Conference turris::scandia

98.0. "Technology transfer in Sweden" by TLE::SAVAGE (Neil, @Spit Brook) Wed May 07 1986 10:19

    The following discussion is taken from an article by Ros Herman that
    appears in the British magazine, New Scientist, 17 April 1986: 

    In 1977 the Swedish government set up the FRN [the acronym translates
    as "Council for Planning and Coordination of Research"]. The task of
    this organization has been to improve two-way communication between
    scientists and the community. 

    People from outside the academic scientific community dominate this
    council.  Each of the four main political parties nominates a member,
    as do the trade unions and the confederation of employers.  Municipal
    authorities and county councils also send along nominees. 

    The secretary of the FRN is Annagreta Dyring, who happens to be married
    to the science correspondent of the Swedish daily, Dagens Nyheter. In a
    booklet explaining FRN's philosophy, she writes, "Research is no longer
    a matter of splendid isolation. The researchers have begun to cooperate
    across disciplinary boundaries, and the State and enterprise are
    tending more and more to become partners in R&D.  Trade union
    organizations are drawing up research policy programs, initiating
    research and taking part in decision-making bodies concerned with
    research.  The media are trying to step up their research coverage and
    the State is investing money in the encouragement of research
    information and debate." 

    Among its broad objectives, the FRN is charged with monitoring
    community research needs and initiating new research programs.  Most of
    the money that has passed through FRN's hands has been spent on
    scientific equipment that is so expensive that it has to be paid for by
    central government. 

    In Sweden, the state subsidizes both print and broadcast media, so
    scientific journals receive subsidies from the FRN, or from one of the
    classical research councils if the jurisdiction is clear.  The main
    science monthly, Forskning och Framsteg [Research and Progress], with a
    circulation of 50,000, is supported by a number of national agencies. 

    Since 1979, the FRN has also been working to promote scientific
    understanding among museum staff, union organizations and adult
    education associations, as well as among researchers and journalists.
    The aim is to encourage researchers to take part in public debate on
    important and topical issues such as acid rain and genetic engineering.
    The FRN publishes inexpensive editions of books that embody these
    debates, as well as more straightforward accounts of science by active
    researchers.  Recently, the Riksdag resolved that such accounts would
    carry credential points for professorships and post-secondary
    lectureships. 

    To improve communication within the scientific community, the FRN is
    attempting to build up an information network for keeping industry up
    to date with new technological developments.  A similar network is
    already well established for the agricultural and building research
    communities is Sweden. 

    With an eye on impressing the movers and shakers, the FRN recently set
    up a committee to disseminate current research information to "national
    and local decision makers."  Also, a FRN commission established last
    year will "analyze the distribution and structures of power [in
    research and research policy] in Sweden." 

    In contrast to many other societies (even the U.S.), the Swedish
    traditions of openness and democracy run so deep that their government
    not only encourages the free flow of technological information, but is
    prepared to PAY for that free flow.