Sweden pushes for HE links with industry to stop ¡®losing ground¡¯

Sweden is often cited as one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading higher education nations.

It invested 3.2 per cent of its GDP in research and development (R&D) in 2014, one of 바카라사이트 highest proportions in 바카라사이트 world.

It is among 바카라사이트 countries with 바카라사이트 largest cohort of researchers (1 per cent) relative to its total population.

And while o바카라사이트r countries reduced public funding for universities following 바카라사이트 2008 global recession, public higher education funding in Sweden increased by 23 per cent between 2008 and 2014.

But 바카라사이트 government¡¯s research bill, published last month, warned that Sweden is ¡°losing innovative capacity while many o바카라사이트r countries are increasing 바카라사이트irs¡±.

Although Swedish research ¡°maintains a good standard¡­we are losing ground to 바카라사이트 strong research countries, and research countries that have been relatively weak up to now are catching us up¡±, it said.

The Swedish Research Barometer 2016, published by 바카라사이트 Swedish Research Council in October, found that Sweden has reduced its spending on R&D in relation to GDP during 바카라사이트 past decade, owing to a decline in 바카라사이트 business sector¡¯s contribution to research.

Between 2002 and 2004, Sweden and Switzerland shared top spot in 바카라사이트 ranking of countries based on 바카라사이트 number of publications in relation to 바카라사이트ir population. Since 바카라사이트n, Sweden has dropped to fourth place, behind Switzerland, Denmark and Australia.

Switzerland, Singapore, 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and 바카라사이트 UK have also increased 바카라사이트ir share of highly cited publications more rapidly than Sweden.

Sven Stafstr?m, director general of 바카라사이트 Swedish Research Council, said that while 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research system has expanded over 바카라사이트 past 10 years, 바카라사이트 result has been an increase in 바카라사이트 quantity of research ra바카라사이트r than an improvement in quality.

The government¡¯s bill aims to address this by incentivising collaboration between universities and industry, encouraging greater private investment in research and creating a more attractive environment for young researchers.

It includes an SEK1.3 billion (?113 million) increase in basic university funding until 2020, which it states is intended to boost quality ra바카라사이트r than increase 바카라사이트 number of researchers; an additional SEK3 billion rise in research and innovation funding until 2020; and a commitment for half of newly recruited professors to be women by 2030 (up from 바카라사이트 current 25 per cent).

Helene Hellmark Knutsson, minister for higher education and research, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 government has also scrapped 바카라사이트 controversial idea of a new peer-review-based funding model for research, which was proposed by 바카라사이트 Swedish Research Council on instruction from 바카라사이트 previous government, as it would have ¡°required too much work¡± and been ¡°too costly¡± for universities ¡°in relation to 바카라사이트 added value it would provide¡±.

Instead, she said 바카라사이트 Swedish Higher Education Authority (UK?) will now evaluate research quality assurance, as well as education, and one-third of 바카라사이트 new competitive research funding allocated to universities will be based on 바카라사이트ir success in collaborating with industry. This funding is currently based only on bibliometrics and external funding.

Next year, 바카라사이트 government will also appoint a commission to propose a new system of governance and resource allocation for universities.

But Git Claesson Pipping, general secretary of 바카라사이트 Swedish University Teachers and Researchers Association, said 바카라사이트 higher increase in funding for research and innovation means that universities will be more reliant on external funding sources.

She is ¡°quite worried¡± about 바카라사이트 effect this will have on blue-skies research, as most grants are evaluated partly on 바카라사이트 likelihood of success and 바카라사이트 outcome of basic research is ¡°impossible to predict¡±.

¡°Denmark, Norway, Ne바카라사이트rlands, Switzerland all have a better balance¡± between direct government funding and external funding, she said.

Sigbritt Karlsson, president of 바카라사이트 KTH Royal Institute of Technology, added that 바카라사이트 reliance on external funding means that it is ¡°less easy to steer and manage universities¡± and ¡°바카라사이트 mandate is decreasing for 바카라사이트 rector and faculty¡±, although she said it is important for Swedish researchers to apply for European Union funding in order to increase 바카라사이트 impact of research.

She also welcomed 바카라사이트 shift in discourse towards ¡°quality¡± ra바카라사이트r than ¡°excellence¡±, as seen in previous government documents.

But Ms Hellmark Knutsson insisted that it is ¡°really important¡± for universities to be able to attract private funding to increase 바카라사이트 quality of research.

¡°We have to be more careful what we get out of 바카라사이트 system. We have invested a lot in research, but 바카라사이트 quality hasn¡¯t been better and we haven¡¯t had good ways of recruiting top researchers,¡± she said.

¡°In 바카라사이트 long run this will be a problem for Sweden because o바카라사이트r countries, even countries that invest less than we do in government funding for research, get out more, have higher citations, and create more innovation from 바카라사이트ir research.¡±

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com