Ragnar Söderberg Project Grants in Economic Sciences

About the call

The foundation announces project grants for early career researchers, i.e. up to ten years after PhD, in all domains of economic sciences (including economics, business administration, and economic history). With this call we want to support researchers with innovative ideas, high ambitions and potential to become academic leaders in their field.

 

We welcome applications from groups of two or three researchers. Given that the project has a clear focus on a research question in economic sciences we also welcome interdisciplinary applications and groups.

 

Objectives of the call

To support novel research of the highest quality by providing substantial funding for projects addressing research questions in economic sciences (including economics, business administration, and economic history. Furthermore, we wish to foster collaborations between early career researchers to promote their academic career and broaden their professional network.

 

Open call

The application portal opens on 6 May.

 

How to apply

Applications are submitted through our online platform SBS. Detailed instructions will be published when the call opens.

 

Conditions for the grant

• All applicants must hold a PhD (or an equivalent foreign degree) awarded in 2015 or later* and be employed by a research institution in Sweden during the grant period.
• The main applicants, i.e. the project leader, must have a PhD (or an equivalent foreign degree) in economic sciences. To allow for interdisciplinary collaborations we accept that the project members have a PhD in another subject.
• A project group may consist of two or three researchers, including the project leader.
• It is only possible to participate in one application in this call, this applies to both the project leader and other project members.
• We do not fund PhD students.
• The project leader must spend at least 30% of a full time on the project.

 

We welcome applications, and participation in projects, from researchers that are not yet established in Sweden. The project leader must be employed at a research institution in Sweden by the start of the grant period. Since the application must be signed by the Head of Department the necessary arrangements with the host institution in Sweden needs to be made well in advance.

 

* This period may me extended by a maximum of two years to allow for parental leave, long-term illness, care of a close family member or clinical work (only applicable for researchers in medicine).

 

The grant

The grant may be used for salaries and any direct project related costs.

 

Eligible costs are:

• salary for the project leader and project members,
• all direct project-related costs, including e.g. equipment*, data collection and analysis, transcription of interviews, publication and dissemination of results to peers and the public. If a research assistant is hired to do e.g. data collection or transcription of interviews their salary is an eligible cost, but not the overhead costs for that person,
• funding for attending national and international conferences,
• if the project requires visits abroad this may also be applied for. **

 

* Not personal computers or office equipment.

** Such costs will be paid directly to the applicant as a personal stipend. The stipend is individually adapted and may cover reasonable accommodation costs, travel, and visa costs.

 

Indirect costs (overhead) including rental costs for office space are not eligible costs. We provide a fixed amount for overhead and rental costs according to the policy of the foundation (link to policy text, in Swedish), the remaining indirect costs are expected to be covered by the research institution.

 

We expect that all funded projects should follow the national guidelines for good research conduct and ethics.

 

Grant period

The grant period is a maximum of four years. The starting date is decided by the applicant but cannot be earlier than 1^st February 2026 or later than 1^st October 2026.

 

Evaluation

Applications will be evaluated by a review panel consisting of prominent scholars from Sweden and abroad. If needed, external reviewers will provide specific expert knowledge in addition to the competence of the review panel. Applications are evaluated regarding scientific quality, novelty, and feasibility, where the latter includes merits of the researcher(s).

 

Decision

The board of the foundation will decide in December 2025 which applications to fund. All applicants will receive notification by e-mail and a list of all awarded grants will be published on our website.

 

Time table

• The call is announced in February 2025.
• 6 May: full instructions are published, and the application platform opens.
• 7 October: deadline for applications.
• February 2025: announcement of awarded grants.
• Spring 2025: networking event and dinner for grantees.

Queries

Please contact us at kansli@soderbergs.se. Note that we have a small office and may not be able to answer questions at short notice.