Focus on forests as 6.5 million kronor is awarded to new research projects
Through the strategic partnership The Bridge, IKEA and Södra are investing 6.5 million Swedish kronor in five new research projects in collaboration with researchers at Linnaeus University.
The projects, carried out jointly by academic researchers and employees from IKEA and Södra, aim to promote innovation and sustainable development across the forest value chain.
"Forests are vital for the climate, biodiversity, public health, and as a source of jobs and livelihoods. We are proud to support more research initiatives that can help drive a sustainable future for the forest sector and society at large," says Johan Bergh, professor at Linnaeus University and scientific lead for The Bridge.
In the first funding round of 2025, 13 research proposals were submitted, with a combined funding request of approximately SEK 25 million. Of these, projects totaling SEK 6.5 million have now been selected for funding.
The selected projects address critical sustainability challenges, with a focus on fossil-free forest logistics, bio-based chemicals, wetland restoration, children’s health in relation to nature exposure, and circular furniture design. The research spans areas such as climate, biodiversity, public health, and resource efficiency.
Funded Projects
The following projects have been awarded funding in this round:
- Effektivitetsanalys av fossilfria drivmedel i den skogliga värdekedjan, Åsa Gustafsson, 132 610 kr
- RESTORE-GHG: Effects of wetland restoration on forest greenhouse gas fluxes, Achim Grelle, 1 987 934 kr
- The forest - an active preventive health care for children?, Susanne Knutsson, 479 223 kr
- Functional service life of wooden furniture in society in view of climate change and sustainability impact, Krushna Mahapatra , 600 000 kr
- BioChem – Biological Stability of Biochemicals: From Extracts to the Final Product, Reza Hosseinpourpia, 3 260 352 kr (Preliminary funding granted. A dialogue is ongoing regarding the project’s implementation and resource planning before the final decision is made.)
Decision Process and Upcoming Call
Funding decisions were made by The Bridge Project Committee, consisting of representatives from Linnaeus University, IKEA, and Södra.
The partnership issues two open calls for funding each year, targeted at researchers at Linnaeus University in collaboration with IKEA and/or Södra. The next call opens in autumn 2025, with an application deadline of October 31.
About The Bridge
The Bridge is a strategic collaboration where business needs and academic expertise meet to co-create solutions – through funded research positions, support for education, and investment in joint research projects. IKEA, Linnaeus University and Södra together aim to drive knowledge development that strengthens both competitiveness and societal benefit, with the forest value chain as a central arena.