Home
Gamla Brogatan 36-38
SE-111 20 Stockholm, Sweden
Telephone +46 8 791 10 20
Fax +46 8 791 10 29
Photo: Per Westergård

Sustainable Investment - Towards a New Role for Institutional


Investors

A Mistra research initiative focusing on the contribution of asset management

to Sustainable Development

History:

Download:
Invitation for pre-proposals (pdf, 200 kB)

Contact:
Eva Thörnelöf
+46 8 7911026

Call for pre-proposals for a large-scale research programme

Mistra is issuing a call for pre-proposals for a large-scale academic research programme aimed at integrating the concept of Sustainable Development in asset management and supporting institutional investors in implementing such concept using this approach in their investments.  

Mistra is inviting proposals for a large scale, interdisciplinary and internationally competitive academic research programme, implemented by a coordinated group of academic institutions (lead institution must be Swedish) and covering one or more research areas. The focus should be on economic, legal and social science research with, if necessary, integrated elements of
the natural sciences. Selected pre-proposals will be funded with so-called planning grants, allowing researchers to further elaborate their proposal in the period between October 2004 and March 2005 in order to submit a complete programme proposal by April 1, 2005. The actual research programme is planned to start in January 2006. The level of funding for a first
three-year phase could be in the order of SEK 25-30 million. Further phases could follow, if the evaluation for both scientific and practical value of the research outcomes is successful.  

Mistra’s vision is that institutional investors will eventually take a leading role in Sustainable Development and use their influence to change the behaviour of companies in which they invest. The present call for pre-proposals reflects the needs and requirements of such investors consulted by Mistra in the course of the past months, not necessarily the state of academic research in this area. The proposed research topics are therefore of an indicative nature – researchers are free to propose additional topics within the defined research areas.  


Applications for planning grants, with pre-proposals attached, must be received by Mistra by September 15, 2004.
Updated: 2008-06-29

2008-10-02
Planning grant for sustainable urban development
Three groups have been granted support for continued planning of their research proposals to Mistra´s...

2008-06-22
Two new programmes and three that continue
Use of the forest and homes of the future are in focus for the two new research programmes that...

2008-06-22
Homes for Tomorrow
The Board passed a preliminary decision to grant a maximum of 45 million SEK for a first four-year...

Remember that...
Preparing a proposal that cuts across disciplinary boundaries and boundaries between research and practical use takes time - much longer than most people think. Make time and create places to meet, and invest in developing a team spirit.

Careful thought needs to be given to how a programme can provide value to users, while still meeting researchers  needs in terms of career development.

Interdisciplinary research often takes longer than research within a single discipline. Plan sufficient time to allow for this.

A Mistra programme often requires experienced researchers with both depth and breadth. There therefore needs to be a balance between senior researchers and postgraduate students.

Avoid having large numbers of participants involved in the programme on a limitedpart-time basis, since this makes it more difficult to achieve the shared goals of the  programme.

The programme manager is a key figure in ensuring that the programme achieves its objectives. Being the manager of a Mistra programme is generally a full-time job.  Think through who the most suitable person is to take on the challenging task of leading your group.

Make every effort to ensure that communication between researchers and users is a two-way process. One-way presentations of ideas and research results by researchers rarely inspire a sense of involvement and commitment on the part of intended users.