Wallenberg Academy Fellows
Largest initiative ever for Sweden’s future research leaders
The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation has decided to set up a unique career programme for young researchers. WALLENBERG ACADEMY FELLOWS, as it will be called, represents assured long-term resources for the country’s most promising young researchers in all disciplines. The programme will be the Foundation’s largest initiative ever. The plan is to provide funding of SEK 1.2 billion, over five years, for a total of 125 young researchers.
Read more about Wallenberg Academy Fellows
Pressrelease 2011-10-13
Contact persons at Universities
The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
- One of the largest financiers of research in Sweden
The Chairman of Stockholms Enskilda Bank, K. A. Wallenberg, and his wife Alice, founded the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation in 1917 with an initial endowment of 20 million Swedish crowns. They continued to develop the Foundation over the next three decades. During this period, they gradually transferred the main part of their accumulated assets.
Grants totalling SEK 14.4 billion
Since its establishment in 1917, approximately SEK 7 million have been added to the original endowment. Grants totalling almost SEK 14.4 billion crowns have been made, of which almost SEK 4 billion have been distributed over the last five years.
Grants
20-30 percent of the Foundation's grants relate to high-value research equipment for use within the technical, natural sciences and biomedical fields, and about 50 percent relate to major research projects and substantial scientific networks.
In 2010 grants of SEK 959 million were awarded. As in previous years, most of the grants have been given to Swedish universities and academies. The Foundation's support for research projects and scientific networks has continued during the current year. Significant grants have also been awarded for the purchase of high-value scientific equipment, as well as to the Foundation's scholarship programmes and educational projects.
Some of the projects and networks of significant scientific potential supported by the Foundation in recent years are:
Current Grants and Selected Projects
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Description of some current project grants (in Swedish).
Read more
The Foundation also award grants to selected research projects of significant potential:
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Human Proteome Resource (in Swedish).
Read more
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Solar energy for hydrogen production (in Swedish).
Read more
Historical Development
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2010
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2009
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2008
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2007
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2006
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Net assets SEK m.
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49 679
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48 766
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44 339
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48 557
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49 772
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Change %
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2
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10
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-9
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-2
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19
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Grants SEK m.
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959
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716
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1 017
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941
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702
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Change %
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34
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-30
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8
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34
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17
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Annual Report and Accounts (in Swedish)
Annual Report 2005
Annual Report 2006
Annual Report 2007
Annual Report 2008
Annual Report 2009
Purpose and Grants Policy
The purpose of the Foundation is to: "promote research and education beneficial to Sweden". Universities, scientific academies and other research and/or educational institutions are eligible for grants within the following fields:
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Research projects, of high scientific potential
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Infrastructure of national importance
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Individual support to excellent researchers
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Strategic projects
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Fellowship programmes
According to the by-laws, the Foundation has formalised the cooperation with the Universities and Academies and formed the board of Principals, advising the Foundation in questions regarding grant policies etc. Members of the board of principals are the vice chancellors of the research universities and leaders of some scientific academies. All applications to the Foundation must go through the Universities internal prioritisation process. Applications submitted to the Foundation will be exposed to an extensive international peer-review procedure.
Research projects, with high scientific potential
The Foundation supports research projects of high scientific potential. Normally, a project is focused on basic science build up around a coherent research question. Funding will be provided to researcher-initiated projects of the highest international standard. Applications for support to ongoing projects or requests for additional funding for already initiated activities are not supported. There is no limit regarding number of scientists involved in a project or amount applied for. In areas where research is of a generic nature such as mathematics, a project can be focused on a joint concept development. Normal budget for a project is between 15 – 75 MSEK with duration of three to five years. Research projects with high scientific potential, new research areas and projects of cross-disciplinary nature is given priority
The application deadline is the 1st of February each year.
Infrastructure of national importance
The Foundation supports infrastructure, where one or several Universities has expressed an interest to establish and/or develop an infrastructure of national importance. Such technical initiative must be of benefit for as many researchers as possible and have a established scientific review process before allowing access to the infrastructure. Applying universities must describe the national benefit. Normally, the Foundation does not support infrastructure initiated and partly financed by other agencies. Applications for infrastructure can involve funds for research related to technology that is a part of the infrastructure. The Foundation will support infrastructure of national importance during the period of 2011 – 2015. After this, the support for infrastructure will decrease.
The application deadline is the 1st of November each year.
Individual support to excellent researchers
The Foundation supports excellent researchers through the Wallenberg Scholars programme. This support to outstanding individuals will continue during 2011 and 2012. Deadline for the universities to nominate candidates 2012 is the 15th of April. The foundation has also from 2012 launched a new initiative for young scientists (Wallenberg Academy Fellows)
Strategic projects
The Foundation will support selected strategic research areas. A strategic initiative must be of highest scientific quality but also of strategic relevance. A strategic initiative is always initiated by the board of the foundation. A basic requirement for relevance is that the project supports Sweden’s development as a research nation and/or industrial nation.
Scholarships
From time to time, the Foundation announces new scholarship programmes.
Publication
Research financed by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation should be published with open access according to VRs rules The results of research funded by the foundation should be free to download and read from the Internet. Published articles should be stored in open databases. Additional costs for the open access publications can be accounted for as a direct cost in the research application.
Miscellaneous
On a yearly basis, the Foundation supports the Universities with funds covering the costs for travel and conference costs for teachers and researchers, mainly focused on young scientists. Applications are sent directly to the universities. Applications for travel, conferences/symposia sent directly to the Foundation are not considered.
The Foundations does normally not support rebuilding/redecoration of premises or printing costs. Furthermore, the Foundation does not support research associated with private enterprises.
Who may apply?
Applications should be submitted by individual scientists, or research groups affiliated to a Swedish university or equivalent institution. An application may also be submitted by the management of a university, university college, scientific academy, or national research associations.
Applications from private individuals without connection to a research institution are not considered. Furthermore, grants are not provided for private studies outside the Foundation's published scholarship programmes.
How to apply?
All applications are made electronically. The obligatory details and appendices required are specified in the application form. It is important that the application is detailed and complete in all respects, this in order to be processed correctly. Incomplete applications will be returned without further action. The following require special attention:
General
In accordance with the Foundation's rules, the university vice-chancellor, or equivalent, must approve the application. A special appendix, signed by the vice-chancellor (or equivalent) must be enclosed. In the appendix, the universities must certify that the project has passed the internal approval process. The university must also certify that if argued for in the budget, faculty resources will be made available to the applicant, and that indirect costs associated with the project in addition to indirect costs approved by the Foundation will be covered by the university. The main applicant guarantees that the listed co-applicants has approved to be a part of the project Applications to the Foundation can include cost for research equipment, direct research expenses (e.g., personnel and running costs) and/or separately announced scholarship programmes.
Grant Recipient
Is always a University, University College, Scientific Academy, or other scientific institution
Main applicant, Co-applicant
Full contact details must be given, together with the applicant's and co-applicant's CVs.
Project, Project summary
In addition to details, such as project title, amount and purpose of the grant applied for and an abstract in English summarizing the project is mandatory. The latter must describe the project and identify its key points, rather than give a general overview of the research field.
A full description of the project should be included as an appendix. The project description, which should not exceed 10 pages (font 12), shall highlight questions/hypotheses raised by the project, the applicant's experience and his/her own achievements within the specific research area, as well as the project's status, seen from an international perspective. A complete project description must also be included with applications for infrastructure.
Budget
A concise budget calculation must be submitted, with the equivalent sum in Swedish crowns (SEK), together with the rate of exchange used.
The budget should be prepared according to the University accounting rules as laid down by SUHF, including accounting for indirect costs (overhead). All definitions of direct and indirect costs are set out by SUHF and should be followed. The Foundation’s template for the budget model (“Projektbudget”) is based on SUHF rules. All requisitions should also be made according to this model.
It is important that all direct and indirect costs are disclosed in accordance with your own University accounting rules and that information is received from there. The Foundation receives the right to check all information in the project accounts of the University.
The Foundation does not finance unspecified costs or general administrative costs.
Direct costs that can be financed by the Foundation includes:
- Direct costs for salaries for personnel involved in the project, including a mark-up for social security and pensions (LKP) maximized to 50%.
- Direct costs for consumables, expenses etc.
- Direct depreciation costs for instruments defined as a straight-line calculation over the total life-span of the instrument. Instruments has to be purchased within two years from the start of the grant period and the Foundation can accordingly finance an extra two-year period of depreciation compared to other cost.
- Direct premises costs relating to personnel actively involved in the project
- Indirect costsShould be specified for the individual project according to SUHF rules. An individual assessment will be made by the Foundation for all applications and the decision will be announced as part of the terms of the grant.
Financing
Applications regarding grants for equipment should describe how any associated costs are financed and whether grants have been applied for, or received, from any other organisation for the same purpose. Applications regarding financing of projects should specify the university's/faculty's own direct financing of the project, for example, in the form of salaries to permanent staff and graduate student.
Fellowship Programmes
The Foundation periodically announces Fellowship Programmes within strategically important areas for Swedish research.
The Fellowship Programmes are published on the Foundation's website and through Swedish universities. The website is updated as and when the Board has decided to extend the programme.
Applications are made electronically.
Read more:
- International studies for young persons with a law degree
Period of Application
Applications can be submitted at any time during the year. The Foundation's Board normally meets four times a year to review applications which have passed the required criteria.
Regarding application periods for the Foundation´s Fellowship Program, please refer to the website.
The Board's decision, and the amount of any grant awarded, is communicated to applicants by letter. Grants are also published on the Foundation's website.
Requisitions
Project grants
When applying for drawdown of funds under approved grants the following should be noted:
Drawdown may only be made to cover expenses entered in the official book-keeping records, no advances will be paid. Specifications should always be included in addition to the requisition form.
- For all requisitions the budget, award letter and special grant terms should be adhered to.
- A Profit &Loss statement (P&L) from the accounting system for the project must be submitted.
- A summary of the P&L, with the same headings as in the budget model, should be made where adjustments for grant terms, when applicable, are made. The form “Avstämning rekvisition” should be used and included as a specification.
- A salary list with specifications of name, salary and social security including pensions (LKP).
- Additional specifications should be included for specifically material amounts and/or unusual items, where transcripts from the general ledger or copies of invoices should be included.
It should be noted that the recipient of a grant takes full responsibility as employer, as well as for ensuring the correct and proper use of funds received.
Grants may only be used for the purpose(s) stipulated in the award letter. Administration costs, or additional costs for unspecified purposes, may not be offset against the grant.
It should be noted that the utilisation period for approved grants is three years from the award date, unless otherwise indicated in the award letter. Prolongation will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances, and only upon written request. Any funds remaining undrawn upon maturity of the grant period will automatically be reverted to the Foundation.
Scholarship Funds
Drawdown of funds will be made in accordance with the rules of each scholarship programme.
General
Drawdown requests received by the Foundation prior to the 10th day of each month are paid out at the end of that month, provided the requisition is correct.
During spring 2012 the Foundation will start using a new electronic requisition portal.
Special instructions will be sent out to those who can use the new portal when it is up and running. Those who have not received such special instructions should use the normal requisition forms and send all material by mail the same way as before.
KAW_Rekvisition_anslag.xls
KAW_Rekvisition_stipendium.xls
Reporting
Recipients of grants shall, without further notice, submit an reports to the Foundation in accordance with the grant letter which must include both financial and project reports and, where applicable, any supporting scientific papers. Furthermore, upon final drawdown of available funds, a completion report and a summary of the whole project must be submitted. In the case of science-related grants, all scientific papers are to be listed.
The reporting requirement also extends to grants for equipment, and should include details of the equipment's whereabouts and level of utilization, together with the names of the prime users. Scientific publications, where access to the equipment has played a central role in the research process, are to be listed. If the equipment is to be moved, the Foundation must be informed.
Forms
Electronic application form, klick on link below.
Starta e-ansökan
Funds drawdown forms
KAW_Rekvisition_anslag.xls
KAW_Rekvisition_stipendium.xls
Contact Information
Executive Director
Göran Sandberg
Postal Address
Knut och Alice Wallenberg Stiftelse
Box 16066
SE-103 22 Stockholm
Sweden
Telephone
+46(0)8-545 017 80
Telefax
+46(0)8-545 017 85
E-mail
kaw@kaw.se
Website
www.wallenberg.com
Board of Directors
| Peter Wallenberg |
Chairman |
| Peter Wallenberg Jr |
Vice-chairman |
| Göran Sandberg |
Executive director |
| Bo Sundqvist |
Director and Principal´s Representative |
| Jan Holmgren |
Director |
| Björn Hägglund |
Director |
| Michael Treschow |
Director |
| Jacob Wallenberg |
Director |
| Marcus Wallenberg |
Director |
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