Views on donations

Donations mean a lot both to those who generously donate and to those who gratefully receive them. Meet some of those who give and receive donations at Uppsala University.

Financier Anders Wall

For many years, financier Anders Wall has shown a great commitment to Uppsala University. Through his foundations, he has funded pioneering genetic research, the Anders Wall Professorship in Entrepreneurship, scholarships for Master’s students and much more besides.

Chair Ann-Marie Åström

After having collaborated on some research projects, Gotlandsbolaget has decided to fund a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University. Supporting research in an area that is important for them as a company can accelerate the green transition according to Ann-Marie Åström, Chair of the Board of Gotlandsbolaget.

Businessman Anders Wiklöf

Thanks to a donation from businessman Anders Wiklöf from the Åland Islands, Uppsala University has been able to establish a new centre for heart research – the Anders Wiklöf Institute for Heart Research – based on data from large-scale population registers and biobanks.

Anders Wiklöf pratar med Johan Sundström Professor vid Institutionen för medicinska vetenskaper, Klinisk epidemiologi

Uppsala alumnus and banker Stefan Nilsson:

Friends of Uppsala University is an association that works to support important projects at Uppsala University. Since 2018, the association has been chaired by Uppsala alumnus and former bank executive Stefan Nilsson.

Entrepreneur Niklas Zennström

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Niklas Zennström aspires to help solve global climate problems and is convinced that more research and education are essential to succeed. His initiative to establish a ten-year visiting professorship in climate leadership at Uppsala University combines these two ambitions.

Foundation chair Björn Börjesson

Björn Börjesson, chair of the Anders Sandrew Foundation, is looking forward to following progress with the recent initiative to expand the Anders Sandrew Institute for Culture and Creativity with an associated professorship in digital art history at Uppsala University.

Campaign chair Per Uhlén: “An effective way to do good”

Recently appointed chair of Uppsala University’s jubilee campaign, Per Uhlén feels confident about achieving the fund-raising goal of SEK 1 billion. “Supporting Uppsala University is an effective way to do good. We just have to get that message across.”

Foundation Chair Stina Liljekvist: “It’s about building trust”

Stina Liljekvist is part of the Skandia group management team and is also Chair of the company’s Idéer för livet Foundation, which aims to promote the health and safety of young people in the community. In the context of this work, the Foundation has recently decided on a donation to Uppsala University’s Child and Baby Lab.

Professor Tobias Sjöblom

Donations have given Professor Tobias Sjöblom and his research team the opportunity to develop better tools for more personalised cancer treatment.

Dean Cecilia Wejryd

As Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Cecilia Wejryd has good insights into many University-wide activities. “Fundraising based on the University’s own faculty priorities is positive in a system with limited resources. It’s fantastic that a donation can lead to us being able to make a reality of something we have long wanted to do,” she says.

Professor Anna Rosling

“These donations enable us to take major, long-term research initiatives. They make it possible for us to take on Linnaeus’s project of describing all living things,” says Anna Rosling, Head of the Department of Ecology and Genetics

Professor Karin Forsberg Nilsson

As cancer researcher Karin Forsberg Nilsson sees it, donations create a personal relationship between the donor and the researcher. People give to the causes they care most about and so the relationship is dependent on the donor feeling confidence in the researchers and their research.

Swedish-American Myrna G. Smith

For many years, Swedish-American Myrna G. Smith has supported runic research at Uppsala University. Over and above repeated generous donations, she has pledged a legacy of USD 1.5 million to support the establishment of a professorship in runology. Her ultimate aim is to secure and advance the future research environment in runology and linguistic history.