OLLE’S COMMENTS. Sahlgrenska Academy’s Board has come far in their discussion on the partial reinstatement of a performance-based portion when considering distribution of faculty grants among the institutes The members of the Board strongly concur on the issue, and Olle Larkö expects a decision before the summer, he writes in his chronicle.
“Essentially, I think that it is wrong to speak about our reinstating a performance-based grant, even if I am aware that it is perceived that way. In my world, we never stopped distributing grants according to performance. When the previous Board made the decision to reduce the performance-based portion of the grants, they simultaneously increased the Board’s strategic pot to enable investments in reverse brain drain grants and co-financing for young researchers. With these, the researchers’ performance is also a deciding factor.
Up to and including 2012, we distributed 10 percent of the research funding to institutes based on performance. The model that we used at that time was based on bibliometrics and how much funding had been successfully acquired from external financiers. Starting in 2017, it appears that this will be partially reinstated, as ten percent of the faculty grants will, in all probability, begin being allocated by some form of predetermined performance measure. In actual cash amounts, it concerns SEK 38 million that will be allocated according to performance. Compared to, for example, ALF system funds, which roughly equal SEK 400 million, this sum is significantly smaller, but the question is fundamentally important.
There is strong agreement on the issue, and all that remains are the details surrounding the way this allocation shall be done. I would like to ask to come back to this discussion when everything is finalized, but if I can venture a guess, I would say that the Board will likely reach a decision on this issue, before summer.
The model for how we will allocate faculty grants within the faculty has been hashed and rehashed many times. The performance-based grants have actually been a topic of discussion since we introduced them. I think that an active discussion on this issue is healthy and that we give ourselves room to work our way to the best model. We strive for a system that is transparent, where it is clear from the beginning what you should focus on in order to increase your piece of the pie. Our institutes have utterly different circumstances regarding the size and conditions involved in being able to obtain external funding. It is vital that the allocation model is felt to be as fair as possible.
The new Board has been in effect, now, for almost a year, and the work methods have really taken hold. We have a dynamic Board that does not duck important discussions and it is able to agree on which way is the best way for our faculty.
