When it was decided to merge Gotland University College with Uppsala University, there were two principal objectives: to attract more researchers, teachers and students to Visby; and to develop and expand research both qualitatively and quantitatively. Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor on Campus Gotland Olle Jansson takes up the story:

“From the outset, it was decided to earmark funds for specific research investments, which were allocated to many different projects. However, when this approach was eventually evaluated, it was realised that there was a need to plan investments more strategically.”

Package of state aid

One factor affecting this process was the government’s decision not to permit Region Gotland to lease the harbour in Slite to Russian energy company Gazprom for its Nord Stream gas pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea.

“To compensate for this, a state aid package of SEK 100 million was agreed to support regional development. At the same time, Uppsala University was engaged in dialogue with the government that resulted in SEK 40 million of this aid going directly to the University for investment in research.”

Combined with the funds already allocated by Uppsala University, this resulted in a pot of approximately SEK 90 million to be spent over a five-year period, which led to plans being laid for larger and longer projects linked to the already adopted strategic goals of Campus Gotland’s operations: sustainable development, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research, and regional collaboration.

“We called on both individual researchers and research groups to submit proposals linked to education and research at Campus Gotland and the first project funding was allocated during 2018.”

Regional and international relevance

Current projects are funded until 2023–2024, with investments made in fields that are expected to be areas of strength, such as energy transition, digitalisation, sustainable destination development, cultural heritage and public health. A recently established multidisciplinary graduate school on sustainable development is the single largest investment, at approximately SEK 35 million to fund 12 doctoral students from nine different departments. The criteria for admission to the graduate school were that research projects would focus on sustainability challenges affecting Gotland, but also be of relevance internationally.

“What we hoped for – and what we already see has happened – was that our investment would help research to take a small leap forward. We saw it as an injection to help stimulate and get projects rolling that could then stand on their own two feet. However, we hope that in future there will be some annual economic stimulus for interdisciplinary investments, as these tend to be slightly more difficult to fund through the University’s regular financing system.”

In addition to building volume, strengthening research and improving quality, the investment is also about creating the preconditions for the next generation of researchers at Campus Gotland. A major investment has been made in postdoctoral fellowships.

Ready for the next step

The Advisory Board for Campus Gotland is monitoring all aspects of the investment through reports and written evaluations submitted by the projects that have received funding, both on an ongoing basis and on the conclusion of each project.

“Current strategic goals for Campus Gotland are formulated until the end of 2021. With the appointment of a new vice-chancellor at the beginning of 2021, the question of the next step in the development of Campus Gotland is very much on the agenda. The Vice-Chancellor has now decided to commission an inquiry with the aim of creating optimal conditions for realising the potential of Campus Gotland in relation to Uppsala University’s goals and strategies.”

Portrait of Olle Jansson. Photo: Daniel Olsson.