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Leading with ideas

‘Leadership is the crux of a Mistra programme. Research for sustainable development is based on sustained leadership.´

These words open a new book about leadership in Mistra’s research programmes.

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Photo: Olof Olsson
PUBLISHED ON 24.2.2005

Pre-announcement of research initiatives

Mistra will announce two calls for pre-proposals in June 2005:
  • Trade and Environment
  • Interdisciplinary Mistra centre for sustainable ecosystem and natural resource management
Trade and Environment
The aim of the initiative is to support Swedish and other European actors (primarily negotiators) in integrating environmental aspects into international trade negotiations by providing scientific knowledge and tools. Mistra will be looking for ideas for a large-scale, integrated research programme of an interdisciplinary character.

Interdisciplinary Mistra centre for sustainable ecosystem and natural resource management
Aims in brief:

  • To set up a centre, connected to a Swedish university, with an international board and its own budget.
  • Applicants will have the full support of the university management.
  • The annual budget will be sufficient to create a critical mass for interaction between social and natural sciences (probably at least MSEK 20 per year). Mistra intends to fund a significant proportion of the budget, but the host will be expected to contribute co-financing.
  • A chief aim with the centre is that the research must be interdisciplinary across the boarders of social and natural sciences.
  • The centre must be capable of creating career opportunities for researchers who are interested in interdisciplinary research.
  • The centre must be capable, on its own initiative, of attracting qualified international researchers and stimulating cooperation with its most prominent international counterparts.
  • The centre must be capable of operating for a long time and will regularly evaluate its activities with regard to scientific quality and user benefit .
  • It should be possible to initiate activities gradually. Mistra will carry out a study of international experience of similar activities.

More information about the calls:
More information will follow in the calls. The calls will be available at Mistra's website www.mistra.org on June 1, 2005.

For more information on Mistra's application process and timeschedule, please see guide for how to apply

Would you like us to e-mail the calls to you? If so, please send an e-mail with your name and e-mail address to:
marie.uhrwing@mistra.org for the Trade and Environment initiative; or
olof.olsson@mistra.org for the Mistra Centre initiative.

Updated: 3.11.2010

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Remember that...
It takes time — much more than most people think — to formulate a programme proposal that crosses boundaries, both those between disciplines and those between research and application. Make time and provide venues for meetings, and invest in team spirit.

It takes careful thought to ensure that the programme meets both the researchers’ career development needs and the users’ need for valuable practical benefits.

Interdisciplinary research often takes longer than research in a single discipline. Make sure you allow enough time.

The work involved in a Mistra programme often requires experienced researchers with both in-depth and wide-ranging knowledge. The programme therefore needs a balance between senior scientists and PhD students.

Avoid involving many small-scale, part-time researchers in the programme. This makes it more difficult to attain common aims in the programme.

The programme manager is a key person in the programme’s efforts to make its planned contribution. Being a Mistra programme manager is, as a rule, a full-time job. Think carefully about who is best suited for the challenging task of leading your team.

Strive to ensure two-way communication between the researchers and users. A one-sided presentation of ideas and research findings by the scientists seldom generates a feeling of participation and commitment in the intended users.