Q&A Sustainability Fund

To apply for grants and scholarships within the Sustainability Fund you must be a student or employee at Lund University.

Yes, as long as you have ongoing research at Lund University, you are eligible to apply.

As a researcher at Lund University, the Professors' Privilege normally applies, i.e. you own the right to your own research. Being granted funds from the Sustainability Fund does not change that and the university does not claim rights or any ownership shares. If you need to clarify ownership within your research group or with any external parties, there are IP advisors and legal experts within LU Innovation who can assist in such matters.

No, the fund does not only grant climate-related solutions. Our climate is a crucial part of a sustainable future, but we are also looking for solutions that address a number of major and complex social and economic challenges.

No, the Sustainability Fund is a long-term initiative from the University, and funding opportunities will open continuously.

A total of SEK 12 million has been earmarked for the fund to cover the period 2022-2024. In the long term, the fund will be financed by a fee associated with each organisation’s total climate footprint. In the start-up phase, funding will come from the Akademihemman Foundation, a foundation that manages agricultural properties that have been owned by the University for centuries.

Each application will be evaluated by an assessment group put together by the Sustainability forum and LU Innovation.

For the Sustainable Idea Exploration, there will be two different assessment groups, one that focus on applications concerning social/economic sustainability and one that focus on applications concerning environmental sustainability. Each assessment group has experts from LU in the respective fields.

The overall purpose of all three different supports is to promote sustainable development and reduce the University's impact on the climate. You can find the criteria for the Sustainable Idea Exploration here.

For next Sustainable Idea Exploration notice will be given before summer holidays 2023.

Eligible expenses should be related to specific activities needed to develop/demonstrate/verify the innovative potential of the research results and/or salary costs when relevant.

The number of applications that are granted is not determined in advance, but there is a budget to grant up to 15 applications of SEK 150,000 within the framework of Sustainable Idea Exploration during 2022-2024.

No, you do not need to have previous contact with LU Innovation or Sustainability Forum.

Granted projects are reported back after they have been completed through a short, written summary that is sent to LU Innovation.