In July 2010, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), through its program for Partner Driven Cooperation (Aktörssamverkan), announced a call for applications for grants to collaborative projects related to access to and use of research for the period 2010 – 2012. This program is not support to research but rather assisting partners in assessing and using research in policy formulation and innovation. Sida’s initiative for Partner Driven Cooperation is aiming to support sustainable cooperation relationships, and concerns only a few selected countries, namely China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.

Grants are for maximum three years (2010-2012) and for a maximum of 1.5 MSEK per year. Sida has reserved 30 million Swedish crowns (SEK) per year 2010-2012 for this call. More information.
In December 2010, decisions were made. A total number of 32 projects were selected (see the full list), out of which nine refers to Indo-Swedish collaboration projects. 

The Swedish grant recipients are:

Karlstad University

Department: Department of Nursing Science
Researcher: Professor Elsy Athlin
Research Project: ”Collaboration between academy and clinical practice to promote evidence-based practice in India and Swedish health care”
Funding: SEK 4.3 m for three years (2010-12).

Karolinska Institutet Medical University Stockholm 

Department: Division of Global health (IHCAR)
Researcher: Professor Vinod Diwan (photo to the left)
Research Project: ”Evidence for policy and implementation – intensifying efforts to achieve health related MDGs in four Asian countries with developing economies (EPI-7) India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia”
Funding: SEK 12 m for three years (2010-12).
More information about the project.

Royal Institute of Art (KKH), Stockholm

Researcher: Professors Tina Wik and Henrietta Palmér
Research Project: ”Inclusive Planning for Developing Urban India”
Funding: SEK 2.77 m for two years (2010-11)
More information about the project.

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm

Department: Division of Medical Engineering, School of Technology and Health (STH)
Researcher: Dr. Mannan Mridha (photo)
Research Project: ”Development of cost-effective and Mobile Diagnostic Systems for application in the developing countries”
Funding: SEK 1.4 m for two years (2010-11). More information about the project. 
More information about the project.

Skövde University 

Department: School of Life Sciences
Researcher: Professor Abul Mandal (photo)
Research Project: ”Bioremediation of toxic metals and other pollutants for protecting human health and the ecosystem”
Funding: SEK 4.5 m for three years (2010-12).
More information about the project.

Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

Department: International Maternal and Child Health (IMCH), Department of Women’s and Children’s Health
Researcher: Dr. Cecilia Ruben
Research Project: ”Enhanced Sustainable Sanitation Provision in Flooded Areas of India: Researchers and Practitioners Collaborate for Policy Reform and MDG Fulfillment”
Funding: SEK 3.9 m for three years (2010-12). 

Stockholm University

Department: Department of Applied Environmental Science
Researcher: Professor Örjan Gustafsson (photo)
Research Project:  ”Climate and health-afflicting “Brown Air” in northern India: evaluation of sources, advise on mitigation options and advocacy for action"
Funding: SEK 4.2 m for three years (2010-12).
 

Department: Department of Systems Ecology
Researcher: Dr. Maria Tengö (photo to the left)
Research Project: ”Bridging the science-policy gap for governance of ecosystem services – lessons learned from sacred ecosystems”
Funding: SEK 4.17 m for three years (2010-12).

Uppsala University

Department: International Maternal and Child Health (IMCH), Department of Women’s and Children’s Health
Researcher: Dr. Pia Olsson (photo to the right) and Amal Omer-Salim
Research Project: ”Using evidence-based advocacy to improve infant and young child health and survival in India”
Funding: SEK 4.5 m for three years (2010-12). 
More information about the project.