2026-03-252025/26:UbU13 · p.1UbUEducation
General research matters
The overall research policy goal and the direction of research policy
What's at stake: The decision concerns the long-term direction of Swedish research policy: whether it should balance curiosity-driven research with research aimed at meeting societal challenges, and how this in turn affects the competitiveness of business and the development of society. It ultimately concerns everyone working in research and higher education, as well as those who benefit from the results.
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 parliament should issue a statement to the government on the direction of research policy, or whether the recently adopted overall goal - already built on excellence, internationalisation and innovation - should stand without further pronouncements.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions and stands by the already adopted overall research policy goal: that Sweden should be one of the world's foremost research and innovation nations. The committee welcomes the fact that the investments are based on excellence, internationalisation and innovation, and endorses the government's assessments on the direction of research policy without seeing grounds for a new statement.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S)
The reservation (S) largely agrees that research should respond to societal challenges while also being allowed to be driven by curiosity, but calls on the government to take further action to strengthen this. The reasoning is that research and higher education are crucial both for Sweden as a knowledge nation and for people's education and life chances, and that innovations arising from research strengthen business competitiveness and society's prosperity.
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 1 by S.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: MPMiljöpartiet
Ja 183–95Ja 168–110
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 19/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | No 0/92/0/14 | match | confidence: low | derived |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/17/7 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 57/0/0/13 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:1251 by Denis Begic (S), 2025/26:3189 by Anders Ådahl et al. (C) item 18 and 2025/26:3810 by Anders Ygeman et al. (S) item 115.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:1251 av Denis Begic (S), 2025/26:3189 av Anders Ådahl m.fl. (C) yrkande 18 och 2025/26:3810 av Anders Ygeman m.fl. (S) yrkande 115.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected 77 proposals in motions on research from the general motion period 2025. The proposals concern, among other things, certain general research matters and special research initiatives. The Riksdag refers to current regulations, measures taken and ongoing work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants research to both address societal challenges and be driven by curiosity. (S) — Reservation 1
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 states that research is needed to understand the world we live in, wants to see independent academies without political control and an expanded free basic research, while large joint initiatives should be directed at the challenges society faces.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that research is needed to understand the world we live in, wants to see independent academies without political control and an expanded free basic research, while large joint initiatives should be directed at the challenges society faces. The counter-proposal's combination of curiosity-driven research and research answering societal challenges corresponds to that line, while its emphasis on business competitiveness lies further from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att forskning behövs för att förstå den värld vi lever i, vill se självständiga akademier utan politisk styrning och en utbyggd fri grundforskning, samtidigt som stora gemensamma satsningar ska riktas mot de utmaningar samhället står inför. Motförslagets kombination av nyfikenhetsdriven forskning och forskning som svarar mot samhällsutmaningar motsvarar den linjen, medan dess betoning av näringslivets konkurrenskraft ligger längre från planen.
- free and independent researchdecisive»självständiga akademier utan politisk styrning och vill se en« (party programme ↗)“independent academies without political control and want to see”
- joint research initiatives»Vi vill se stora gemensamma satsningar på den teknikutveckling« (party programme ↗)“We want to see large joint initiatives on the technological development”
- value of research»Forskning behövs för att förstå den värld vi lever i.« (party programme ↗)“Research is needed to understand the world we live in.”
- 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 student support so that more can choose to continue their education.”
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 to promote free, knowledge-seeking basic research and at the same time strengthen cooperation between research, business and society for innovation and competitiveness.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to promote free, knowledge-seeking basic research and at the same time strengthen cooperation between research, business and society for innovation and competitiveness. Additional measures so that research both responds to societal challenges and is driven by curiosity thus lie in the direction of the plan. However, the plan does not specify any concrete research policy measures, so the support is inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill främja en fri kunskapssökande grundforskning och samtidigt stärka samverkan mellan forskning, näringsliv och samhälle för innovationskraft och konkurrenskraft. Ytterligare åtgärder för att forskningen både ska svara mot samhällsutmaningar och få drivas av nyfikenhet ligger därmed i planens riktning. Planen anger dock inga konkreta forskningspolitiska åtgärder, så stödet är härlett.
- free basic researchdecisive»Främjande av en fri kunskapssökande grundforskning.« (party programme ↗)“Promotion of free, knowledge-seeking basic research.”
- cooperation between research and society»Samverkan mellan forskning, näringsliv och samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“Cooperation between research, business and society.”
- innovation capacity»Innovationskraft, gott företagsklimat och stark konkurrenskraft för ökad tillväxt.« (party programme ↗)“Innovation capacity, good business climate and strong competitiveness for increased growth.”
- academic freedom»Frihet för akademin och forskningen.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom for academia and research.”
The plan states that Sweden's position as a knowledge nation is being challenged and that the challenges of our time require a knowledge system that is strong, open and long-term funded.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that Sweden's position as a knowledge nation is being challenged and that the challenges of our time require a knowledge system that is strong, open and long-term funded. It wants to invest in free and independent research with both breadth and excellence, which is precisely the combination of curiosity-driven and socially relevant research the counter-proposal wants to strengthen further. The plan thus provides support for more measures rather than for letting the direction remain fixed.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att Sveriges ställning som kunskapsnation utmanas och att vår tids utmaningar kräver ett kunskapssystem som är starkt, öppet och långsiktigt finansierat. Den vill satsa på fri och oberoende forskning med både bredd och spets, vilket är just den kombination av nyfikenhetsdriven och samhällsrelevant forskning motförslaget vill stärka ytterligare. Planen ger därmed stöd för fler åtgärder snarare än för att låta inriktningen ligga fast.
- free research with breadth and excellencedecisive»Miljöpartiet vill satsa på fri och oberoende forskning med både bredd och spets.« (party programme ↗)“The Greens want to invest in free and independent research with both breadth and excellence.”
- long-term funded research»Samtidigt kräver vår tids stora utmaningar – som klimatkrisen, ojämlikhet och säkerhetshot – ett kunskapssystem som är starkt, öppet och långsiktigt finansierat.« (party programme ↗)“Yet the great challenges of our time – such as the climate crisis, inequality and security threats – require a knowledge system that is strong, open and long-term funded.”
- threatened knowledge nation»Sveriges ställning som kunskapsnation utmanas.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's position as a knowledge nation is being challenged.”
- secure research conditions»Det behövs fler trygga anställningar för forskare och lärare, och studentinflytandet måste stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“More secure employment for researchers and teachers is needed, and student influence must be strengthened.”
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 election manifesto wants competitive universities and world-class research and promises investment in research and development for business competitiveness.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants competitive universities and world-class research and promises investment in research and development for business competitiveness. The party programme moreover emphasises that free institutions of higher education independently shall conduct high-quality research and that commercialisation of results strengthens innovation force. Further measures to combine public benefit with curiosity-driven research align with this.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill ha konkurrenskraftiga universitet och forskning i världsklass och lovar satsningar på forskning och utveckling för näringslivets konkurrenskraft. Partiprogrammet betonar samtidigt att fria lärosäten självständigt ska bedriva högkvalitativ forskning och att kommersialisering av resultaten stärker innovationskraften. Ytterligare åtgärder för att förena samhällsnytta med nyfikenhetsdriven forskning ligger i linje med detta.
- world-class researchdecisive»Från yrkesvux för den som saknar gymnasieexamen till konkurrenskraftiga universitet och forskning i världsklass.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“From vocational training for those without upper secondary school certificates to competitive universities and world-class research.”
- investment in research»satsningar på forskning och utveckling och krafttag mot brott emot företag« (2022 manifesto ↗)“investment in research and development and action against crime against companies”
- independent and high-quality research»Högre utbildning och fria lärosäten ska självständigt kunna bedriva högkvalitativ forskning och utbildning.« (party programme ↗)“Higher education and free institutions of higher education shall independently be able to conduct high-quality research and education.”
- research to innovation»En ökad kommersialisering av forskningens resultat stärker Sveriges innovationskraft.« (party programme ↗)“Increased commercialisation of research results strengthens Sweden's innovation force.”
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 election manifesto wants to increase research appropriations and build better career paths, and the party programme states that continued high state research appropriations are necessary and that quality also involves taking risks and questioning established assumptions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to increase research appropriations and build better career paths, and the party programme states that continued high state research appropriations are necessary and that quality also involves taking risks and questioning established assumptions. The counter-proposal's requirement for additional measures for research that both responds to societal challenges and can be driven by curiosity is thus in line with the plan. The plan also wants to strengthen cooperation between university and business.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill öka forskningsanslagen och bygga bättre karriärvägar, och partiprogrammet slår fast att fortsatt höga statliga forskningsanslag är nödvändiga och att kvalitet också handlar om att ta risker och ifrågasätta invanda frågeställningar. Motförslagets krav på ytterligare åtgärder för forskning som både svarar mot samhällsutmaningar och får drivas av nyfikenhet ligger därmed i linje med planen. Planen vill också stärka samverkan mellan högskola och näringsliv.
- increased research appropriationsdecisive»Vi vill öka forskningsanslagen och både skapa bättre karriärvägar för yngre forskare och se riktade satsningar på att svenska universitet ska kunna locka hit världens främsta forskare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to increase research appropriations and both create better career paths for younger researchers and see targeted investments so that Swedish universities can attract the world's leading researchers.”
- high research appropriations»Fortsatt höga statliga forskningsanslag är nödvändiga.« (party programme ↗)“Continued high state research appropriations are necessary.”
- curiosity-driven research»Kvalitet handlar inte bara om kortsiktiga resultat, utan även om att ta risker och ifrågasätta invanda frågeställningar.« (party programme ↗)“Quality is not just about short-term results, but also about taking risks and questioning established assumptions.”
- cooperation between university and business»Det behövs goda villkor och social trygghet för doktorander och forskare, ökad samverkan mellan högskola och näringsliv och bättre villkor för näringslivets forsknings- och utvecklingsverksamhet.« (party programme ↗)“There need to be good conditions and social security for doctoral students and researchers, increased cooperation between university and business and better conditions for business research and development activities.”
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 requires that Sweden is in the forefront of research funding and that all subject areas are guaranteed sufficient resources, while research has value in itself as an expression of humanity's thirst for knowledge.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that Sweden is in the forefront of research funding and that all subject areas are guaranteed sufficient resources, while research has value in itself as an expression of humanity's thirst for knowledge. Additional measures to strengthen both curiosity-driven research and research addressing societal challenges follow from this. The plan does not specify any new initiatives, so the conclusion is inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att Sverige ligger i främsta ledet i satsningar på forskning och att alla ämnesområden garanteras tillräckliga resurser, samtidigt som forskningen har ett värde i sig som uttryck för kunskapstörsten. Ytterligare åtgärder för att stärka både nyfikenhetsdriven forskning och forskning mot samhällsutmaningar följer av detta. Planen anger inte några specifika nya initiativ, så slutsatsen härleds.
- research-leading Swedendecisive»Sverige måste därför ligga i främsta ledet när det gäller satsningar på forskning och« (party programme ↗)“Sweden must therefore be in the forefront when it comes to research funding and”
- resources to all subject areas»Alla ämnesområden måste garanteras tillräckliga resurser« (party programme ↗)“All subject areas must be guaranteed sufficient resources”
- research's intrinsic value»uttryck för människans naturliga kunskapstörst och sanningssökande« (party programme ↗)“an expression of humanity's natural thirst for knowledge and truth-seeking”
- free research»Tankens frihet är en förutsättning för framgångsrikt kunskapssökande.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of thought is a prerequisite for successful knowledge-seeking.”
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 requires that all higher education and research maintain the highest international standard and that research at the same time is free from political pressure and can deliver breakthrough results.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that all higher education and research maintain the highest international standard and that research at the same time is free from political pressure and can deliver breakthrough results. The counter-proposal's line — research that both addresses societal challenges and is driven by curiosity, with innovations that strengthen competitiveness — corresponds to these commitments. However, the requirement is broadly framed, so the assessment is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att all högre utbildning och forskning håller högsta internationella nivå och att forskningen samtidigt står fri från politiska pekpinnar och kan ge banbrytande resultat. Motförslagets linje — forskning som både svarar mot samhällsutmaningar och får drivas av nyfikenhet, med innovationer som stärker konkurrenskraften — motsvarar dessa åtaganden. Kravet är dock allmänt hållet, varför bedömningen är osäker.
- free and breakthrough researchdecisive»Högre utbildning och forskning är en i högsta grad internationell verksamhet. Vi måste bättre värna den akademiska friheten i Sverige och se till att forskningen står fri från politiska pekpinnar och möjliggöra banbrytande forskningsresultat.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Higher education and research is a highly international activity. We must better protect academic freedom in Sweden and ensure that research is free from political pressure and enable breakthrough research results.”
- highest international standard»Kompetensförsörjningen på svensk arbetsmarknad måste bli bättre. Då krävs att både den svenska skolan och all högre utbildning håller högsta internationella nivå – i en allt hårdare konkurrens.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Skills supply in the Swedish labour market must improve. This requires that both Swedish schools and all higher education maintain the highest international standard – in increasingly fierce competition.”
- world-class research»Vi har forskning i världsklass och ska fortsätta att ha det.« (party programme ↗)“We have world-class research and should continue to have it.”
- free research»Värna den fria forskningen från politiska pekpinnar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect free research from political pressure”
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 to invest more in research and development and safeguards the independence of higher academia, while research and education are to strengthen Swedish industry and competitiveness.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to invest more in research and development and safeguards the independence of higher academia, while research and education are to strengthen Swedish industry and competitiveness. The counter-proposal's broadly worded demands for additional measures for both socially beneficial and curiosity-driven research align with that direction. However, the demand is so imprecise that support must be derived from general priorities.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill satsa mer på forskning och utveckling och slår vakt om den högre akademins självständighet, samtidigt som forskning och utbildning ska stärka svensk industri och konkurrenskraft. Motförslagets allmänt hållna krav på ytterligare åtgärder för både samhällsnyttig och nyfikenhetsdriven forskning ligger i den linjen. Kravet är dock så oprecist att stödet får härledas ur allmänna prioriteringar.
- investment in researchdecisive»Fokusera mer på forskning och utveckling för att göra fossilfrienergi lönsammare« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Focus more on research and development to make fossil-free energy more profitable”
- free research»Slå vakt om den högre akademins självständighet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Safeguard the independence of higher academia”
- research for competitiveness»Prioritera svensk industri och konkurrenskraft« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prioritize Swedish industry and competitiveness”
- knowledge for future needs»Den högre utbildningen ska i högre grad anpassas efter behoven på en framtida arbetsmarknad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Higher education should be adapted to a greater extent 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.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:UbU13)
- Committee report full text (HD01UbU13)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1169 — Prioritering av forskning om behandling av cytostatikainducerad neuropati av Anne-Li Sjölund (C)
- Motion 2025/26:1251 — Årlig internationell konferens mot forskningsförnekelse av Denis Begic (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1507 — Mittuniversitetet av Jörgen Berglund (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1702 — Förutsättningar för Sveriges fortsatta roll som kunskapsnation av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1868 — Utfasning av djurförsök av Ulrika Heindorff (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1903 — Nationell handlingsplan för att nå en djurfri forskning av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1932 — Avskaffande av Nationella sekretariatet för genusforskning av Jan Ericson och Lars Beckman (båda M)
- Motion 2025/26:1966 — Ändring av lagen om pliktexemplar så att digitalt material omfattas av Maria Stockhaus (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2199 — Tidiga insatser mot cancer av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2207 — Nya rön kring anhörigas betydelse för psykiskt sjukas vårdplaner av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2218 — Fysisk och social aktivitet på recept av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2738 — Plan för att fasa ut djurförsöken inom forskning och utbildning av Jytte Guteland och Sofia Skönnbrink (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:2785 — Akademisk frihet av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:2788 — Rättsväsendet av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:2817 — En aktiv industri- och landsbygdspolitik av Birger Lahti m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:2822 — Militärt och civilt försvar samt samhällets krisberedskap av Mikael Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:2832 — Digitalisering för hela Sverige av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:2834 — Ett jämställt samhälle av Helena Vilhelmsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:2883 — Djurfri forskning och ansvarsfull antibiotikaanvändning av Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2886 — Stärkt forskning om traumabehandling för personer som fallit offer för sexuella övergrepp av Marléne Lund Kopparklint och Jan Ericson (båda M)
Source: The Swedish Parliament