For more than 30 years, the International Foundation for Science (IFS) has been supporting researchers in developing countries. Collaborating with Mistra gives the scientists access to an international research network.
The purpose of IFS, a non-governmental organisation, is to support researchers in developing countries so that they can conduct research of high scientific quality. IFS supports researchers in several ways: financially, through a fellowship programme; by assisting them in designing their projects; and by providing access to an international network comprising researchers from all over the world.IFS caters mainly for young researchers who are not yet established and are just embarking on their careers. Cecilia Öman, scientific coordinator at IFS, says: ‘The researchers we cater for often have some difficulty in obtaining international research funding, so their chances of carrying on with research are slim. We want to support them in doing research that´s relevant and of high quality, and that will benefit the society they live in.´ High scientific qualityIFS receives some 1,400 applications annually. Every application is scrutinised first by a group of expert researchers and then by a scientific panel. IFS then decides which researchers are to be awarded its Research Grants. Dr Öman continues: ‘Since we want to support researchers in countries where scientific culture is developing, we need to support researchers from the start, in their project development. If, for example, we find potentially proficient researchers who have submitted projects of insufficiently high scientific quality, we try to help the researchers in question to revise their projects and re-apply for funding.´ Grantees then receive further help in implementing their projects. IFS offers various courses and workshops. The researchers also gain access to some equipment, scientific literature and mentors. ‘We also help them to attend various scientific conferences and to disseminate their research findings,´ Dr Öman adds. ‘Every Research Grant is for 12,000 dollars. Each project is expected to go on for one to three years and the Grants can be renewed twice. IFS is funded partly by Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and partly by several other organisations and governments around the world.´ Networks offered by MistraThe ultimate goal of IFS´s activities is to strengthen scientific capacity in developing countries. The overarching objective is to combat poverty and bring about more balanced access to both scientific and other resources. One requirement imposed by IFS is that the projects it supports must be relevant to the countries concerned and help to bring about sustainable social development. ‘Our strength is that we work extremely closely with local organisations that have ample knowledge of the kind of research that´s needed in the various countries. But the local researchers have a great need to belong to larger international networks,´ Dr Öman continues. IFS has therefore collaborated with Mistra in a number of projects since 1997. The existing agreement between the two organisations emphasises two purposes of this collaboration. One is to strengthen Swedish researchers in areas that IFS and Mistra have in common, and the other is for Swedish scientists, by taking part, to extend their international involvement.Mutual exchange of knowledgeDr Öman goes on: ‘The Mistra researchers are part of, and a link to, the international scientific front. It´s easy for us to find connections with Mistra´s research. The research we support is a matter of management, conservation and use of biological resources, such as water resources. Our common aim is to create strong international research environments.´She emphasises that the exchange of knowledge between Mistra and the IFS researchers is mutual. ‘The Swedish scientists can show what´s feasible when you have access to resources, and researchers with IFS support can provide knowledge of what can be achieved in the environment where they work.´ FactsMistra has supported the work of IFS since 1997 with total funding of some SEK 18 million. Researchers from Mistra have taken part in research projects in Thailand, South Africa, Kenya, North Korea, Chile and elsewhere. The projects have touched on such areas as social sciences, food production and ecofriendly insect control. Former Mistra programmes that have taken part in this collaboration include Sustainable Food Production (FOOD 21), the Swedish Water Management Research Programme (VASTRA), Sustainable Coastal Zone Management (SUCOZOMA) and Pheromones and Kairomones for Control of Pest Insects (Biosignal).
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