Uppsala University invests in research for the future
The Uppsala University Future Institutes (UUniFI) are expected to start their activities in January 2026. Photo: David Naylor.
The University Board has approved the launch of the Uppsala University Future Institutes (UUniFI). UUniFI is scheduled to start its activities in January 2026, with a budget of SEK 67 million from 2027.
The initiative for Uppsala University Future Institutes (UUniFI) comes from the University’s Vice-Chancellor. The fundamental idea of UUniFI is to create a University-wide, internationally leading research environment that facilitates the pooling of forces around challenge-driven, boundary-crossing research. The vision is to establish conditions for original and excellent research through new inter- and multidisciplinary collaborations.
UUniFI will act as a host organisation for research institutes with varied research orientations. The Uppsala University Conflicting Objectives Research Nexus (UUniCORN), which was established in 2024, is one of them. One institute will focus on knowledge and learning about inter- and multidisciplinarity and will build on the activities currently conducted at the Centre for Integrated Research on Culture and Society (CIRCUS).
Core funding in operational plan
In practical terms, the decision of the University Board of 18 June 2025 is an addition to the University’s Rules of Procedure. UUniFI becomes an independent unit directly subordinate to the Vice-Chancellor and managed jointly by the Vice-Chancellor and the three disciplinary domains. UUniFI will be under the direction of a governing board and the Vice-Chancellor will decide on the board’s instructions and composition.
The core funding for UUniFI will be determined annually by the University Board in the University’s operational plan. UUniFI is scheduled to start its activities in January 2026. The University Board has approved a budget of SEK 45 million for the first year, which will be a building up phase. From 2027 onwards, the planned budget is SEK 67 million per year.
Recruitment of head
The Vice-Chancellor will decide on the instructions and orientation for the research institutes on 23 June 2025. Following these decisions, the recruitment of a head of UUniFI will start. The recruitment of directors for each of the research institutes will then begin in autumn 2025.
Anders Berndt