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Leading with ideas

‘Leadership is the crux of a Mistra programme. Research for sustainable development is based on sustained leadership.´

These words open a new book about leadership in Mistra´s research programmes.

Read more about the book »

Pre-announcement of research initiatives

Mistra will announce two calls for pre-proposals in June 2005:
  • Trade and Environment
  • Interdisciplinary Mistra centre for sustainable ecosystem and natural resource management
Trade and Environment
The aim of the initiative is to support Swedish and other European actors (primarily negotiators) in integrating environmental aspects into international trade negotiations by providing scientific knowledge and tools. Mistra will be looking for ideas for a large-scale, integrated research programme of an interdisciplinary character.

Interdisciplinary Mistra centre for sustainable ecosystem and natural resource management
Aims in brief:

  • To set up a centre, connected to a Swedish university, with an international board and its own budget.
  • Applicants will have the full support of the university management.
  • The annual budget will be sufficient to create a critical mass for interaction between social and natural sciences (probably at least MSEK 20 per year). Mistra intends to fund a significant proportion of the budget, but the host will be expected to contribute co-financing.
  • A chief aim with the centre is that the research must be interdisciplinary across the boarders of social and natural sciences.
  • The centre must be capable of creating career opportunities for researchers who are interested in interdisciplinary research.
  • The centre must be capable, on its own initiative, of attracting qualified international researchers and stimulating cooperation with its most prominent international counterparts.
  • The centre must be capable of operating for a long time and will regularly evaluate its activities with regard to scientific quality and user benefit .
  • It should be possible to initiate activities gradually. Mistra will carry out a study of international experience of similar activities.

More information about the calls:
More information will follow in the calls. The calls will be available at Mistra's website www.mistra.org on June 1, 2005.

For more information on Mistra's application process and timeschedule, please see guide for how to apply

Would you like us to e-mail the calls to you? If so, please send an e-mail with your name and e-mail address to:
marie.uhrwing@mistra.org for the Trade and Environment initiative; or
olof.olsson@mistra.org for the Mistra Centre initiative.

Updated: 2008-06-22

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.