Learning Process on Collaboration with Stakeholders in Research

A Learning Process on Collaboration in Research

To learn from its support of research collaboration, Forte is conducting a learning process from 2023 to 2026 in partnership with Forum for Social Innovation Sweden. The learning process is based on three calls for proposals in Forte’s national programs, in which collaboration was either a requirement or was specifically encouraged: Applied Welfare Research 2022, Mental Health of Children and Youth 2022, and Co-creation for Sustainable Work Life Development 2023.

The learning process consists of three parts:  

• Document review of the calls for proposals and applications 

• Surveys, interviews, and learning sessions with researchers, community stakeholders, and Forte staff members 

• Literature Review on the Benefits of Collaboration in Research 

The document analysis focuses on the objectives and outcomes of the calls for proposals, specifically examining the similarities and differences between the calls’ requirements for collaboration and the planning of collaboration in the submitted and approved applications, as well as the review panels’ comments on the approved applications. 

The survey focuses on project planning and implementation, specifically on how the project managers of the approved applications have perceived and handled Forte’s request for collaboration, as well as their experiences with the practical implementation of this collaboration within the projects. 

The interviews with the projects that received funding through the calls for proposals focus on deepening the understanding of their collaboration with societal actors, based on the results of the survey. The interviews with Forte focus on the process surrounding the three calls for proposals included in the learning process. 

The learning sessions focus on the exchange of knowledge and experiences regarding research collaboration. Project leaders, participating researchers, and stakeholders from the projects attended; research secretaries and other relevant Forte staff attended on behalf of Forte; and the coordinator and two of the researchers leading the learning process attended on behalf of Forum for Social Innovation Sweden . 

The literature review focuses on scientific evidence that collaboration with societal stakeholders contributes to the quality, societal relevance, and societal benefits of research. 

Background on the Learning Process

Swedish and European research policies advocate involving relevant societal stakeholders in research to ensure its societal relevance, societal benefit, and scientific quality. The societal stakeholders involved may be individuals—such as residents, service users, staff, and others—or organizations from the public sector, civil society, and the business community. Collaboration can take place to varying degrees, depending on the purpose and context of the research. For example, Forte calls for so-called “co-creation,” in which societal stakeholders are actively involved in several parts of the research process.

On a more general level, collaboration can be understood in light of three different logics in research: 

• Mode 1 – in which research is conducted independently by researchers, based on research questions that are relevant primarily from a scientific perspective. 

• Mode 2 – in which research is conducted in collaboration between researchers and other societal actors, based on research questions that are both theoretically and practically relevant. 

• Mode 3 – in which research is conducted within a complex system of researchers and other actors in various sectors of society. 

Contact

Anna Tengqvist

National and International Coordinator

anna.tengqvist@mau.se 040-665-70-34