Mobilisation for strategically important calls for proposals at the University

There are now six calls concerning research funding that are of particular strategic importance for Uppsala University, all of which are open or opening shortly for applications. These calls concern grants for international recruitments (issued by the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research – SSF), grants for research centres from Forte, excellence clusters for groundbreaking technologies (issued by the Swedish Research Council and Vinnova), and strategic research areas (SFO) which are being managed by the Swedish Research Council.

Common to all these calls is that a successful outcome will provide the basis for creating excellent and interdisciplinary research environments, but also opportunities to attract prominent researchers to Sweden and Uppsala. It is important that research from Uppsala University continues to make an impact on society and that Uppsala University’s international competitiveness is strengthened.

“In a variety of ways, these strategically important calls can enable research environments at Uppsala University to further strengthen their research excellence. A good outcome in these calls gives us even better opportunities to recruit upcoming and established prominent researchers,” says Vice-Chancellor Anders Hagfeldt.

“At the University, we are working on multiple levels to mobilise and produce the best applications we can to be competitive in these calls. A first step is to reach out with as much information as possible in the University about the existence of these calls. At management level, we are carefully prioritising in cases where only one application per call and university may be submitted, while also attempting to make good use of the entire University’s breadth to bring about the strongest constellations. The University’s research support also stands ready to assist and provide professional support to applicants,” adds Hagfeldt.

Recruitment of researchers from other countries

Both the Swedish Research Council and SSF now have open calls for proposals that aim to contribute to strategic international recruitments. The Swedish Research Council’s call focuses on recruiting prominent researchers from countries outside geographical Europe, while SSF’s call targets researchers who are currently employed in the Academy in the USA, and who have a connection to Sweden (either citizens or have a Master’s degree or PhD degree from a Swedish higher education institution).

Research centre grants for tackling important societal challenges

At the end of May, Forte issued a call for proposals for research centre grants for research addressing complex questions related to important societal challenges through large, long-term (10 years) interdisciplinary collaborations. The four questions are: Women’s health and diseases; Health care and care for people with dementia; Return to work; and Serious mental illnesses.

Excellence cluster for groundbreaking technologies

At the end of May, the Swedish Research Council opened the first stage in a ‘three-stage rocket’ call to establish excellence clusters in groundbreaking technologies. The intention is that the clusters will act as dynamic environments where researchers and companies will work together to drive knowledge development and translate research results into practical applications. In stage one of the call, researchers who want to establish collaborations in groundbreaking technologies can submit outline applications for planned networks. Vinnova also has an open call for applications for planning grants for excellence clusters within strategic technology areas.

Strategic research area calls opening after the summer

The Swedish Research Council has announced that after the summer it will open calls for proposals for new strategic research areas (SFO). These strategic initiatives will concern research that has the potential to be of the highest international quality in the long term or that has already attained that level. Eight areas have been identified by the Government: Health, life sciences, and artificial intelligence; Quantum technologies; Polar research; Climate-related research; crisis preparedness and total defence; Practice-oriented professional research on crime; Excellence in school; and Research on advanced materials.

The Vice-Chancellor also has a message to researchers at the University:
“Be active, search for calls for proposals, and apply for as many as you can. Also think about whether in some cases your knowledge and your research area might be relevant in areas that are new for you, where you may be able to be a co-applicant instead of the main applicant.”

Kristin Blom