EcoChange is to be evaluated as one of Sweden’s strategic research environments. The evaluation covers the period 2016–2025 and will assess the scientific quality of the research, the benefits it has created for society, and how the initiative has contributed to the development of EcoChange as a research environment. This page brings together information about the evaluation, the documentation that must be prepared, and key dates in the process.
1. What is happening?
The Swedish Government has commissioned the Swedish Research Council to carry out a new evaluation of Sweden’s Strategic Research Areas (SFO). EcoChange is one of the research environments included in the evaluation.
The evaluation concerns activities conducted during the period 2016–2025. International experts will assess EcoChange against a number of common criteria. The assessment will be based on, among other things, publications, a self-evaluation, and case studies describing how the research has contributed to change beyond academia.
The Swedish Research Council is conducting the evaluation in collaboration with Formas, Forte, the Swedish Energy Agency, and Vinnova. For EcoChange, Formas is responsible for recruiting experts and coordinating the work of the assessment panel.
2. Why is the evaluation being conducted?
The Strategic Research Areas are a long-term government investment in research environments that are expected to maintain the highest international standards and contribute to addressing important societal needs.
The evaluation is intended to provide an overall picture of how these investments have developed and what results they have achieved. The findings will be used as a basis for future government decisions concerning the Strategic Research Areas and the direction of research policy.
For EcoChange, the evaluation provides an opportunity to highlight:
the scientific development of the research environment
significant research results
collaborations within and beyond academia
the contribution of research to marine environmental management and society
the added value created through the long-term investment
how Umeå University has supported the environment’s development.
3. What will be assessed?
The experts will assess whether the research conducted within EcoChange is of the highest international quality and contributes to advancement within its field.
The evaluation covers three areas:
Scientific quality in an international perspective: the originality, significance, and scientific rigour of the research.
Impact on society and industry: documented impacts of the research beyond academia, assessed in terms of reach and significance.
Umeå University’s contributions: how strategic leadership, priorities, and resources have contributed to EcoChange’s quality, development, and long-term conditions. The assessment concerns EcoChange as an integrated strategic research environment and will be carried out by an international expert panel.
The evaluation concerns EcoChange as a collective research environment, not individual researchers or publications.
4. What period does the evaluation cover?
The evaluation covers activities conducted within EcoChange during the period 2016–2025.
The publications submitted must have been published during this period.
The research underpinning a societal impact may, in some cases, have been carried out earlier. Such research may date back to 2005, provided that it formed part of an environment that later developed into, or laid the foundation for, EcoChange.
5. What documentation must be prepared?
Umeå University and EcoChange will jointly compile the documentation for the evaluation. It consists of:
a publication list covering the period 2016–2025
up to 20 selected publications
a self-evaluation of the research environment
up to 10 case studies describing the impact of the research beyond academia.
The Swedish Research Council will supplement this material with bibliometric analyses and statistical data. Together, the documentation will provide the expert panel with an overview of EcoChange’s scientific quality, societal impact, and development as a strategic research environment.
Researchers and other staff members concerned may be asked to contribute specific information or examples. Coordination and compilation will be managed within the evaluation process.
6. Timeline
Key dates for EcoChange
30 October 2026 The publication list and accompanying explanatory text must be submitted through the EVA evaluation portal.
9 December 2026 The self-evaluation, case studies, selected publications, and accompanying explanatory texts must be submitted through EVA.
After submission
December 2026 The expert panels will receive an introduction to the purpose of the evaluation, its criteria, and working methods.
January 2027 The assessment material will be made available to the expert panels. The Swedish Research Council will also send a survey to higher education institutions regarding the national SFO initiative.
12 March 2027 Final date for higher education institutions to respond to the survey on the overall SFO initiative.
31 March 2027 The panel members preliminary individual assessments must be completed.
April 2027 The panels will discuss their assessments and conduct digital interviews with the research environments. Each interview is planned to last one hour and will provide an opportunity to clarify the submitted material.
May 2027 The expert panels will submit their final statements.
20 December 2027 The Swedish Research Council will submit the final report and overall analysis to the Government Offices of Sweden.
Brief summary of the previous evaluation
EcoChange was evaluated in 2015 as part of the national evaluation of the SFOs. The evaluation covered activities during the period 2010–2014.
EcoChange received the rating Excellent for the added value generated by the initiative. The panel concluded that the research environment had created substantial added value through recruitment and the establishment of new collaborations. It also highlighted the forward-looking leadership, the clear scientific vision, and the close collaboration with government agencies, industry and other societal stakeholders.
