For the fourth time, SLU hosted Funding Day – this time in Umeå. The morning programme featured presentations from regional and national funders, offering updates on current calls, what they look for, and how to improve your chances of securing support. The afternoon shifted to practical tools and hands-on advice from SLU staff on communication, how to work across disciplines, and putting your research to use.
Deputy Dean Pernilla Christensen opened the event by welcoming speakers and participants. The organisers – SLU Grants Office, SLU Global, SLU Holding, and Fundraising – then highlighted the internal support available to SLU researchers seeking funding.
The first invited speaker, Frida Anundson, CEO of Sparbanksstiftelsen Norrland and Sparbanksstiftelsen Norrlands Riskkapitalstiftelse, spoke about the types of companies and stages they invest in. Frida underscored a key theme of Funding Day: the right financing at the right time. Above all, she emphasised starting with a clear “why”: What change do you want to create? This purpose will drive you through challenges. She also stressed the importance of building trust – the foundation of all successful collaborations.
Karin Fällman, Sustainability Manager at Skogssällskapet, highlighted the value of collaborations between universities. Alice Kempe, Chair of the Kempe Foundations, emphasised the importance of communicating co-financing plans and noted their positive view of interdisciplinary research. Nils Mårtensson, CEO of the Carl Tryggers Foundation, added that beyond funding research, they also support conferences, preferably established series. All three shared practical tips for improving application success – with one common piece of advice: always read the instructions carefully, even after the decision is announced.
Before lunch, Sussi Mikaelsson, from Vinnova, National Contact Person for Horizon Europe’s Cluster 6 “Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment”, offered a preview of draft calls for 2026–2027, and highlighted those most relevant to SLU.
After lunch, William Lidberg, Assistant Senior Lecturer in Soil Science at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management, presented his research integrating AI and geodata - and how this has led to commercial applications.
Anna Morén, Marketing Officer at the Faculty of Forest Sciences, shared practical advice on presenting research in a clear and engaging way. The organisers also reminded researchers of the importance of having an up-to-date CV page on the SLU web.
The day concluded with Carina Keskitalo, Visiting Professor at the Department of Forest Resource Management, who reflected on her career in interdisciplinary research and shared personal insights on opportunities and pitfalls.
