Decisions on new research initiatives in the Faculty

“The section deans, the Advisory Committee for Research, the Office for Science and Technology, the research programmes and the departments have all shown large commitment and done great work throughout this review and evaluation,” says Charlotte Platzer Björkman, Vice-Rector for the Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology.

In the past year and for the first time ever, the Faculty of Science and Technology completed an extensive strategic process that integrated the quality and renewal evaluation of research and the allocation of resources. The result is a series of new initiatives, all of which aim to strengthen the Faculty’s research and infrastructure.

“I’m pleased that we’ve been able to allocate funding to many new initiatives. Moving forward, being able to continue to support many other proposals is our responsibility,” says the Vice-Rector.

Model customised for the Faculty

On 16 September, the Faculty Board decided on the allocation of base financing 2024. This allocation used a selection of the sections’ research plans and other identified research plans that had been processed in the Advisory Committee for Research It was based on Q&R24, which this time was customised into a model for the Faculty.

“Our focus has been largely on making the process relevant as well as useful and that it should contribute to strategic development at all levels. This has been one of our most important tasks as the new faculty management,” says Charlotte Platzer Björkman. “But these evaluations are resource-intensive, which is why we chose to run the Q&R and the ÖB in parallel to a large degree,” she says.

Valuable international feedback

The Faculty has received valuable feedback from international assessment panels that have provided food for thought and self-reflection, and contributed to the strategic work within the departments. The strong research in all sections as well as the quality and commitment of the researchers have been praised.

But the panels also highlighted the need for strategic renewal of the research programmes, the importance of recruitment with a view to the long term, more applications for EU funding including from the European Research Council, and the need to strengthen the work with research infrastructures.

“The Q&R/ÖB process has also highlighted some challenges, in particular the connection between research and education, where the pressure on the education economy is making striking a balance difficult. Another challenge is that we need to reduce the administrative burden on researchers and teaching staff and to stimulate strategic work without overloading them,” says the Vice-Rector.

Priority list based on assessment criteria

To assess the quality of its research, the Faculty used peer review and indicators. The Advisory Committee for Research had the following evaluation criteria:

• quality (potential to pursue excellent research as well as qualifications for this)
• renewal (potential to significantly improve the breadth or depth of research, and potential to significantly improve funding, infrastructure or support)
• suitability (suitable for funding at faculty level as well as cost-effectiveness).
  

In the ÖB process, the departments had the opportunity to update their proposals after questions and comments had been received. Thereafter, the Advisory Committee for Research developed an order of priority.

“It’s pleasing that we’ve been able to allocate SEK 25 million per year to new initiatives, a large portion of which is permanent funding. Two new research programmes – in biomedical engineering and cybersecurity – will now be able to start,” says the Vice-Rector.

Broad AI initiative

There are also infrastructure investments and the strengthening of research environments, and a five-year AI initiative called AI4Teknat has been started. The research plan will focus on coordination across the Faculty, initial funding for teaching staff to develop their knowledge and skills in AI and machine learning, introductory courses for doctoral students and postdocs, and the dissemination of advanced technologies. The goal is to create common resources, facilitate continuing professional development, and increase collaboration between researchers across the sections.

“This is an initiative that will benefit all parts of the Faculty by identifying, as well as communicating, common resources and needs,” says the Vice-Rector.

The Faculty is also working to clarify how research centres and infrastructures should be handled. It has been proposed to establish a new Research Infrastructure Committee from 1 January 2026 which will focus on strategic matters. Another proposal is to categorise the centres as coordinating or research centres, and give them different funding models.

Renewal and peer engagement

The Faculty is also discussing the Swedish Government’s Research Bill and the big investments in strategic research areas and excellence clusters where, according to the Vice-Rector, it is important to remain well prepared to maintain competitiveness. The research programmes need to develop continuously to avoid stagnation.

“For some time, we have gone from chair professorships to research programmes with slightly larger research environments. This is better for younger researchers and doctoral students and can generate greater dynamism, but it does require us to constantly renew.

However strategic renewal depends on peer engagement, and it is through the Faculty and the departments’ bodies that staff can have an influence, emphasises the Vice-Rector.

“We’ve received very valuable input. It’s important that we don’t let things rest there, but continue to think strategically and with a long-term focus to provide the best conditions for our research,” she concludes.

Anneli Björkman