Prevention and public health

What conditions are needed in society to create good and equal health for the entire population? Which interventions have the best effect and how should they be designed and implemented? Forte is conducting a initiative on research on prevention and public health.

In 2020, Forte was commissioned by the Swedish government to initiate a long-term investment in research on prevention and public health. The initiative is linked to the overall direction of public health policy adopted by the Swedish parliament. The political goal is to create societal conditions for good and equal health in the entire population, and to close the health gaps within a generation. The initiative was extended in 2025 and will last until 2028.

Goals and direction

Forte's vision with the initiative on prevention and public health is to increase knowledge about

• how health equity can be promoted
• how ill health can be prevented
• how effective interventions to improve public health can be designed and implemented
• how effective interventions can be designed and implemented to improve public health.

Within the initiative, Forte will primarily promote research and implement activities that clearly respond to the research needs that have been identified. The research that is funded must meet the needs of decision-makers and professionals working with prevention and public health. It is therefore important that the research projects that are funded include collaboration between researchers and actors in society. Within the various activities of the initiative, collaboration between researchers, policymakers, professionals and citizens is also encouraged. Outreach activities will be implemented to spread knowledge about effective efforts to improve public health.

Statement of orientation

A mission statement for the initiative was developed in 2022. It is based, among other things, on a survey of Forte's existing research funding in the area of ​​prevention and public health and identification of knowledge needs in the area. The work was done in collaboration with the initiative's reference group, which consists of representatives from twelve authorities and organisations.

Statement of orientation – prevention and public health (in Swedish) Pdf, 6.2 MB.