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Lund University is investing SEK 100 million in an international research programme on sustainable development

Photo of trees. Annie Spratt-Unsplash.

Lund University is investing SEK 100 million in an interdisciplinary research programme focusing on Agenda 2030 and sustainable development. The programme is to attract international research expertise and to bring about the establishment of more internationally leading research environments in sustainability.

“With its breadth and cutting edge, Lund University has unique opportunities to tackle complex issues such as sustainability and here we have a fantastic chance to reinforce interdisciplinary environments”, says Lund University’s Vice-Chancellor Erik Renström.

“This is a strategic investment which emphasises excellence. By extending the Agenda 2030 graduate school with more doctoral students and investing in a large number of postdocs in interdisciplinary projects, we expect to achieve a broad international combination of researchers and ideas. The goal is internationally leading research environments and we look forward to project applications that show innovation, collaboration and research with real development potential”, says Pro Vice-Chancellor Per Mickwitz, who is responsible for the programme.

The new research initiative is part of Lund University’s strategic work in the field of sustainability. Previous investments include SEK 64 million for the Agenda 2030 graduate school which started in 2019, arousing great international interest, and receives many applications per place. The Sustainability Forum, the coordinating hub for sustainability in research and education at Lund University, has been awarded increased funding and an extended remit, while Lund University has approved a new sustainability strategy and sustainability plan. The new investment is also in line with the government’s strategic research and innovation initiatives in sustainability and the EU budget, of which a large part will be dedicated in future to meeting societal challenges associated with Agenda 2030.

“Lund University has not only the opportunity but also a major responsibility to contribute to increasing knowledge about sustainability and to assist in the transition that society is facing, which requires many different approaches, new ideas and innovations”, says Erik Renström.
 


Matchmaking Padlet: Interdisciplinary projects focusing on Agenda 2030 and sustainable development

To facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration over faculty boarders LU Sustainability Forum has put up a Padlet for matchmaking with other researchers within Lund University to address the university-wide call: Interdisciplinary projects focusing on Agenda 2030 and sustainable development.

Call text and more information at staff.lu.se

Researchers are welcome to post ideas for projects, invitations of experts or that you are available for collaborations for the call. Remember to write your contact information in the post. Visit the Padlet frequently to find new opportunities for collaborations.

Please use this Padlet to find collaborators for addressing the call – padlet.com


Facts:

The investment consists of a total of SEK 100 million and the first round of applications will open in 2021. The programme comprises two parts:
The first is an investment in up to 12 postdoc positions in interdisciplinary projects associated with Agenda 2030. Each project is to involve at least three faculties and to have a clear link to external engagement.
The second part of the initiative consists of eight new doctoral studentships in the Agenda 2030 graduate school at Lund University, which began in 2019 and currently has 17 doctoral students from all of the University’s faculties.  

Information meeting Wednesday 10 March: research programme for excellence

On Wednesday 10 March at 3-4 pm, Pro Vice-Chancellor Per Mickwitz invites you to an information meeting concerning the call and programme. The meeting will be held in English (but questions in Swedish are welcome) over Zoom.

Note that the last day to register is 8 March.
For question regarding this information meeting, please contact Tina Trollås, tina [dot] trollas [at] fs [dot] lu [dot] se


More on the cross-disciplinary project call

The call is aimed at post-doctoral positions within various cross-disciplinary projects. The projects are not merely intended to be platforms for the post doc´s career development, but shall also constitute a base for national and European research funding applications and for future excellence centres.
Potential projects are to be proposed by researchers at Lund University. A project must involve a minimum of three faculties. A ranking will be implemented by an external evaluation panel.

Look out for more information on the webpage of the Research Board

Overall time plan

10 March:     Information meeting.
16 March:     The call for applications is published on the Research Board’s website and distributed.
13 April:        The assessment form for the international panel is published.
7 May:           Deadline for applications at 16.00.
24 June:       Vice-chancellor’s decision on allocation of funding.
30 August:    Combined call for applications for all doctoral studentships and postdoc fellowships, a total of 20 positions.

Look out for more information on the webpage of the Research Board and on the webpage of Agenda 2030 Graduate School.