News from the management

These facilities also help us in securing competitive funding, improve education quality, make us an attractive partner for collaboration, drive innovation and increase our visibility both nationally and internationally. To ensure these resources remain relevant, it is essential that we continuously evaluate, update, and strategically invest in them.

At the LTV faculty, we have a diverse portfolio of research infrastructure, spanning large-scale facilities to smaller, specialized labs across the natural and social sciences. To manage these effectively, the faculty board has established a clear framework for how infrastructure is categorized and prioritized for funding. This structured approach helps us strategically plan for maintenance, development, and financial support.

LTV research infrastructure is based on a clear set of objectives (1) and falls into four main categories (2) as decided by the faculty board (SLU ID: SLU.ltv.2025.1.1-114).

Category 2.1: Infrastructure of special relevance. This is the only category defined at the central SLU level, recognizing the infrastructure's particular importance for the entire university. However, this designation does not come with a specific central SLU funding allocation. Our faculty's infrastructure in this category includes the Biotron, greenhouses, Trädgårdslabbet, Lönnstorp, and the Landscape Lab. The funding of these infrastructures is, however, based on one of the following categories they belong to.

Category 2.2: Co-financed by the faculty. This category includes infrastructure that receives direct co-financing from the faculty. It currently comprises the Biotron, greenhouses, Trädgårdslabbet, and Lönnstorp. The amount of funding that each infrastructure receives differs and is adjusted as needed.

Category 2.3.1: Departmentally financed with temporary faculty co-financing. Infrastructure in this category is primarily funded by the departments, with the possibility of temporary, competitive co-financing from the faculty. This includes the Landscape Lab, Sensola, Food Lab, and the Protein Factory for 2026.

Category 2.3.2: Fully financed by the departments. This category covers all other research infrastructure that is entirely funded and managed at the departmental level.

This categorization is not just an administrative exercise but a tool that guides our strategic planning and helps us make informed decisions when prioritizing funding allocations for maintenance and development.

Call for Proposals: Category 2.3.1 co-financing

The faculty is soon opening the call for new ideas and suggestions for co-financing under Category 2.3.1 for the year 2027.

This is an opportunity to secure temporary faculty funding ranging from 100,000 SEK to 1,000,000 SEK per year for either existing infrastructure or completely new initiatives to a total of max 60% co-financing of the costs.

This funding is competitive and allocated one year at a time. Therefore, proposals must be submitted annually even for the infrastructure in this category funded the previous year.

In addition to funding, this call also allows us to work on a bottom-up approach in making priorities guided by the needs of the employees and students.

To be eligible for category 2.3.1 co-financing, the infrastructure must demonstrate strategic importance to the faculty's subject areas, relevance for one or more departments at the faculty and motivate how it will enable high-quality research and education.

Proposals must outline a clear plan for ensuring equal user access, providing necessary support and training, and long-term financing.

The application submission process will be managed by the Heads of Department, who will soon receive detailed guidelines and instructions.

The deadline for Heads of Department to submit suggestions to the faculty is the end of May and the faculty board decides on which proposals to fund towards the end of this year.

If you have an idea or see a need for development of either existing or new research infrastructure, kindly contact your Head of Department!