Funding for research on innovation and society

Background

CIRCLE is an interdisciplinary Centre for Innovation Research. Administratively, CIRCLE is placed at the Department of Design Sciences, but it is run jointly by the Faculty of Engineering, the School of Economics and Management, and the Faculty of Social Sciences. 

The Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences has set aside 720 000 SEK per year for 2025 and 2026 to stimulate innovation research. These funds are now used to announce research grants on the theme of innovation and society.

Purpose

The aim of the research grant is to promote research about the relationship between innovation and social, environmental and economic development. The research may pivot around questions such as: 

• How does innovation relate to societal outcomes for the wellbeing of people and planet, including health, inclusive development, provision of basic services, climate change, and biodiversity?
• What determines and drives the uneven distribution of intended and unintended consequences (i.e. the ‘dark side’) of innovation? 
• Who is empowered and/or excluded to participate in knowledge exchange, innovation development and adoption of new technologies?
• What is the role of firms and non-firm actors in societal transformation and associated social, technical and organizational innovation processes?

Expected output: 

• Work towards a larger research agenda on the theme of innovation and society, as well as work on concrete ideas about research projects and activities to realize the agenda. 
• A research project proposal is drafted and ready for submission to a relevant funding agency. 
• Contribute to the multi-disciplinary research environment at CIRCLE by participating in seminars and events, and a one-day presence per week.  

Conditions

Senior lecturers and associate senior lecturers employed at the Faculty of Social Sciences can apply. The grant covers 20 percent of the salary costs (including overhead costs) for a year with the possibility to extend by one additional year. The successful candidate is encouraged to add parts of their faculty funded research time to the granted 20 percent. The expected starting date is either 1 September 2025 or 1 January 2026. 

After the year at CIRCLE, a brief report is to be submitted that describes the activities and how the time spent at CIRCLE has contributed to both individual researcher’s and CIRCLE’s research. In order to apply for an extension by one additional year, the report is to include a description of future activities.

Application

The application is to include the following:

• Justification and formulation of a research idea contributing to the investigation of the relationship between innovation and social, environmental and economic development. Explain how this research idea relates and adds to the applicant’s current research activities. (Maximum two pages)
• CV
• The approval of the head of department (equivalent) certifying that the reduction in other work duties is possible.

Download the application form here (PDF, 157 kB, new tab)

Send the application to faculty coordinator Elin Hermansson, elin [dot] hermansson [at] sam [dot] lu [dot] se, no later than 15 March 2025.

Assessment

Applications are assessed by a working group composed of the vice dean responsible for research, the faculty’s coordinator for CIRCLE and at least one member of the Faculty Research Council.

Applications are assessed based on the scientific quality of the application and its relevance to the call.

Decision on which applications are granted funding will be made by the dean.