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Our impact over 40 years

With an ambition to create societal benefits and support business in Sweden, Karl-Adam Bonnier started the foundation in 1986, to support research and education in business administration and corporate law.

This is our story.

For 40 years, the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation has offered an arena for constructive dialogue and knowledge exchange, awarded scholarships to students and support to small businesses, funded research and published publications. The efforts have made an impression and created benefits for individuals as well as companies and decision-makers.

Term 7:

2024-

The foundation is currently in its seventh term. We have an appreciated and well-established organization with a broad network among decision-makers and experts in Swedish business, politics and the public sector. The foundation’s activities focus on initiating change by building knowledge, strengthening collaboration, and influencing policy.

The aim is to contribute to new knowledge and development of business conditions in Sweden. The new board is ready to take the foundation into a new era of activity and renewal.

Term 6:

2019-2024

The sixth mandate period was marked by significant global change and turbulence. Despite this, the period was defined by a wide range of new initiatives, partnerships, and activities, all made possible thanks to the positive development of the foundation’s capital returns.

One of the key strategic initiatives was the launch of the House of Governance and Public Policy (GaPP), a new partnership with the Stockholm School of Economics aimed at strengthening the exchange between the private and public sectors, and ensuring that decision-makers have access to relevant research and insights when shaping the society of tomorrow.

Term 5:

2012-2019

The fifth term of office has been the most eventful in the foundation’s history to date. The foundation broadens its activities and becomes more public. A third operational leg, the Forum for Global Business (FGB), is developed and the foundation is broadens and intensifies its work in research and publications.

Born Globals, Corporate bonds and intrapreneurship are some areas in which the foundation makes research investments during the period to contribute to new knowledge.

A new scholarship program emerges in collaboration with the Stockholm School of Economics and the K-A Bonnier International Fellows Program (KAB-IFP) is launched.

Term 4:

2005-2012

In 2009, Karl-Adam hands over the chairmanship to the next generation. It becomes a term of office where a lot of energy is allocated to asset management, due to the ongoing stock market crash.

The main focus of the board’s work is to diversify the foundation’s investments and discuss the foundation’s properties. During the period, a number of publications are published and FIM becomes an increasingly established and significant platform for constructive dialogue.

Term 3:

1998-2005

The Board, which takes office during the third term, wants to renew the foundation and deepen its work on entrepreneurship and new technology. This affects the election of members.

It becomes a very dynamic board period. Important contributions during this period are the formation of the Forum for Innovation Management (FIM) and the creation of the innovation fund KIF.

Asset management is getting an increased focus and the foundation is closing down a number of apartment buildings in Abrahamsberg, where the majority are being converted into condominiums. Through the sale, the foundation increases its capital.

Term 2:

1991-1998

The most important event of the second term is the start-up of Corporate Governance Forum (CGF). Corporate governance is an area that fits well under the foundation’s purpose description, as it deals with both business administration and corporate law. CGF is the first of the foundation’s three “legs” to be launched. During this term, the work of promoting and spreading of case methodology at Swedish universities continues.

Term 1:

1986-1991

The foundation’s first term is a time of development and construction. The statutes take shape and are revised and the foundation provides support for the construction of a new Juristernas hus and a library in Stockholm.

During the period, the Darden Scholarship is also developed to arouse interest in the case methodology used at Darden Business School, University of Virginia, where Karl-Adam himself studied.