experiences gained through the SFO application process. In dialogue with the Swedish Research Council, we will deepen our understanding of the evaluations and use these insights to further develop our future applications. Our ambition remains firm, and we will continue moving forward with clear focus.

Next opportunity: Clusters of excellence for groundbreaking technologies 

As early as 1 April, the next opportunity opens when the application period begins for the Swedish Research Council’s and Vinnova’s joint call for excellence clusters for groundbreaking technologies. Thanks to the work carried out during the autumn, KI is well positioned in this process, and several promising initiatives are already underway, both at KI and in collaboration with other partners. It is encouraging to see the energy and collaborative spirit that characterise these preparations.

Evaluation of previous strategic research area initiatives

Regarding the SFOs launched in the 2008 Research and Innovation Bill, the Swedish Research Council has now been commissioned by the Government to evaluate the activities conducted during the period 2016–2025. The evaluation will assess both scientific quality and societal impact in each research environment and will serve as a basis for an overall analysis of the initiatives.

The Government’s and thus the Swedish Research Council’s vision is for Sweden to be a research nation characterised by excellence. KI is, and will continue to be, a strong and driving force in that development.