Annika Östman Wernerson: We’re offering a world-class research environment

The Almedalen Week is a vital interactive arena

I’m delighted to see so many KI colleagues attending this year’s Almedalen Week. During times of great turbulence and turmoil around the world, we recall the democratic and knowledge-rooted values that are crucial to our mission. 

The Almedalen Week is one of Sweden’s most important arenas for interacting with policymakers and collaboration partners. Here, our knowledge of research and education comes in very useful and I look forward to participating in discussions and to meeting all of you who’ll be there in Visby.

Recruitment of assistant professors

On 18 June, just ahead of the midsummer weekend, the Faculty Board decided on a major recruitment initiative for assistant professors that will hopefully attract tomorrow’s researchers with a focus on excellence and mobility. 

KI is offering generous startup packages and a solid foundation for the 20 new recruits to do their research here. The initiative is in line with the 2024 research and innovation bill, in which the government expressed its desire to see investment in young researchers with an “excellent” profile. 

KI’s management, deans and heads of department are heavily involved in this important initiative. 

As one of Europe’s leading medical universities, KI is able to offer pre-eminent researchers a six-year start package of nine or twelve million kronor, depending on scientific field.

We’re offering a world-class research environment – clinical, preclinical and in public health science – that is integrated with the healthcare sector, blessed with some fantastic infrastructure and based in a country that places a high value on democracy, the life-work balance and family life.

A big thank you to all of you

We’ve achieved a great deal together this past academic year. Each and every one of you makes a difference through your commitment to education, research and administration – all for the health of the individual, for society and for the future. This we now intend to augment by means of this strategic investment.

Vice-President Martin Bergö, University Director Veronika Sundström and I would like to say a big thank you for everything you do every day to make KI the success it is. KI is us! 

We’d also now like to wish you a truly glorious summer filled with as much inspiration as recuperation! We look forward to seeing you again in the autumn.