Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
An independent Swedish foundation that funds strategic research in natural science, engineering and medicine to strengthen Sweden's competitiveness.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, known in Swedish as Stiftelsen för strategisk forskning and commonly abbreviated SSF, is an independent Swedish research-funding foundation. Its stated purpose is to support research in natural science, engineering and medicine that can strengthen Sweden's competitiveness. Unlike a commercial brand, SSF operates as a grant-making institution: its principal public-facing activities are the design of research programs, the selection of academic and research-industry collaborations, and the distribution of funding for projects, centers, graduate education and researcher-development initiatives. SSF was established in 1994 by the Swedish government after the employee-funds system was discontinued during the government led by Prime Minister Carl Bildt. At its creation, the foundation received a government allocation of SEK 6 billion. According to the cited reference material, SSF had distributed almost SEK 12 billion since its establishment by the time of the source period. Its assets were reported at approximately SEK 11 billion in April 2014, reflecting investment management and stock-market growth. In 2015, its research funding amounted to approximately SEK 600 million. These figures are historical and should not be treated as current financial information. The foundation's grant portfolio has included graduate schools, strategic research centers and large collaborative projects. Its Synergy Grant, previously associated with framework grants, is intended to bring together several researchers or research teams around a significant research problem. SSF has also supported early-career researchers through initiatives including Future Research Leaders and the Ingvar Carlsson Award. Its application frameworks encourage mobility between universities and industry, in both directions, with the aim of connecting academic research to technological and economic development. SSF has also acted as a publisher and convener on questions concerning science, technology and society. A 2014 report produced with economist Stefan Fölster examined the possible effects of automation and digitalization on the Swedish labor market, attracting substantial public and media attention. A subsequent report in 2015 considered new employment opportunities that could emerge during the automation era. The foundation also organized public seminars at Almedalen, including events on automation and on the social and ethical implications of genetic information. The organization is headquartered at the World Trade Center in Stockholm. Its leadership has included Ingvar Lindgren, Staffan Normark, Lars Rask, Torbjörn Fagerström and Lars Hultman. SSF's identity is therefore defined less by consumer products than by long-term support for strategically important research, researcher training, interdisciplinary cooperation and communication about the consequences of scientific and technological change.
History
The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research was created in 1994 by the Swedish government following the discontinuation of the employee-funds system under the Bildt Cabinet. The government allocated SEK 6 billion when the foundation was established, creating a substantial independent endowment for research support. SSF's mandate was to finance research in natural science, engineering and medicine where the results could contribute to Sweden's competitiveness. From its beginning, SSF developed a role distinct from that of a conventional university or government department. It does not primarily conduct research itself; instead, it distributes competitive funding and builds programs intended to shape research capacity. Its support has included graduate schools, strategic research centers and large collaborative projects. The foundation's Synergy Grant model brings together multiple researchers or teams to address important research questions, while programs such as Future Research Leaders and the Ingvar Carlsson Award target promising younger scientists. SSF application structures have also encouraged movement and cooperation between universities and industry. The foundation's financial scale expanded through investment returns and the management of its endowment. Reference material states that almost SEK 12 billion had been distributed since inception by the source period. In April 2014, its capital was reported at approximately SEK 11 billion, and its 2015 research funding was described as approximately SEK 600 million. These historical figures illustrate the size of SSF's grant-making role but are not current financial disclosures. SSF has been led by a succession of executive directors: Ingvar Lindgren from 1994 to 1998, Staffan Normark from 1999 to 2005, Lars Rask from 2005 to 2012, Torbjörn Fagerström from 2012 to 2013, and Lars Hultman from 2013 onward according to the cited reference. The foundation is located at Stockholm's World Trade Center. In addition to financing research, SSF has used reports and public events to connect scientific work with national debates. In 2014 it published, together with economist Stefan Fölster, a report about the potential effects of automation on Swedish employment. The report adapted an earlier Oxford study of the United States labor market and became influential in Swedish media and public discussion. SSF followed it in 2015 with a report about new jobs that might arise during the automation era. Its Almedalen programming included a 2014 automation seminar, "Busy Doing Nothing," with Andrew McAfee, and a 2016 event concerning ownership, identity and social attitudes toward DNA. The foundation also faced public criticism. In 2012, Dagens Nyheter reported that SSF had paid SEK 9.3 million over the 2009-2012 period to event organizer and PR consultant Micael Bindefeld. The spending was criticized because it was viewed as diverting money toward parties and public relations instead of research grants. This episode became the most prominent controversy associated with the organization in the cited material. Overall, SSF remains an independent Swedish research funder whose public identity combines long-term grant-making, support for research infrastructure and researcher development, and communication about the economic and social consequences of science and technology.
- 2016
DNA-focused Almedalen program
[1]SSF organized a seminar and released a report addressing social and ethical questions surrounding DNA and genetic information.
- 2015
Report on new jobs in the automation era
[1]SSF issued a follow-up report examining employment opportunities that could arise from digitalization and automation.
- 2014
Automation report and seminar
[1]SSF published a report on automation and employment with Stefan Fölster and held the related "Busy Doing Nothing" seminar at Almedalen.
- 2012
Public spending controversy
[1]A Dagens Nyheter report drew attention to approximately SEK 9.3 million paid to Micael Bindefeld's event and PR operation during 2009-2012.
- 1994
Foundation established
[1]The Swedish government established SSF after the employee-funds system was discontinued and allocated SEK 6 billion to create its initial financial base.
Products and positioning
An independent, long-term Swedish funder of strategically important research, positioned between academic research support, industry-oriented innovation policy and public discussion of scientific and technological change.
Collaborative research grant
Synergy Grant
A grant framework for a large group of researchers or several independent research teams working together, either at one institution or across institutions, on an important strategic research problem.
Researcher-development program
Future Research Leaders
A program supporting young scientists and helping develop the next generation of research leaders within areas relevant to SSF's strategic mission.
Early-career research award
Ingvar Carlsson Award
An award program cited among SSF's mechanisms for supporting promising younger researchers and strengthening Sweden's future research capacity.
Research-center funding
Strategic research centers
Longer-term support for research centers working in strategically important scientific, engineering or medical fields.
Research education support
Graduate schools
Funding for graduate-school structures and doctoral education, contributing to the development of advanced research skills and national research capacity.
Controversies
2012
Spending on parties and public relations
Dagens Nyheter reported that SSF paid approximately SEK 9.3 million between 2009 and 2012 to event organizer and PR consultant Micael Bindefeld. The reported spending generated criticism that foundation funds had been used for parties and public relations rather than research grants.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Villain, sick or family - who will have your DNA?
Sweden
An Almedalen seminar and accompanying report examining social, ethical and identity-related questions surrounding DNA and genetic information.
Outcome. The program attracted media attention according to the cited reference.
- 2014Busy Doing Nothing
Sweden
An Almedalen seminar about automation, digitalization and the future of work, organized alongside SSF's public reporting on labor-market transformation and featuring Andrew McAfee.
Outcome. The event and related report received notable media and public attention.
Brand decisions
2015
Follow up automation research with a jobs reportStrategyBackground
The earlier automation debate focused heavily on jobs at risk from technological change.
Action taken
SSF published a follow-up report on new jobs that could be created in the automation era.
Aftermath
The report extended SSF's public discussion of digitalization beyond job displacement.
2014
Expand public engagement on automationStrategyBackground
Digitalization and automation were becoming central issues in discussions about Sweden's future labor market and competitiveness.
Action taken
SSF published an automation-and-employment report with Stefan Fölster and organized a related Almedalen seminar.
Aftermath
The report and seminar received substantial media and public attention.
Recent events
- 2016
SSF explores social questions around genetic information[1]
Campaign
The foundation organized an Almedalen seminar titled "Villain, sick or family - who will have your DNA?" and issued a report addressing social and ethical questions associated with DNA and genetic information.
- 2015
Follow-up report examines new jobs in the automation era[1]
Other
SSF published a follow-up report focused on jobs and opportunities that could be created as digitalization and automation reshape work.
- 2014
Automation report forecasts major labor-market disruption[1]
Other
SSF and economist Stefan Fölster published a report arguing that a large share of jobs could be automated within two decades. The report adapted research on the United States labor market to Sweden and generated significant public and media debate.
- 2014
SSF stages Almedalen seminar on automation[1]
Campaign
At Almedalen, SSF organized a seminar titled "Busy Doing Nothing" on automation and its labor-market effects, featuring Andrew McAfee as the principal speaker.
Sources2 sources
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