The Swedish Knowledge & Research Centre

Policy on Academic Freedom

Date: 5 June 2025
Swedish Knowledge & Research Centre (SKRC)

The Swedish Knowledge & Research Centre (SKRC) affirms its full commitment to upholding the principles of academic freedom, as enshrined in the Swedish Constitution (Regeringsformen, Chapter 2, Section 18), the Magna Charta Universitatum, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Article 13). This policy outlines SKRC’s governance and operational commitments to maintain and protect academic freedom across all research-related activities.

1. Definition and Scope

Academic freedom at SKRC includes:

  • Freedom of Research: The right of researchers to freely choose research topics and methodologies.
  • Freedom of Publication and Dissemination: The right to openly share results without undue interference.
  • Freedom of Expression: The right of all affiliated researchers and educators to express academic opinions freely.
  • Institutional Autonomy: SKRC’s right to independently determine its research priorities and internal structures, free from undue external influence.

These rights apply to all researchers and academic collaborators affiliated with SKRC, whether employed, guest researchers, or volunteers.

2. Institutional Commitment

As a research-supporting organization, SKRC guarantees the following:

  • Non-Interference: SKRC’s leadership does not intervene in the content, design, analysis, or dissemination of scientific results, except in cases of legal or ethical violations.
  • Pluralism and Integrity: Researchers are free to express diverse viewpoints and interpret data independently, provided their work adheres to scientific rigor and professional ethics.
  • Open Access: All publicly funded research outcomes are expected to be published and disseminated openly, in accordance with the principles of FAIR data (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and the policies of Naturvårdsverket, Vetenskapsrådet, and EU Framework Programmes.

3. Governance and Oversight

To implement this policy, SKRC will:

  • Anchor academic freedom in its internal regulations, including project plans, grant agreements, and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
  • Require all research projects to undergo ethical review and quality assurance, where applicable.
  • Ensure that no researcher faces sanctions, career restrictions, or administrative pressure due to the content of their scientifically valid work.
  • Maintain a clear complaints mechanism for reporting violations of academic freedom or research misconduct.
  • Conduct periodic reviews of this academic freedom policy as part of governance evaluations, including input from an external advisory body where appropriate.

4. Relations with External Partners

SKRC’s research activities often involve collaboration with universities, ministries, and institutions in Sweden, the GCC, MENA, and Africa. In these partnerships:

  • Academic freedom is preserved through MoUs that explicitly define the roles, responsibilities, and independence of researchers.
  • SKRC acts as a neutral coordinating platform, not a controlling entity regarding research content.
  • External funders and stakeholders may suggest research directions but may not restrict academic inquiry or censor findings.

5. Compliance and Alignment

This policy is in full alignment with:

  • The Swedish Higher Education Act (Högskolelagen) and the Swedish Constitution (Regeringsformen).
  • The European Commission Recommendation (2005/251/EC) on the European Charter for Researchers.
  • The principles of the Magna Charta Universitatum (Bologna, 1988; Global Edition 2020).