May 19, 2020
Ramboll to evaluate SDG-related research programmes
Ramboll has been selected to evaluate an ambitious research programme in Sweden. Over the course of 10 years, a multitude of research projects will begin – each aligning to one or more Sustainable Development Goals.
By Cecilie Foss
Can Artificial Intelligence help fight climate change? And what does a sustainable, competitive food system look like?
The Swedish government has initiated a total of seven national research programmes that will bring answers to some of the most challenging questions facing today’s leaders in business, public sector, and universities. Through Formas - a government research council for sustainable development – Ramboll Management Consulting are to evaluate three research programmes; being Climate, Sustainable Spatial Planning as well as Food.
The evaluation will zero-in on aspects of organisation and implementation effectiveness. As the individual research projects last a few years each and the total programme runs for ten years, Ramboll’s experts will put forward recommendations that can benefit the programme to follow. Ramboll’s Project Manager, Katarina Steijer, explains:
- We’re happy to do this work. Ramboll has analysed several research and innovation programmes and projects contributing to the UN SDGs. This is another good example of how research councils and actors across different sectors can collaborate in order to solve major societal challenges.
She hopes that the evaluations and recommendations provided will identify potential areas of improvement in the structure and within the organisation as well as safeguarding structures that work well already.
Especially SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 13, Climate Action are eminent in working with the three programmes but many more Global Goals are in focus, explains Katarina Steijer.
Most projects are interdisciplinary by nature and calls for both research institutions, business, and public organisations at large. In 2021 alone, some 200 MSEK have been earmarked for Formas’ Agenda 2030 related funding.
In time of writing, some projects have been decided, some are pending decision whilst many more are still open for applications. For instance, one call is aimed at those who want to carry out a project that - with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) - contributes to Sweden having no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045 or to adapt society to the climate changes we cannot prevent.
Ramboll’s work and already begun and the evaluation report is expected by October this fall.