The Government encourages Swedish higher education institutions and research funders to stop cooperating with state institutions in Russia and Belarus. This statement was made by Minister for Education Anna Ekström on 2 March, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Forte is currently working to map and manage the activities that are affected.

Sweden should not be involved in education and research cooperation that supports the Russian central government, the Government announced at a press briefing on 2 March. The Government encourages higher education institutions and research funders to immediately stop all contact and cooperation with state institutions in Russia and Belarus and to not initiate any new contacts or commitments.

The Government stresses that it is important not to equate individual Russian and Belarusian researchers with state institutions. Much cooperation in education and research consists of individual contacts between researchers in Sweden, Russia and Belarus. Moreover, many Russian academics have openly criticised the country’s actions.

For both ongoing and planned research projects, great responsibility rests on the administering organisation to ensure that contacts and collaborations linked to research projects are suitable in view of the Swedish and European political positions. This applies in particular to the security policy aspects within the different scientific fields.

Ongoing research projects

Forte has identified a small number of collaborative projects with links to Researchers in Russia, but where the financing only concerns participating Swedish institutions. In light of available information, Forte currently sees no reason to suspend funding. A dialogue is underway with the Swedish institutions that participate in these collaborations to determine if any actions are required.

New research projects

Prior to any funding of new research projects that involve Russian or Belarusian researchers, Forte will make an assessment of each individual case, in accordance with the Government’s guidelines. The administering organisation is also responsible to assess whether new collaborations is in line with the Government’s positions. Funds from Forte must not be transferred to Russia or Belarus.

Assessment of applications

Forte will not engage researchers who are based at Russian and Belarussian institutions in our review panels. Russian and Belorussian researchers who are based at institutions other countries can participate in our panels.