The four centers will be headquartered in Örebro, Stockholm, Uppsala, and Borås, according to multiple reports. Jessica Ekström, Research Secretary at Formas, said the initiative creates a portfolio of centers with great potential to strengthen the Swedish food system's sustainability and competitiveness. Erika Ax, also a Research Secretary, emphasized the need for long-term research and co-creation between actors to transform the food system.
In addition, Formas and the Public Art Agency Sweden are jointly funding research on designed living environments. Emma Gretzer, Head of Department for Community Building at Formas, noted that artistic perspectives had previously been missing in their funding. Henrik Orrje, Acting Director of the Public Art Agency Sweden, said it is gratifying that artists and researchers can now jointly drive development.
With this initiative, we have a fine portfolio of centers that have great potential to strengthen the Swedish food system's sustainability and competitiveness in several different areas and from different perspectives, which feels enormously important.
Formas has also decided to fund nine new research projects with 141 million SEK in the call 'The Swedish forest's role in the climate transition', and twenty preparatory projects for challenges in the marine and water area. In the open call for 2023-2026, 1357 projects applied and 637 million SEK will be distributed, compared to 1480 projects in the 2021 open call. The specific projects funded and the exact criteria for funding decisions have not been disclosed.