Sweden’s faltering maths research given a boost by funder collaboration

Several funders in Sweden have teamed up to provide a funding pot of 500 million Swedish kronor (€60m) to tackle what they say is a lack of financing for mathematics research in the country.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and Sweden’s research council, Vetenskapsrådet, will contribute the funding over the next six years.

The organisations say they hope that the funding will improve maths performance in the country’s schools and universities, and help Sweden to regain its position at the forefront of the world’s maths research. A 2010 report by Vetenskapsrådet concluded that maths research in the country is “in danger”. It also showed that, in the past decade, Swedish research in maths has lost ground internationally.