The Arctic Six Chair resulted in millions to research project

Earlier this autumn, Luleå University of Technology was granted funding of SEK 41.1 million from Riksbankens Jubileumsfond for a research programme on historical land conflicts in northern Sweden. This is the first time that Luleå University of Technology, and the Division of Social Sciences, is granted an RJ programme. The Arctic Six collaboration programme Arctic Six Chairs has contributed to this success.

“Through my position as Arctic Six Chair, I have had the opportunity to coordinate the sort of qualified application that is required for an RJ–programme, says Christina Allard, Professor of Law.”

The requirements for being granted an RJ programme from Riksbankens Jubileumsfond are high. Approval of the project application requires a “joint and well-coordinated research task in the social sciences and humanities that a group of qualified researchers with ties to Sweden carry out over a longer period of time.” and “a highly qualified research environment or research network with a high level of competence among the researchers and the research leader.” Normally, only the largest Swedish universities are granted an RJ programme.

Six Nordic universities cooperate

The Arctic Six is a collaborative organisation of six universities in Sweden, Norway and Finland on issues related to the European Arctic: Luleå University of Technology, Umeå University, University of Oulu, University of Lapland, UiT The Arctic University of Norway and recently also Nord University. The idea is that the senior researchers holding a Chair will work to develop new or existing research and education collaborations between one or more member universities, and in particular to seek external funding for such collaborations. Christina Allard holds an Arctic Six Chair since 2022.

“Getting an RJ programme application approved does not only require meeting the fund's criteria. It requires extensive coordination between participating researchers in different disciplines to be able to "work out" a well-formulated application at a completely different level than a regular project application. The time allocated to me within the framework of my Chair was a prerequisite for this to be possible.”

Good interdisciplinary environment

During her time as Chair, she has also led the research network and collaboration in NORSIL - “The Nordic Research Network for Sámi and Indigenous Peoples Law”, where she has organised smaller conferences on current themes. This network helped her to make a good application to Riksdagens Jubileumsfond.

Christina Allard highlights the good interdisciplinary research environment that Luleå University of Technology has in the social sciences.

“We are few enough that we can discuss research ideas and other things over a cup of coffee. We have strong research in all disciplines, but we do not beat on the drum as often as we should. We should be better at showing how good we are. Being an Arctic Six Chair provides a better platform for creating or deepening already existing collaborations within the Arctic universities – especially to land bigger money. Without external funding, such collaborations will stall after a while otherwise”, says Christina Allard.

• Read more about the programme
• Read more about The Arctic Six Chair External link.