Annual report 2025

The purpose of the Wenner-Gren Foundations (WGF) is to promote international cooperation in scientific research. WGF achieves this by providing accommodation for visiting researchersat the Wenner-Gren Center in Stockholm and awarding scholarships to Swedish researchers who wish to travel abroad, as well as to international researchers who want to come to Sweden. In addition, WGF organizes international symposia normally hosted at the Wenner-Gren Center and contributes to external international symposia held in Sweden. Travel grants are offered to early-career researchers to support their participation in conferences, workshops, and symposia, and WGS provides funding for inviting guest lecturers to Swedish universities and colleges. The administration of WGF is based at the Wenner-Gren Center in Stockholm, however, during renovation of the Center temporary facilities at Sveavägen 155 are used.
The guest researcher residences are housed in Helicon, a semicircular three-story building located within the Wenner-Gren Center in central Stockholm. A total of 156 apartments is available for foreign guest researchers for a maximum duration of two years. The rents are subsidized through special housing scholarships. In 2025, researchers from 40 different nations were accommodated, with China, India, Spain, Italy, Iran and Germany being the most represented countries, in that order. A Spring reception for the tenants was organized in the banquet hall at the Wenner-Gren Center on May 12 and 13.
WGF offers a comprehensive scholarship program for international researchers across all subject areas. After completing their dissertations, particularly promising young Swedish researchers, known as Wenner-Gren Fellows, can receive scholarships for postdoctoral training abroad, as well as support for repatriation to Sweden. This program includes a three-year scholarship period abroad, with the option of a two-year research period at a Swedish university upon returning home. Additionally, senior Swedish researchers can apply for sabbatical scholarships for research stays abroad. Young researchers from other countries can come to Swedish universities through postdoctoral scholarships, while senior foreign researchers can obtain visiting researcher scholarships to spend time at Swedish institutions.
In 2025, WGF provided support to a total of 89 researchers through its international researcher exchange program. The distribution of support was as follows: outgoing Wenner-Gren Fellows (7), returning Wenner-Gren Fellows (8), sabbatical fellows (10), foreign postdoctoral fellows (54; from the UPD and WUP programs combined) and senior visiting researchers (10). WGS monitors the distribution of scholarships by gender, in order to assure that neither women nor men are disfavoured. The Scientific Council continuously oversees this distribution.
In 2025, 39 researchers were actively participating in the Wenner-Gren Fellow program, with 18 serving as Fellows abroad and 21 conducting research in Sweden. The WG Fellow program provides young researchers with the opportunity to spend three years as postdoctoral fellows overseas, and to facilitate their transition to independent research positions in Sweden upon their return, including 2-year positions at Swedish universities, and a one-time grant of 600,000 SEK. They also have an option to recruit a postdoctoral fellow from abroad, and they can apply for a planning grant of up to 30,000 SEK to help establish collaborations with foreign research groups. The feedback on this repatriation program has been very positive.
Every year, all WG Fellows are invited to participate in a digital Spring program and an Autumn program at the Wenner-Gren Center. During these events, a few active Fellows share their experiences with the fellowship program, discuss their current research activities and outline their future plans. Additionally, board members and former Fellows offer insights on research careers, providing long-term perspectives and practical advice.
Senior Swedish sabbatical fellows receive a grant to help cover the additional costs associated with their time abroad. This year, support was given for stays in the United States (4), Australia (2), the United Kingdom (2), Portugal and Germany.

Foreign postdoctoral fellows participating in the UPD and WUP programs applied to universities across thecountry. However, 70% of the grants awarded were allocated to the Stockholm/Uppsala region. The grantees represented no fewer than 15 different countries: Great Britain (7), China (6), India (5), USA (4), Spain (3), Italy (3), Finland (2), and one each from Croatia, Australia, Portugal, Latvia, France, Norway, New Zealand, and Germany. Fifteen of the grantees were already residing in Sweden. Young, well-educated researchers from abroad significantly enhance Swedish research, yet relatively few funding bodies invest in this type of support. The foreign postdoctoral fellowships are among the most valued programs offered by the foundation.
Senior visiting researchers, who are typically highly qualified, receive scholarships to cover the additional costs associated with their stay in Sweden, as they usually retain their salary from their home institution. In 2025, these visiting researchers came from the USA (3), Argentina (2), Canada and Australia, with several Swedish host institutions involved.
The WGF supports external symposia that have a well-defined theme and a clear international character. In 2025, 19 applications were granted this support. Additionally, three Wenner-Gren Symposia were held under its own auspices during the year.
In 2025, WGF provided supportfor guest lectures by awarding grants to 7 Swedish researchers/research groups to invite prominent foreign guest lecturers from the USA (3), Brazil, Spain, Colombia, and Italy.
The WGS offers travel grants to early-career researchers holding a PhD and being active in Sweden. These grants enable them to participate in conferences, symposiums or workshops abroad. To qualify, the researchers must demonstrate activity by giving a lecture, presenting a poster, or serving as a chairperson. In 2025, a total of 61 travel grants were awarded.
The WGS allocates special grants to promote the dissemination of knowledge related to research and postgraduate education. This initiative is expected to support the Foundations' long-term objectives. In 2025, grants were awarded to partially fund several initiatives, including the Young Researchers exhibition, the Research School in Karlskoga, the Sonja Kovalevsky Days, Research Friday in Stockholm, the European Olympiad of Experimental Science, and the publication of the book "Science! A Love Story."
Additionally, in 2025, WGS provided two scholarships from the Inge Jonsson Fund to young researchers holding a doctorate in the humanities. These scholars aim to initiate research on well-defined scientific problems that require insights from multiple scientific fields. All funds from this particular grant have now been distributed.

Stockholm, January 21, 2026,

Carl-Henrik Heldin
Science Secretary, Wenner-Gren Foundations