"The partnership creates stronger knowledge environments"
The Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation and the Stockholm School of Economics have collaborated for several decades. The partnership began in the late 1980s with a scholarship program that introduced the American case method to Sweden, an educational approach that is now widely used across Swedish universities and colleges. Since then, the collaboration has gradually evolved into a broader partnership focused on research, public policy, and knowledge exchange, with initiatives such as the House of Governance and Public Policy, the K-A Bonnier Center for Governance, and the establishment of the Nordic region’s first Master of Public Policy program.
For President Lars Strannegård, the partnership with the Foundation is about creating and sharing knowledge that contributes to societal development.
– The Stockholm School of Economics exists to strengthen Sweden’s competitiveness. Questions concerning the organization of society as a whole are therefore central, and it is important to maintain a broad perspective, says Lars Strannegård.
A broader perspective on competitiveness
One of the most significant joint initiatives in recent years is the House of Governance and Public Policy, which emerged from the realization that many of the most important challenges of the future require closer collaboration between business, the public sector, and academia. The initiative was inspired in part by leading international universities, while also building on research and expertise that already existed within the Stockholm School of Economics.
– We have a long tradition and many researchers who have worked with governance and public policy issues for a long time. With the House of Governance and Public Policy, we made a clear and more strategic commitment.
Since its launch, the initiative has grown rapidly and become an important part of the school’s development.
– It has created tremendous value for us. We have become more relevant to society, gained international recognition, and attracted researchers who are interested in these types of issues. The House of Governance and Public Policy also contributes to our ambition of becoming an even more knowledge-intensive institution.
More than a traditional funder
An important aspect of the initiative has been translating research and new perspectives into dialogue with people who actually make decisions. The Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation contributes networks, project leadership, and platforms that help the Stockholm School of Economics turn research into dialogue and knowledge exchange among researchers, experts, and decision-makers.
– We see the foundation as a partner, not merely a funder. It is someone we can exchange ideas with, a partner that contributes platforms, expertise, project leadership, and networks. We are extremely pleased with the collaboration.
Strengthening Sweden’s international voice
The next major step in the collaboration between the Stockholm School of Economics and the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation is the international Master of Public Policy (MPP) program. The program aims to educate future leaders in the public sector, international organizations, and other organizations working at the intersection of policy and society.
The initiative is rooted in a growing need for individuals who understand the interplay between politics, business, and societal development in an increasingly complex world. The goal is to create a program of the highest international standard while building on Swedish strengths in innovation, entrepreneurship, and public administration.
– The program broadens who we are as an institution. We have ambitious goals and want it to be recognized as a top-tier program with strong international appeal. Sweden could be far better represented within organizations such as the European Union and the United Nations system, and I believe this type of education can play an important role in achieving that.
According to Lars Strannegård, the fact that the MPP program is now becoming a reality is due in large part to the collaboration with the Foundation.
– The Foundation has been instrumental in bringing together key stakeholders to discuss our Master of Public Policy program. It has contributed both knowledge generation and the dissemination of information that has made this possible.
A partnership with an eye on the future
For Lars Strannegård, the collaboration with the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation is an example of how long-term relationships can create the conditions for meaningful change. It is not only about individual initiatives, but about an ongoing dialogue in which research, business, and the public sector can come together over time. Looking ahead, he sees several areas where this type of collaboration will be critical to Sweden’s future development.
– The relationships we have built together enable us to address the major challenges ahead, and those challenges are only growing, concludes Lars Strannegård.
