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 13.5 billion
Since its establishment in 1917, approximately SEK 7 million have been added to the original endowment. Grants totalling almost SEK 13.5 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 2009 grants of SEK 716 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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2009
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2008
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2007
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2006
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2005
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|
Net assets SEK m.
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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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41 912
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Change %
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10
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-9
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-2
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19
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38
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Grants SEK m.
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716
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1017
|
941
|
702
|
601
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Change %
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-30
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8
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34
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17
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-24
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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 scientific research, teaching and/or education beneficial to the Kingdom of Sweden". Universities, academies and similar research and educational institutions are eligible for grants within the following fields:
- Expensive scientific equipment
- Fellowship programs initiated by the Foundation
- Selected research projects of significant potential
- Larger educational research projects
The Foundation gives priority to grants for equipment for scientifically outstanding projects that already attract support for personnel and running costs from other sources, and for equipment for national research facilities.
The current Fellowship programme covers international studies for members of the legal profession. The Foundation also finances Research Fellow positions in Science administrated by The Royal Swedish Academy of Science, and in Humanities administrated by The Swedish Academy and The Royal Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities, jointly. New programmes will be published on the Foundation's website.
Grants are not normally awarded for basic laboratory equipment, or for the rebuilding and/or refurbishing of premises. Nor are they awarded to cover such expenditure as travel, printing and conferences. No grants are awarded for applied research linked to commercial entities.
The Foundation makes available a sum of money annually to universities to cover travel expenditures undertaken by teachers or researchers. Applications are to be submitted directly to the university in question.
All applications fulfilling the stipulated criteria are reviewed and judged by one, or several, experts within the specific field.
Who may apply
Applications may 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 scientific institution are not considered. Furthermore, grants are not made towards private studies outside the Foundation's published scholarship programmes.
Method of Application
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 in order fo 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 a nominee) must be enclosed. In the appendix the universities must certify that the project has passed the internal approval process, that faculty resources have been made available to the applicant, and that indirect costs associated with the project will be covered by the university.
As only the main applicant may submit the electronic application, any co-applicant must have given prior approval.
Applications to the Foundation must include the cost of research equipment, direct research expenses (e.g., personnel and direct costs) and/or separately announced scholarship programmes. The purpose of the application must therefore state "Equipment" or "Project".
Grant Recipient
University, University College, Academy, or other suitable description is required.
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 the project title, the amount and purpose of the grant applied for etc., an abstract 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 should be included in the application. The project description, which should not exceed 10 pages (font 12), shall also 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 equipment.
Applications for equipment must clearly state whether the requirement is intended for new or replacement items. Access to other, or similar, equipment within an institution must also be specified. The Foundation requires that specific reference persons are nominated by the vice-chancellors in order to facilitate the application process. User of the equipment (or equivalent) should be included in the project description. The Foundation will evaluate the scientific quality of the project, together with the need for the required equipment. If the application involves several instruments, the need for each item should be specified.
Budget
A concise budget calculation must be submitted, with the equivalent sum in Swedish crowns (SEK), together with the rate of exchange used. Academic VAT (Högskolemoms) should be included in the amount applied for. No other indirect costs may be included.
The Foundation's specific instructions for accounting for expenditure relating to research projects have been issued to the vice-chancellors. In summary, no indirect costs, or overheads, should be included. Approved costs are:
- Direct costs for salaries (including reasonable social security costs (lkp), for personnel involved in the project) as well as for instruments, consumables, etc.
- Direct premises costs relating to personnel actively involved in the project (specifying the cost per square metre relating to the institution as a whole, applied to the space allocated to the project).
- Other indirect project-related costs, such as, accounting and IT. A maximum of 60 000 Swedish crowns will be accepted for equipment purchased within the Rules for Official Requisitioning ("Lagen om Offentlig Handling").
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
Current Fellowship Programme:
- 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
When applying for drawdown of funds under approved grants, the following should be noted:
- Drawdown may only be made to cover current expenses.
- An expenditure statement, with supporting invoices, must be submitted.
- Verification of multi-invoices should be accompanied by an extract from the project ledger or diary, supported by invoices for larger items of expenditure.
Project Expenses
Drawdown of funds under approved grants may be requested for up to six months in advance. The accompanying specification should include details about personnel, salaries and social costs. Immediately after completion of the project, and without further notice, a final account should be submitted to the Foundation. This may take the form of an extract from the project ledger or diary. 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 grant 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.
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.
Excel Grant drawdown form
KAW_Rekvisition_anslag.xls
Drawdown of Scholarship Funds
Drawdown of funds will be made in accordance with the rules of each scholarship programme. Requests received by the Foundation prior to the 10th day of each month are paid out at the end of that month, provided the requests are in order.
Excel Scholarship drawdown form
KAW_Rekvisition_stipendium.xls
Reporting
Recipients of grants shall, without further notice, submit an annual report to the Foundation, 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 utilisation, 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.
Evaluation
Larger projects with their own steering committees are evaluated separately.
All grants are, as a part of the Internal Audit, reviewed in order to ensure that funds have been used for the approved purpose. This is accomplished by reviewing each request for drawdown of funds, including supporting material, and through visits from the Foundation's staff and auditors.
Forms
Electronic grant application form
E-ansökan anslag
Electronic scholarship apE-ansökan stipendiumplication form
E-ansökan stipendium
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 |
| Axel Wallenberg |
Director |
| Jacob Wallenberg |
Director |
| Marcus Wallenberg |
Director |