Increased research grants to higher education institutions and research funders

As in previous years, the expenditure area of Education and academic research accounts for most of the government budget allocations for R&D, with SEK 32.4 billion, or 66 percent. It is also the expenditure area where R&D funds increase the most compared to 2024, an increase of SEK 1.6 billion in current prices. The increase is mainly explained by increased research grants to higher education institution, and to the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish National Space Agency, as a result of the new research and innovation bill. Direct research appropriations allocated to higher education institutions within the expenditure^[1] area are estimated to increase by SEK 987 million compared to 2024, of which SEK 335 million are an earmarked reinforcement of higher education institutions’ research grants via the appropriation Special expenses within universities and colleges. These increased funds will be allocated through competition to promote excellent research. The Swedish Research Council and the Swedish National Space Agency's research grants are estimated to increase by SEK 545 million and SEK 48 million respectively.

The second largest expenditure area is Industry and trade, which is estimated to be allocated R&D funds of SEK 4.45 billion, or 9 percent of the total GBARD. Here, R&D funds are allocated to the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) and the research institute RISE. Despite a large share of R&D funds being allocated here, the allocated R&D funds in 2025 are estimated to decrease in current prices compared to 2024. The decrease is partly due to reduced research grants to Vinnova. In the 2024 budget bill, significant reductions in Vinnova's appropriations for research and innovation of SEK 367 million were announced for 2025. Within the framework of the new research and innovation bill, the appropriation was reinforced by SEK 315.6 million for 2025, resulting in a total decrease of SEK 51.4 million. Additionally, the weaker development is also due to lower estimated R&D funds in the appropriation Business Development, which decreases by SEK 81 million. This, in turn, is explained by a 37 percent decrease in the total appropriation. RISE receives an increased appropriation of SEK 47 million, of which SEK 27 million are intended for industrial research and research in emerging and groundbreaking technologies, initiatives presented in the research and innovation bill. Summarising all changes within the expenditure area, a decrease of 85 million in current prices compared to 2024 is estimated.

Other research funders also receive increased research grants in 2025 as a direct consequence of the research and innovation bill. The Swedish Research Council for Health, Life and Welfare’s (expenditure area Health care, medical care and social services) research grant is estimated to increase by SEK 62 million, while Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development’s research grants (expenditure areas Climate, environment and nature as well as Land- and water-based industries, rural areas and food) are estimated to increase by a total of SEK 100 million. Both in Health care, medical care and social services as well as Land- and water-based industries, rural areas and food, R&D funds increase by around 7 percent due to the increased grants, an increase corresponding to SEK 71 million and SEK 151 million respectively compared to 2024. R&D funds allocated to Climate, environment and nature, however, decrease by SEK 94 million, or 3.4 percent, despite a reinforcement of the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development’s research grant by SEK 20 million. This is due to a 7.7 percent decrease in total allocated funds for the appropriation The industrial leap, an appropriation which is estimated to consist largely of R&D funds, thus returning to a similar level as in 2023.

Next, the allocation of 25 percent of the government budget allocations for R&D was earmarked for the general advancement of knowledge from other sources than GUF, followed by 7 percent to Health, 6 percent to Energy, and 4.5 percent to Transport, telecommunications, and other infrastructure.

GBARD directed to defence is the socioeconomic objective that increases the most in relative terms. Compared to 2024, GBARD for defence purposes is estimated to increase by around 21 percent (SEK 345 million). The increase is due to increased research grants to the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI). The Swedish Armed Forces' research grant, Research and technology development, is estimated to increase by 177 million, while The Swedish Defence Agency’s is estimated to increase by around SEK 193 million, of which SEK 135 million is estimated to be for defence purposes.