2025-05-222024/25:UbU15 · p.19UbUEducation
Principles for distribution etc.
Principles for distributing research funding — base grants versus competitive financing
What's at stake: The distribution model affects how much time researchers spend applying for and administering funding versus doing research, and institutions' ability to set their own research priorities — with particular significance for smaller and regional institutions. It affects researchers, institutions and Sweden's long-term research quality.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether research funding should mainly be distributed as stable base grants to institutions, or increasingly exposed to competition and channelled through external research funders based on scientific quality assessment.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee shares the assessment that national investment in research and innovation needs to increase substantially and welcomes funds being distributed on the basis of a scientific quality assessment, with an efficient and coordinated state funding organisation, including by consolidating responsibility for research funding into fewer agencies. The committee therefore rejects the motions calling for changed distribution principles.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 29 (S)
The reservation holds that base grants are essential for curiosity-driven basic research, and that exposing them to competition with an emphasis on external funders makes it harder for researchers and institutions to set their own priorities, increases dependence on external funding, and threatens research and competitiveness across the country.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 29 by S.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 18/0/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| S | No | No 0/89/0/17 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/14/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/21/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 11/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 58/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:2292 by Louise Meijer et al. (M) request 14, 2024/25:3167 by Anders Ådahl et al. (C) request 12, 2024/25:3309 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) requests 6-8, 2024/25:3312 by Anders Ådahl et al. (C) request 8 and 2024/25:3313 by Daniel Helldén et al. (MP) requests 6 and 12.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:2292 av Louise Meijer m.fl. (M) yrkande 14, 2024/25:3167 av Anders Ådahl m.fl. (C) yrkande 12, 2024/25:3309 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkandena 6-8, 2024/25:3312 av Anders Ådahl m.fl. (C) yrkande 8 och 2024/25:3313 av Daniel Helldén m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 6 och 12.
Riksdag decision: The Government has presented its research policy for the years 2025–2028. In connection with this, the Government also presented a proposal which means that the Government shall be able to determine rules so that universities may decide that an employment with them may be combined with employment outside the university. Parliament approved the Government's proposal. Today, combined employment at universities applies only to certain positions, such as specially trained doctors and dentists, and the Government's proposal means that the restriction to certain sectors or positions can be removed. The purpose of the legislative change is to increase the opportunity for exchange of knowledge and competence between individual researchers, higher education institutions and other sectors of society, and thereby strengthen competence supply and competitiveness. The legislative change enters into force on 1 July 2025. Parliament also directed a directive, a so-called tillkännagivande (formal request), to the Government regarding the Government's announced investigation into how appropriate today's authority form is for state-run higher education institutions. According to Parliament, such an investigation into changed organizational form should not be carried out. The formal request came as a result of a proposal in a supplementary motion. Parliament said no to other motions, of which approximately 140 proposals come from the general motion period 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to reject the government's proposal for new research policy targets except the innovation target. (S) — Reservation 29
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan wants to see an expansion of free basic research and emphasizes independent academies without political control and that universities' funding is protected.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to see an expansion of free basic research and emphasizes independent academies without political control and that universities' funding is protected. The counter-proposal's objection that increased competition with emphasis on external funders weakens research institutions' own ability to prioritize follows from these commitments. Base grants are the instrument that carries the curiosity-driven research the plan wants to expand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill se en utbyggnad av den fria grundforskningen och betonar självständiga akademier utan politisk styrning samt att universitetens finansiering ska värnas. Motförslagets invändning att ökad konkurrensutsättning med tyngdpunkt på externa finansiärer försvagar lärosätenas egen förmåga att prioritera följer av dessa åtaganden. Basanslagen är det instrument som bär den nyfikenhetsdrivna forskning planen vill bygga ut.
- expanded free basic researchdecisive»utbyggnad av den fria grundforskningen.« (party programme ↗)“expansion of free basic research.”
- independent academies»självständiga akademier utan politisk styrning« (party programme ↗)“independent academies without political control”
- protect universities' funding»Vänsterpartiet vill värna universitetens oberoende och finansiering och höja studiestödet så att fler kan välja att vidareutbilda sig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party wants to protect universities' independence and funding and raise study grants so more can choose to pursue further education.”
- investments in education quality»Vi vill göra stora investeringar i att höja kvaliteten i utbildningssystemet.« (party programme ↗)“We want to make major investments in raising the quality of the education system.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme gives the state a special responsibility to guarantee research freedom and to secure basic research.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme gives the state a special responsibility to guarantee research freedom and to secure basic research. Strong basic appropriations are the instrument that allows educational institutions and researchers to prioritize curiosity-driven basic research, while increased competition shifts power to external funders. The programme also wants even distribution of knowledge centres across the country. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demands.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet ger staten ett särskilt ansvar att garantera forskningens frihet och att trygga grundforskningen. Starka basanslag är det instrument som låter lärosäten och forskare själva prioritera nyfikenhetsdriven grundforskning, medan ökad konkurrensutsättning flyttar makten till externa finansiärer. Programmet vill också ha en jämn spridning av kunskapscentra över hela landet. Planen stöder därför motförslagets krav.
- secure basic researchdecisive»ansvar att garantera forskningens frihet och att trygga grundforskningen.« (party programme ↗)“responsibility to guarantee research freedom and to secure basic research.”
- research's significance»Forskningen utgör grunden för kunskapsutvecklingen i både samhälle och arbetsliv.« (party programme ↗)“Research forms the foundation for knowledge development in both society and working life.”
- broad research stimulated»Tvär- och mångvetenskaplig forskning bör stimuleras och« (party programme ↗)“Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research should be stimulated and”
- knowledge centres throughout the country»utbyggd infrastruktur och en jämn spridning av kunskapscentra över hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“expanded infrastructure and even distribution of knowledge centres across the country.”
The party programme establishes that basic research and non-earmarked research funding are necessary conditions and that political priorities must not compromise basic research or the freedom of educational institutions to design their own activities.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that basic research and non-earmarked research funding are necessary conditions and that political priorities must not compromise basic research or the freedom of educational institutions to design their own activities. The distribution of funds must moreover ensure quality for both small and large educational institutions. The counter-proposal's defence of base grants follows directly from this.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att grundforskning och icke öronmärkt forskningsfinansiering är nödvändiga förutsättningar och att politiska prioriteringar inte får gå ut över grundforskningen eller lärosätenas frihet att själva utforma sin verksamhet. Medelsfördelningen ska dessutom säkra kvalitet för såväl små som stora lärosäten. Motförslagets försvar av basanslagen följer direkt av detta.
- free basic researchdecisive»Grundforskning och forskningsfinansiering som inte är öronmärkt är nödvändiga förutsättningar för framtida kommersiella genombrott och en framgångsrik spetsforskning.« (party programme ↗)“Basic research and research funding that is not earmarked are necessary conditions for future commercial breakthroughs and successful advanced research.”
- educational institutions' own prioritization»Detta får dock inte gå ut över grundforskningen eller universitetens och högskolornas frihet att själva utforma sin verksamhet.« (party programme ↗)“This must however not compromise basic research or the freedom of universities and colleges to design their own activities.”
- fund distribution for the whole country»Systemet för medelsfördelning till universitet och högskolor ska förändras och utformas så att det säkrar en hög kvalitet i både utbildning och forskning för såväl små som stora lärosäten.« (party programme ↗)“The system for distributing funds to universities and colleges shall be changed and designed to ensure high quality in both education and research for both small and large educational institutions.”
- research throughout the country»Tillgången på högre utbildning ska vara god i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Access to higher education shall be good throughout the country.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The party programme requires that free institutions of higher learning independently can conduct high-quality research and education, and the election manifesto that policy maintains arm's length distance.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that free institutions of higher learning independently can conduct high-quality research and education, and the election manifesto that policy maintains arm's length distance. Increased competition exposure with emphasis on external financiers moves priority-setting power away from the institutions, which goes against both academic freedom and the principle that decisions shall be made close to those affected. The plan furthermore values institutions of higher learning throughout the country.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att fria lärosäten självständigt kan bedriva högkvalitativ forskning och utbildning, och valmanifestet att politiken håller armlängds avstånd. Ökad konkurrensutsättning med tyngdpunkt på externa finansiärer flyttar prioriteringsmakten bort från lärosätena, vilket går emot både den akademiska friheten och principen att beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs. Planen värnar dessutom lärosäten i hela landet.
- institutions' self-determinationdecisive»Högre utbildning och fria lärosäten ska självständigt kunna bedriva högkvalitativ forskning och utbildning.« (party programme ↗)“Higher education and free institutions of higher learning shall independently be able to conduct high-quality research and education.”
- arm's length distance»Den akademiska och konstnärliga friheten liksom den fria kulturen är grundbultar i ett vitalt civilsamhälle. Politiken ska bidra till goda förutsättningar men hålla armlängds avstånd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Academic and artistic freedom as well as free culture are cornerstones in a vital civil society. Policy shall contribute to good conditions but maintain arm's length distance.”
- decentralised decision-making»Decentralisera mera. Människor ska få bestämma mer själva, och politiska beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decentralise more. People shall be able to decide more for themselves, and political decisions shall be made close to those affected.”
- free institutions promote growth»Fria universitet och högskolor gynnar både forskning, utbildning och tillväxt i ett långsiktigt perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Free universities and higher education institutions benefit both research, education and growth in a long-term perspective.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme explicitly establishes that research grants shall be distributed based on quality and that high academic quality shall lead to increased resources.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly establishes that research grants shall be distributed based on quality and that high academic quality shall lead to increased resources. The counter-proposal instead wants to tone down competition in favour of basic appropriations. The plan certainly requires continued high research appropriations and room for risk-taking, but the decisive principle is quality-based distribution.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår uttryckligen fast att forskningsanslagen ska fördelas utifrån kvalitet och att hög akademisk kvalitet ska leda till ökade resurser. Motförslaget vill i stället tona ned konkurrensutsättningen till förmån för basanslagen. Planen kräver visserligen fortsatt höga forskningsanslag och utrymme för risktagande, men den avgörande principen är kvalitetsbaserad fördelning.
- quality-based distributiondecisive»Forskningsanslagen ska fördelas utifrån kvalitet.« (party programme ↗)“Research grants shall be distributed based on quality.”
- resources after quality»Hög akademisk kvalitet och stor efterfrågan på utbildningen ska leda till ökade resurser för« (party programme ↗)“High academic quality and strong demand for the education shall lead to increased resources for”
- high research appropriations»Fortsatt höga statliga forskningsanslag är nödvändiga.« (party programme ↗)“Continued high state research appropriations are necessary.”
- room for risk-taking»utan även om att ta risker och ifrågasätta invanda frågeställningar.« (party programme ↗)“but also taking risks and questioning established lines of enquiry.”
The plan requires that all subject areas are guaranteed sufficient resources and that economic growth thinking must not dominate allocation, and that subject areas whose gains cannot be directly converted into material growth are assured good conditions.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that all subject areas are guaranteed sufficient resources and that economic growth thinking must not dominate allocation, and that subject areas whose gains cannot be directly converted into material growth are assured good conditions. This speaks for strong base appropriations rather than increased exposure to competition via external funders. That institutions should have large freedom of self-determination against the state points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att alla ämnesområden garanteras tillräckliga resurser och att ekonomiskt tillväxttänkande inte får dominera tilldelningen, samt att ämnen vars landvinningar inte direkt omsätts i materiell tillväxt tillförsäkras goda villkor. Det talar för starka basanslag framför ökad konkurrensutsättning via externa finansiärer. Att lärosätena ska ha stort självbestämmande gentemot staten pekar åt samma håll.
- resources for all subject areasdecisive»Alla ämnesområden måste garanteras tillräckliga resurser, därför kan ekonomiskt tillväxttänkande inte dominera tilldelningen av resurser till universitets- och högskoleväsendet.« (party programme ↗)“All subject areas must be guaranteed sufficient resources, therefore economic growth thinking cannot dominate the allocation of resources to universities and colleges.”
- protection for basic research»måste ämnesområden där landvinningar inte direkt kan omsättas i materiell tillväxt tillförsäkras goda villkor.« (party programme ↗)“subject areas where gains cannot be directly converted into material growth must be assured good conditions.”
- institutions' self-determination»Tankens frihet är en förutsättning för framgångsrikt kunskapssökande. Universitet och högskolor ska åtnjuta stort mått av självbestämmande i förhållande till staten.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of thought is a precondition for successful knowledge pursuit. Universities and colleges should enjoy a large degree of self-determination in relation to the state.”
- quality requirements on research»verksamheten vid universiteten och högskolorna ständigt utvärderas så att de håller hög kvalitet.« (party programme ↗)“activities at universities and colleges are continuously evaluated so they maintain high quality.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants a resource allocation system for higher education where academic quality, throughput and establishment on the labour market are given higher priority, and the party programme makes quality and international competitiveness guiding for higher education.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants a resource allocation system for higher education where academic quality, throughput and establishment on the labour market are given higher priority, and the party programme makes quality and international competitiveness guiding for higher education. The counter-proposal instead wants to downplay competition in favour of basic appropriations. The plan's emphasis on broad basic research and freedom from political interference pulls in the other direction, but performance logic weighs heavier.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill ha ett resursfördelningssystem till högskolan där akademisk kvalitet, genomströmning och etablering på arbetsmarknaden premieras i högre utsträckning, och partiprogrammet gör kvalitet och internationell konkurrenskraft styrande för den högre utbildningen. Motförslaget vill i stället tona ner konkurrensutsättningen till förmån för basanslagen. Planens betoning på bred grundforskning och frihet från politiska pekpinnar drar åt andra hållet, men prestationslogiken väger tyngre.
- quality-based resource allocationdecisive»Arbeta för ett resursfördelningssystem till högskolan så att akademisk kvalitet, genomströmning samt etablering på arbetsmarknaden premieras i högre utsträckning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for a resource allocation system for higher education so that academic quality, throughput and establishment on the labour market are given higher priority”
- quality guides higher education»Kvalitet och internationell konkurrenskraft ska vara styrande för den högre utbildningen.« (party programme ↗)“Quality and international competitiveness shall be guiding for higher education.”
- broad basic research needed»Men vi ska också ha en stark och bred grundforskning« (party programme ↗)“But we should also have strong and broad basic research”
- free research»Värna den fria forskningen från politiska pekpinnar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect free research from political interference”
The plan requires that political control of higher education decrease and that academic independence increase.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that political control of higher education decrease and that academic independence increase. A defence of base allocations, which give researchers and educational institutions the possibility to prioritise themselves, follows that principle. At the same time the plan wants higher education to better meet labour market needs, so support is derived and not unambiguous.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att den politiska styrningen av högre utbildning minskar och att akademins självständighet ökar. Ett försvar för basanslagen, som ger forskare och lärosäten möjlighet att själva prioritera, följer den principen. Samtidigt vill planen att högre utbildning bättre möter arbetsmarknadens behov, så stödet är härlett och inte entydigt.
- reduced political controldecisive»Den politiska styrningen av högre utbildning ska minska och akademins självständighet öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Political control of higher education shall decrease and academic independence shall increase.”
- academic independence»Slå vakt om den högre akademins självständighet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Safeguard higher academic independence”
- adaptation to the labour market»Den högre utbildningen ska i högre grad anpassas efter behoven på en framtida arbetsmarknad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Higher education shall to a greater degree be adapted to the needs of a future labour market.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:UbU15)
- Committee report full text (HC01UbU15)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:10 — Försök inom medicinsk forskning av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1007 — Flytt av Rymdstyrelsen till Västsverige av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1096 — Stöd till forskningen om traumabehandling för sexualbrottsutsatta av Marléne Lund Kopparklint och Jan Ericson (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1103 — Bättre villkor för den forskande life science-industrin i Sverige av Helena Storckenfeldt och Gustaf Göthberg (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1313 — Minskande av PFAS i vår närmiljö av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1360 — En kvalitativ cancervård i framkant av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1362 — En stärkt psykisk hälsa i hela landet av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1366 — Socialtjänsten av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1369 — Svenskt fiske och vattenbruk av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1372 — Marina miljöer och vattenvård av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1382 — Vattenförsörjning och vattenhantering av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1397 — Djurskydd av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1403 — En human sjukförsäkring med individen i centrum av Clara Aranda m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1412 — Jämställdhet och diskriminering av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1421 — Nationella minoriteter och urfolk i Sverige av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1436 — Rymdstrategi av Aron Emilsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1443 — Kvalitet och frihet för en högskola i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1445 — Forskning i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1451 — Svensk innovationskraft och immaterialrätt av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1452 — Stärkande av life science-sektorn inom näringslivet av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament