Sweden's VINNOVA fellowships
VINNOVA is the Swedish government's innovation agency, founded in 2001. The organisation aims to promote Sweden's sustainable economic and social development by fostering innovation, which includes providing the conditions necessary for original research. Consistent with the organisation's aims, VINNOVA offers a Mobility for Growth programme for career development of researchers. The programme promotes researcher movement between countries, and between the private and public sectors. Additionally, the scheme offers training in human resources and research leadership. The EU-funded project 'Growth' (GROWTH) extends the VINNOVA programme during the period 2012–2017. GROWTH particularly strengthens the programme's transnational mobility funding, supporting both incoming and outgoing movements, and providing a reintegration phase for experienced researchers. GROWTH otherwise aims to offer career development through training and opportunities for participation in complex business/academia/government collaborations. Other support includes pre-application grants, distance tutoring, follow-up careers planning and networking activities. During the project's first two years, it published three calls. A total of 53 applications were received, from which the project funded 26 research fellowships for a total of 3 years each. The team expects to publish two further calls. GROWTH has already supported and extended the VINNOVA Mobility for Growth career assistance programme for nearly three years, with a further two years planned. The programme stimulates innovation in Swedish research.
Keywords
Fellowships, career development, mobility, innovation agency, research leadership
