Forte is commissioned by the Swedish Government to coordinate the national research in five areas: children and young people, ageing, international migration and ethnic relations (IMER), disability and social research on alcohol and narcotics. On this page you can read more about each coordination area and about Forte’s role as coordinator.

Coordination for increased impact and public benefit

As coordinator, Forte aims to provide an overview of the research in the areas of coordination, identify gaps in knowledge and contribute to ensuring that the research benefits society. Forte has a responsibility for coordinating research linked to Forte’s overarching areas of health, working life and welfare. We also work to increase cooperation between different stakeholders in our coordination areas, such as the research community, funding bodies, government agencies and user organisations.

In the long term, Forte’s coordination responsibilities will increase the impact research has in various sectors of society and encourage the implementation of research findings. We do this by bridging the gap between research, policy and practice.

Forte’s areas of coordination

Children and young people

Forte coordinates research on children and young people throughout childhood and adolescence – from newborn to young adult. This interdisciplinary area includes studies on children and young people’s upbringing and living  conditions. Particularly important areas include research on child and adolescent health and on vulnerable groups. Studies in this area may focus on, for example, family, parental leave, childcare, leisure or school.

Ageing

Research on ageing is a broad and interdisciplinary research area. For example, research in this area includes the study of age-related diseases, elderly welfare and living conditions as well as the role of older people in society and on the labour market. Research may focus on age care and services, or older people’s employment capacity, health and quality of life.

Read more about our commission in the area of elderly and ageing

International migration and ethnic relations (IMER)

The IMER research field includes research related to international migration, its causes and consequences. It includes, for example, issues related to integration, segregation, racism and attitudes, but also questions of migration policy and citizenship.

Disability

Research on disability is an interdisciplinary research area that houses several different theoretical perspectives. Research in this field focuses on the relationship between people with disabilities and their surroundings. For instance, research may look at the factors and processes in society and the surrounding environment that makes a functional impairment into a disability.

Social research on alcohol and narcotics

This area of coordination includes both basic and applied research of a social science and interdisciplinary character. Examples of research in this field include studies related to the use and addiction of alcohol and other drugs in the population, alcohol and drug policies and the effects of prevention efforts.