The establishment of the Chalmers Areas of Advance is a success. “Continue the great work!” is the message from the international committee responsible for evaluating the billion kronor initiative by the government in 2008. As a result, the funding agencies wish to reallocate another SEK 13 million in research grants to Chalmers.
An expert panel consisting of eminent, international researchers has evaluated the 43 research environments included in The Strategic Research Area Initiative, SRA. The initiative was launched in 2010 and totalled SEK 5,3 billion by 2014.
Chalmers received funding for five research environments, which along with financial allocations from Chalmers’ President laid the groundwork for five of Chalmers’ eight Areas of Advance; Energy, Materials Science, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Production and Transport.
"Our recommendation is that the SRA initiative is continued in full," the Director General of the Swedish Research Council, Sven Stafström, stated in a press release.
Researchers within the program have high ambitions and have taken great risks, which is necessary to achieve scientific breakthroughs, the panel of experts concluded. One of the aspects the panel looked at is how strategic leadership and governance at university level affects scientific results.
"It is our first time evaluating this, and the result is very interesting. Our conclusion is that strong leadership and the responsibility of academic leaders affect the quality of the research in a positive manner," Sven Stafström said.
Chalmers, the Karolinska Institute and Umeå University were acknowledged for their clear strategies and ability to direct resources to their most outstanding research environments. The experts also called for a modernisation of academia, so that universities, in an interdisciplinary way, are better able to take on great challenges in the future. Chalmers is mentioned as a good example of how this work can be done.
"We could not ask for better recognition. Chalmers’ strategy is to work with disciplinary depth within departments on one hand, and interdisciplinary within our Areas of Advance on the other. That favours our excellence and, hence, our ability to tackle great challenges," Karin Markides, President and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology, expressed.
As a result, the recommendation from the funding agencies is that funds should be reallocated between the universities. The proposal is that Chalmers should receive an additional SEK 12,7 million yearly with a successive increase during a five-year period – more than any other university.
"This is very good news! It shows that we have made good strategic decisions so far. Now it is time to take the next step. The evaluation provides useful recommendations for how we can further improve our Areas of Advance and claim an international top position – which in turn will benefit the Swedish society as a whole," said Lars Börjesson, Vice President for the Chalmers Areas of Advance.
The Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas, The Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forte) and VINNOVA are the agencies responsible for the evaluation. All information can be found at The Swedish Research Councils’ website.
Chalmers received funding for five research environments, which along with financial allocations from Chalmers’ President laid the groundwork for five of Chalmers’ eight Areas of Advance; Energy, Materials Science, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Production and Transport.
"Our recommendation is that the SRA initiative is continued in full," the Director General of the Swedish Research Council, Sven Stafström, stated in a press release.
Researchers within the program have high ambitions and have taken great risks, which is necessary to achieve scientific breakthroughs, the panel of experts concluded. One of the aspects the panel looked at is how strategic leadership and governance at university level affects scientific results.
"It is our first time evaluating this, and the result is very interesting. Our conclusion is that strong leadership and the responsibility of academic leaders affect the quality of the research in a positive manner," Sven Stafström said.
Chalmers, the Karolinska Institute and Umeå University were acknowledged for their clear strategies and ability to direct resources to their most outstanding research environments. The experts also called for a modernisation of academia, so that universities, in an interdisciplinary way, are better able to take on great challenges in the future. Chalmers is mentioned as a good example of how this work can be done.
"We could not ask for better recognition. Chalmers’ strategy is to work with disciplinary depth within departments on one hand, and interdisciplinary within our Areas of Advance on the other. That favours our excellence and, hence, our ability to tackle great challenges," Karin Markides, President and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology, expressed.
As a result, the recommendation from the funding agencies is that funds should be reallocated between the universities. The proposal is that Chalmers should receive an additional SEK 12,7 million yearly with a successive increase during a five-year period – more than any other university.
"This is very good news! It shows that we have made good strategic decisions so far. Now it is time to take the next step. The evaluation provides useful recommendations for how we can further improve our Areas of Advance and claim an international top position – which in turn will benefit the Swedish society as a whole," said Lars Börjesson, Vice President for the Chalmers Areas of Advance.
More about the SRA evaluation
In total, 43 research environments at ten universities were granted close to SEK 5,3 billion in funding during the years 2010-2014. A follow-up was conducted in 2013, which showed that more than 9500 researchers in some way or another were involved in the initiative. A panel of experts led by Tuula Teeri, President of Aalto University, evaluated the Strategic Research Area Initiative. A total of 34 international experts took part in the evaluation.
The Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas, The Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forte) and VINNOVA are the agencies responsible for the evaluation. All information can be found at The Swedish Research Councils’ website.
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