2020 in brief

The volume of grants awarded by the Foundation remained steady. Some support was directed at countering the effects of the pandemic. At the same time, we were keen not to forget all the other initiatives. The year’s total donations of SEK 155 million were spread across more than 20 projects in our three focus areas.

The year 2020 was in many respects marked by the coronavirus pandemic. Despite fluctuations on the international stock markets and an absence of share dividends, the Foundation’s capital held up well during the year. There was therefore no reason to adjust the volume of funding awarded in 2020. However, some of the Foundation’s support was directed specifically at initiatives aimed at strengthening society’s ability to counter the effects of the pandemic in various ways.

In 2020 the Foundation donated SEK 155 million, spread across more than 20 projects in its three focus areas.

In spring 2020 the children’s rights organisations Bris and Save the Children Sweden were each awarded SEK 3 million to meet the increased need for support among children and young people as a direct consequence of the corona pandemic. During the period it also became increasingly clear that in many cases the needs that already existed before the pandemic had increased. Mental health problems and a lack of confidence in the future among children and young people are topics that have come up time and time again in recent years. A year of restrictions, with limited social contacts and plans put on hold, has placed an additional burden on many young people. In view of this, the Foundation decided to award funding to Fryshuset’s new study and careers guidance venture and to Bris’s initiative to start up physical counselling centres for young people at various locations around the country.

On the research side, project proposals with a bearing on the pandemic were processed quickly during the spring. SciLifeLab in Stockholm was granted SEK 3 million for the development of sensitive and reliable tests that measure levels of antibodies to the SARS-CoV2 virus in individuals previously infected with Covid-19. In partnership with various research groups, it was possible to show that staff at Danderyd Hospital that had been infected still had broad immunity to the virus nine months after recovering. 2020 was a year in which much was overshadowed by the urgent matters dominating everything around us, and we had to remind ourselves not to forget the other issues. The Foundation also supported research into important projects within oncology, neurology and inflammatory disease.

KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has received long-term support from the Foundation for research into X-ray technology to develop computer tomography that provides better image quality more favourable for the patient than conventional technology. In 2020 this development had reached a stage where the products could be sold to medical technology company GE Healthcare. This large company’s capacity to produce at scale means that the new technology can now be used in clinical settings. The original support for the research will therefore benefit patients in real life, through earlier and more certain diagnosis – particularly for cancer.

The largest individual award in 2020 was to an educational initiative to stimulate interest in mathematics. Assisted by support of SEK 35.4 million, over two years the national science centre Universeum in Gothenburg will develop a brand new physical exhibition, new digital tools and new features in its mobile activities to communicate what is fascinating about mathematics and how it benefits all of us.

The year 2020 was in many respects marked by the coronavirus pandemic. Despite fluctuations on the international stock markets and an absence of share dividends, the Foundation’s capital held up well during the year. Consequently, some of the Foundation’s support was directed specifically at initiatives aimed at strengthening society’s ability to counter the effects of the pandemic in various ways.

Science &

research