Capacity building

The programme Capacity building aims to give universities the opportunity to develop research and education through new collaborations.The programme offers funding for the recruitment of international guest researchers or the appointment of adjunct professors or senior lecturers with placement at a university or at a business partner.

Background and objectives

Solving future societal challenges requires both cutting-edge research results and a higher education of high quality. To achieve this, Swedish universities need to be able to strategically recruit or adjunct relevant key competences. Mobility of researchers and teachers between universities and sectors, both nationally and internationally, contributes to development and strengthened competitiveness. The Knowledge Foundation therefore offers funding through the programme Capacity building. The objective is to facilitate universities in recruiting international guest researcher or adjunct professor/senior lecturer with placement at a university or at a business partner.

Funding and forms of employment

International guest researcher

Funding for the employment or appointment of an international guest researcher who is employed by a university outside Sweden.

• Project duration (employment period): 3–24 months
• Employment rate: 25–100 percent
• Maximum funding amount: SEK 1,400 000
• Co-funding requirements: The university must co-fund the project with at least 10 percent of the amount requested from the Knowledge Foundation. No co-funding is required from the business sector.

Adjunct positions

Funding for the employment or appointment of an adjunct professor or senior lecturer with placement at a university or at a business partner,

• Project duration (employment period): 12–36 months
• Employment rate: 20–50 percent
• Maximum funding amount: SEK 800,000/year
• Co-funding requirements: At least 10 percent of the amount requested from the Knowledge Foundation must be co-funded by the university or the business sector, depending on where the position is based.

The programme’s contribution to strong research and education environments

The Knowledge Foundation seeks to support the building of strong research and education environments that create value for academia, business sector, and society. The purpose of the programme Capacity building is to give research and education environments the opportunity to develop research and education through new collaborations.