The Young Academy of Sweden is an independent, interdisciplinary academy that brings together some of Sweden’s most outstanding early-career researchers. This year, the Academy is chaired by Sofia Lodén, professor of French at the Department of Romance Studies and Classics at Stockholm University. Her research focuses on medieval literature, particularly romances about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and their dissemination throughout medieval Europe.

 

To encourage more young people to pursue careers in research, the Young Academy works to highlight the opportunities offered by a research career and to show that research is exciting. The Academy aims to increase public interest in and understanding of research and science. It also seeks to inspire discussion about the importance of research for the development of society.

 

Broadening perspectives

“We researchers need to become better at making ourselves visible and communicating with the public. When I first became involved in the Academy’s work, I was mainly interested in issues concerning children and young people. But my focus nevertheless came to be on research policy and international issues. Thanks to the Young Academy, I have gained a greater understanding of the political conditions that shape our ability to conduct research,” Sofia says.

 

“My work with the Young Academy has really helped me develop as a researcher and think more broadly. My career took off thanks to the Pro Futura Scientia research grant awarded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, which included a tenure-track position. This encouraged me to apply to the Young Academy. Having the opportunity to meet researchers from different disciplines and work together across disciplinary boundaries is fantastic,” Sofia says.

 

Each year, six to eight new researchers are elected to the Young Academy, and roughly the same number leave. Applicants are expected to demonstrate high scientific quality, be willing to work on projects with others and collaborate in an interdisciplinary group. The Young Academy generally has around 40 members in total.

 

Attracting more international talent to Sweden

The Young Academy participates in research policy debates through opinion pieces, seminars and responses to government consultations, among other activities. The aim is for Sweden to be an attractive country in which to conduct research and to become more appealing to international talent. This would strengthen the quality of Swedish research.

 

“Thanks to the Young Academy, I have also had the opportunity to work on issues concerning the internationalisation of Swedish research. I have lived in England, France and Italy and am interested in issues relating to languages, European collaboration and exchanges,” Sofia says.

 

The Young Academy was also invited to provide input for the Swedish Government’s Research and Innovation Bill and was asked to contribute its views on Sweden’s long-term strategy for research.

 

“I feel that the researchers of the future are now being listened to and that there is room for us to have an influence, as well as a recognition that we genuinely have something to contribute,” Sofia says.

 

Interdisciplinary collaboration

“Collaborating in networks with researchers from other disciplines makes being a researcher much more enjoyable. For example, I have worked on international research policy issues together with researchers from both the humanities and the natural sciences. Science benefits from more collaboration across disciplinary boundaries,” Sofia says.

 

For more than ten years, the Young Academy of Sweden and the Society of Members of Parliament and Researchers (Rifo) have organised a joint networking programme in which researchers and politicians meet to exchange experiences.

 

“Over two full days, members of the Swedish Parliament and members of the Young Academy meet at the Riksdag. We learn about each other’s work, and it is both highly informative and very interesting,” Sofia says.

 

Academy meetings are at the heart of the Academy

The Academy holds four meetings each year. One takes place abroad, while the others are held in different parts of Sweden, enabling the Academy to meet researchers and institutions where they work. The meetings give members an opportunity to discuss major contemporary issues while also broadening their perspectives.

 

“This year, we travelled to Warsaw. Poland holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU during the first half of 2025, and among others we had the opportunity to meet Professor Paweł Rowiński, President of All European Academies, ALLEA.

 

“We met our sister academy, the Young Academy of Poland, and discussed issues relating to academic freedom and security. Our Academy meetings generate a wealth of interesting interdisciplinary discussions among members. This is where members present their research and where we make decisions about the Academy’s activities, while new ideas also begin to take shape,” Sofia says. “Through international collaboration, we strengthen the Academy’s impact, expand our members’ networks and gain inspiration and new ideas from outside Sweden.”

 

Ragnar Söderberg foundation is one of the largest funders

The Young Academy of Sweden was founded in 2011 on the initiative of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Its work relies on support from funders that want to strengthen opportunities for early-career researchers and research more broadly. Ragnar Söderberg foundation is one of the Academy’s largest funders and was also its first funder.

 

“Because we want to remain a free and independent academy, the support from Ragnar Söderberg foundation means a great deal to us,” Sofia says.

 

Sofia will leave the Academy in May 2025 after five years: three as a member, one as vice chair and her final year as chair.

 

“I have devoted a great deal of time to the Academy in recent years, and working alongside researchers from other disciplines has been incredibly stimulating. It gives me enormous energy,” Sofia concludes.

 

Since its establishment in 2011, the foundation has provided more than SEK 30 million in funding to the Young Academy of Sweden. You can read more about the Academy on its website.