The Wenner-Gren Foundations (WGF) seek to promote international cooperation in the area of scientific research. To this end, WGF provide housing for visiting researchers at the Wenner-Gren Center in Stockholm, and awards grants both to Swedish researchers who wish to travel abroad, and to visiting scientists who would like to come to Sweden. Further, WGF organize international symposia, usually located at the Wenner-Gren Center, and provides grants to external international symposia in Sweden. Travel grants are provided for young researchers to participate in conferences, workshops and symposia. Finally, WGF organize Wenner-Gren Distinguished Lectures and provides financial support for foreign guest lecturers to be invited to Swedish universities and colleges. The Foundations’ administrative office is located at the Wenner-Gren Center in Stockholm.
Visiting scholars residences are located in Helicon, a semi-circular, three-story building in the Wenner-Gren Center. From an academic standpoint,
the Wenner-Gren Center is centrally located in Stockholm, and all resident scientists are close to their workplace, be it Karolinska Institute, Stockholm University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology or Stockholm School of Economics. In total, 156 apartments are available for visiting scientists for a maximum period of two years, and rents are subsidized via specific housing grants. In 2018, resident researchers came from 38 different nations, with Germany, India, Spain, Italy, China, the US and Greece best represented, in that order. The CEO of WGF hosted a special reception for guests in the banquet room at the Wenner-Gren Center, on May 7 and 8.
WGF offer a comprehensive program for international scientific exchange of researchers. After completion of their doctorate, especially promising young Swedish scientists may obtain postdoctoral fellowships for study abroad and repatriation to Sweden (Wenner-Gren Fellows). Senior Swedish researchers can apply for sabbatical grants for visits abroad. For visiting foreign scientists, young researchers from abroad may work at Swedish universities supported by postdoctoral fellowships, while senior researchers from abroad may apply for guest researcher grants.
During 2018, a total of 95 scholarships were granted within the international scientific exchange program. The grants were distributed as follows:
Wenner-Gren Fellows (12), Swedish postdoctoral fellowships (1), sabbatical fellowships (14), foreign postdoctoral fellowships (56), and senior visiting scientists (12). It may be added that WGF examine the distribution of fellowships by gender when the material is sufficient and there were in general no disfavor of female applicants. The Scientific Committee continuously follows the gender balance among granted applications.
During the course of the year, the Wenner-Gren Fellowship program involved 26 scientists, of whom 12 were conducting their postdoctoral education abroad, 2 had fellowships in Sweden and 12 led their own research group in Sweden. Five new Fellows were selected this year, and had chosen internationally outstanding research groups in the US for their foreign postdoctoral education. The WG Fellowship program is designed to give these fellows the opportunity for a three-year visit abroad and to facilitate their establishment as an independent researcher on their return to Sweden. To this end, each returning Fellow receives a grant to cover a two-year position in Sweden and a freely disposable one-time research grant of SEK 400,000, may recruit a postdoctoral researcher from abroad, and can apply for a planning grant of up to SEK 30,000 to establish
collaborations with foreign research groups. Feedback from this repatriation program has been very positive.
Each year, all WG Fellows are invited to a meeting at the Wenner-Gren Center, which was held on September 7 this year. More than half of the Fellows attended the meeting. Three of the active Fellows and three previous Fellows recounted their experiences abroad, their current research activities and their plans for the future. After the presentations Prof. Astrid Gräslund, Stockholm University, led a discussion on career possibilities for young scientists, and the WG Fellow program was discussed in general terms. To celebrate the 25th year of the Fellow program, the day was concluded with a dinner for both active and previous Fellows together with members of the Board and Committees.
For the 10th time, WGF arranged a homecoming information event (Hemvändardagen) at the Wenner-Gren Center on September 6 this year. The event is intended primarily for postdoctoral fellows who are currently overseas or recently returned to Sweden, and is announced via Swedish universities. In addition to the Foundations postdoctoral fellows, postdoctoral fellows funded by the Swedish Research Council, Ingvar Carlsson Awardees supported by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and young scientists supported by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond were also invited to attend. In total approximately 50 young scientists participated. As in previous years, the goal was to inform young scientists about the Swedish academic system (employment opportunities, how to apply for grants, etc.) in order to make it easier for them to plan their return to Sweden. Nine research-funding bodies presented their respective programs for supporting young researchers, and at the end of the day the WGF’s
CEO led a discussion on career planning. A joint lunch offered networking opportunities for the participants.
Senior Swedish researchers (sabbatical fellows) primarily choose to visit universities in the US and in Europe. The phased out program for Swedish
postdoctors abroad still had one participant this year.