Published: 19-09-2025 18:41 | Updated: 19-09-2025 18:46

Webinar with questions and answers about the new model for resource allocation at KI

Personer KI:s universitetsledning
Annika Östman Wernerson. Photo: Liza Simonsson

During a webinar on 17 September, the university management presented the principles of the proposed new model and answered questions.

The webinar was led by President Annika Östman Wernerson. Also participating were Vice President Martin Bergö, Dean of the Department Group KI North Carl Johan Sundberg, Dean of the South Department Group Matti Sällberg, and Dean of the Solna Department Group Sten Linnarsson, as well as Sven Carlsson, representing the University Director. Questions from the chat were handled by Matilda Pearson, communicator.  

Government grant for research and doctoral education  

The President began the webinar by providing background information on the proposed change. The new model concerns the distribution of government funding for research and education at the doctoral level, often referred to as research funding. This funding accounts for about one-fifth of KI's total revenue (2024) and aims to: 

  • ensure high-quality research and doctoral education with significant societal relevance
  • strengthen the link between education and research
  • provide long-term and stable funding for infrastructure, doctoral education and recruitment
  • enable strategic investments in priority areas
  • contribute to KI being an internationally leading medical university. 
Diagram showing Karolinska Institutet's income for 2024, broken down into different categories. The diagram illustrates the different sources of income and their respective shares of the total budget, with the government research grant accounting for 21%.
Diagram showing Karolinska Institutet's income for 2024, broken down into different categories. The diagram illustrates the different sources of income and their respective shares of the total budget, with the government research grant accounting for 21 percent. Graphics: N/A

Why is the model for internal resource allocation changing? 

When the university management took office in 2023, several of KI's challenges were identified in a broad dialogue with the organisation. 

“One clear need that emerged was to change KI’s internal resource allocation for research funding, partly to enable prioritisation and strategic considerations at all organisational levels at KI,” said Annika Östman Wernerson. 

In the same year, the University Board decided to commission the Vice President to develop a new internal resource allocation model for research funding. In the university management's dialogue with the Ministry of Education, there are also recurring signals that KI must reduce its administrative capital. 

Therefore, “Sustainable and future-proof finances” became one of KI’s priority focus areas with the assignment “Remodelling of internal resource allocation and a plan for administrative capital”. 

This work has led to the conclusion that resource allocation and cost allocation must be viewed as a whole consisting of three parts with different purposes: base, performance and financing of premises. 

What does the new model entail? 

The new model aims to create long-term, stable funding, enable strategic investments and strengthen all aspects of KI's research – from breadth to excellence. 

The base funding provides stability and planning conditions, while the performance-based component drives excellence and rewards research environments with high impact. 

Resource allocation illustrated as a pyramid with the performance-based portion at the top, joint initiatives in the middle, and base compensation at the foundation.
Proposed allocation of the government grant for research from 2026. Graphics: N/A

One important change is that since a significant part of the total allocation will be allocated as base funding, there is reason to develop the performance-based part so that it becomes more accurate and avoids double counting. In addition, the handling of rental costs will be reviewed to increase transparency and follow-up. 

This means, among other things, that a previous rent subsidy will instead be distributed to the operations through the performance-based part. 

Previous model: SEK 600 million based on bibliometrics, external contributions and a small portion examina, plus a separate rent subsidy. The proposed model is divided into base compensation SEK 300 million and a performance-based part SEK 450 million.
The difference between the previous and proposed model for resource allocation of the research grant. Exm = examina. Simulated figures based on KI's annual report for 2024. Graphics: N/A

Process and timeline

The first part of the base funding was decided in 2024. Working groups have since continued to prepare proposals for the other parts and the whole. During the summer of 2025, the principles for the various parts of the model were compiled and simulated. Discussions have since been held within campus groups and collegial bodies and amendments have been made ahead of the President’s upcoming decision on the principles for a new model as whole.  

After the government presents its budget proposal for next year on 22 September, work will continue to investigate and decide which funds will go into the which parts of the model and the concrete forms of governance and follow-up for the model’s different parts. 

The university management will closely monitor the implementation and outcome of the model. It will for example, be part of the process for operational planning and follow-up in close dialogue with the deans' management teams at campus level and in collegial bodies.  

Questions and answers from the webinar 

Below is a summary of the questions asked during the webinar and the university management's answers. 

See also the working group's report to the Faculty Board: Review of the performance-based allocation model for government funding for research and postgraduate education