Political polarization with verbal threats and physical attacks, a global pandemic where the world is forced to adapt to a new reality, an ever-escalating climate crisis and the global urbanization trend.

Recent years have shown the necessity of understanding the turbulent world we live in today, in order to meet tomorrow's challenges. That's why five foundations and associations in Sweden and Finland are launching a major research program: Future challenges in the Nordic region - people, culture and society.

The program is a seven-year investment in humanities and social science research in areas that pose major challenges in the Nordics, both socially and culturally. It could, for example, be about migration, polarization between city and countryside, climate change, economic and technological development or new ways of communicating.

Research grants of up to one million euros

The research program is a collaboration between the Finnish foundations and associations the Swedish Literature Society in Finland, the Swedish Culture Fund, Suomen Kulttuurirahasto and Stiftelsen Brita Maria Renlunds minne, and the Swedish foundation Riksbankens Jubileumsfond. Together, the financiers want to make a concrete difference in society.

- Through a research program in which several foundations and associations participate, we can finance projects of very high quality, because we can award larger grants than usual and the researchers have the opportunity to work within the program for four years, says Christer Kuvaja, head of research at the Swedish Literature Society in Finland.

The program will finance five to ten research projects until 2026. The research grants are high – it is possible to apply for up to one million euros for a project. The researchers are encouraged to collaborate across both national and disciplinary boundaries.

Social scientists and humanists are needed to solve societal challenges

The goal of the program is that the research conducted should contribute with concrete social benefit.

- A lot of research is done on societal challenges, but the emphasis is often on medical and natural science issues. Now we get a broad humanistic and social science perspective on the challenges from people who understand the historical, cultural, social and political contexts that have brought us to where we are today. That knowledge provides a good basis for those who have to make decisions about our common future, says Kuvaja.

Decisions about which research projects are selected for the program are made at the end of the year. The projects can start in 2022.

Read more on the program's website futurenordics.org.