The aim of the foundation is to support research of strategic importance for a good living environment.
The foundation shall promote the development of robust research environments of the highest international class that will have a positive impact on Sweden`s future competitiveness. The research shall play a significant role in solving major environmental problems and contribute to the development of a sustainable society. The potential for achieving industrial applications shall be realised as far as possible.
A MISTRA programme is a meeting place between two worlds. One is the research community, which is moved by the need to constantly be at the cutting edge of knowledge. The other one is the world of real action, which is driven by the need to solve environmental problems. Here, environmentally sound products, services and production processes must earn money in a market, legislation needs to be amended, conflicting interests need to co-exist and agreements need to be drawn up in international environmental negotiations.
Boundaries - primarily those between research and practical implementation - are to be bridged by a MISTRA programme. A MISTRA programme must be able to provide users in enterprises, authorities and organisations, as well as international negotiators, decision-makers on different levels and interest groups, with the latest scientific findings, irrespective of sectoral boundaries. A MISTRA programme must also provide the research community with problems as they have been formulated by the problem owners/users, irrespective of its disciplinary boundaries.
A MISTRA programme is successful when research of high international class is put to practical use. MISTRA is for researchers who want to tackle problems, the solutions to which can forward the development towards a sustainable society; Swedish companies who want to be at the cutting edge when it comes to developing environmentally sound products, services or production processes. Scientific and commercial perspectives must be combined; authorities and legislators who wish to tighten the requirements on activities that may harm the environment. Tougher requirements must be based on solid scientific foundations; international negotiators charged with the task to draw up international agreements on more stringent environmental requirements. A MISTRA programme must be able to meet both the demands of the international research community for quality and the need of negotiators for accurate information; non-governmental organisations and others striving for sustainable development.
A MISTRA programme is headed by an executive committee, which constantly focuses on problem solving and the practical implementation of research. MISTRA diligently keeps track of each programme during its entire lifetime and the secretariat meets representatives of each programme several times a year.
A MISTRA programme can expect funding over two 3-4-year periods - on condition that specified quality requirements have been fulfilled.
Developing a programme proposal can take time. MISTRA is therefore also able to give financial support to a single planning phase. For this reason, it is advantageous if the potential users are involved right from the start.
A MISTRA programme proposal will be evaluated [by Swedish and international experts] according to four criteria:
The proposed environmental problem must be relevant;
The proposed research programme must be of high scientific quality;
There must be a plan detailing how the research results will be put to practical use;
The proposed management team must be able to provide written proof of its proficiency.
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