The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien) is an independent, non- governmental organisation with a charter that, in its first article, defines its function as promoting the sciences and strengthening their influence in society. The Academy promotes science of the highest quality by fostering development and innovation in Swedish research. It enhances the status of science in society by drawing attention to key social issues, examining them in scientific terms and communicating the results, and joins in cooperation on global issues, with the aim of being an international scientific proponent of sustainable development.
The Academy seeks chiefly:
- to be a forum where researchers can meet across subject borders
- to offer unique research environments
- to support young researchers
- to reward prominent contributions to research
- to arrange international scientific contacts
- to act as a voice of science and influence research policy priorities
- to stimulate interest in mathematics and the natural sciences in schools
- to disseminate scientific and popular-scientific information in various forms.
Every year the Academy awards the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry, the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, the Crafoord Prize and a number of other large prizes. It also awards many different kinds of scholarships, grants, scientific exchange and research fellow positions in many scientific fields.
