Statutes of the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research
Adopted pursuant to a Swedish Government decision on 2 December 1993 and amended by the Government’s decisions of 7 January 1997 and 12 May 2010.
Purpose
Article 1.
The purpose of the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Mistra), is to support research of strategic importance for conditions favourable to life.
The Foundation seeks to promote development of strong, world-class research settings of significance for Sweden’s future competitiveness. The research must be relevant to solving key environmental problems and promoting progress towards an environmentally sound society. Opportunities for achieving industrial applications must be taken.
Endowment
Article 2.
The Foundation’s endowment comprises the funds paid in under the government decision of 2 December 1993 and any funds that may accrue to the Foundation as additional foundation capital hereafter.
Activities
Article 3.
The Foundation’s activities will be established successively on the basis of its own independent assessments and the special characteristics of the work as provided below. Initiatives may range from basic (fundamental or pure) research to fully applied research and, not least, the areas between.
The Foundation’s work is distinguished by the following characteristic features:
- concentration of initiatives, so that centres or areas of research with an international impact can be set up
- projects and programmes that involve crossing disciplinary boundaries
- establishment of networks or more fixed forms of collaboration in Sweden and abroad, partly through setting-up of an international researcher exchange programme
- promotion of research education and researcher recruitment
- research centres or research areas closely associated with higher education institutions (HEIs)
- collaboration between HEIs and companies when research in areas of particular interest to the business sector is considered
- researcher mobility, international and among HEIs, institutes and companies
- activities that may eventually mean that the entire endowment is spent.
Board
Article 4.
The Foundation is governed by a Board comprising ten members.
Two members are appointed by the Swedish Government. At least one of the government appointees must possess financial expertise relevant to the Board’s work.
The other members are appointed by the Board as follows:
- two after nomination by the heads of four government agencies: the Swedish Research Council; Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research; Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas); and Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems
- two after nomination by HEIs
- three after nomination by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry
- one appointed by the Board.
Before presenting their proposed Board members, the nominators listed in the first three points above consult with one another for the purpose of obtaining a diverse composition in terms of expertise and gender.
The Board members’ term of office is three years, with possible extension by one term. A member who resigns during a term of office is succeeded by a new person, nominated and appointed in the same way as the departing member, for the remainder of the term.
Government-appointed members are dismissed by the Government, and other members by the Board.
Article 5.
The Board appoints the Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.
Article 6.
The Board, which has its registered office in Stockholm, meets when convened by the Chair or when at least three members so request. However, when the Board decides to appoint members for a coming term of office, pursuant to Article 4, second paragraph, it must simultaneously decide to convene the newly elected Board to an initial meeting.
The Board is a quorum when more than half the members are present including the Chair or, in the Chair’s absence, Vice Chair.
Minutes are kept at Board meetings.
Decision rules
Article 7.
Decisions are made by a simple majority, except in cases specified in Article 8. In the event of equal voting, the Chair has the deciding vote.
Article 8.
For decisions on an application to amend the Foundation’s governing document, or implementation of a change in accordance with an amendment decision, at least three-quarters of all the Board members are required to agree to the decision.
Wealth management etc.
Article 9.
The Board is responsible for ensuring that the Foundation’s capital is managed satisfactorily, so that risks are limited and opportunities for a good return are taken.
Article 10.
The Foundation may take out a loan with a credit institution to meet a temporary liquidity requirement.
Authorisation to represent the Foundation
Article 11.
The Board or the person(s) chosen for the purpose are authorised to sign for the Foundation.
Accounting and auditing
Article 12.
The Foundation will keep accounts pursuant to the rules in the Swedish Accounting Act.
The Foundation’s financial year is the calendar year. The Board adopts the budget for the subsequent financial year.
Article 13.
For every financial year, the Foundation will draw up an annual report based on the annual accounts. The report will comprise an income statement, balance sheet and administration report that, besides the customary information, contains information on how the Foundation’s purpose has been met during the year under review.
Article 14.
The Foundation’s financial statements and annual report, and also the Board’s administration, must be scrutinised by two auditors, of whom at least one must be an authorised public accountant. Each auditor will have a personal deputy.
Chapter 4, Section 1, fourth paragraph of the Swedish Foundation Act (1994:1220), compared with Chapter 2, Section 5 of the Swedish Act (2002:1022) on the Audit of State Activities etc., states that the Swedish National Audit Office may appoint one or more auditors to carry out the audit jointly with the other auditors.
Chapter 4. §1, fourth paragraph of the Foundation Act (1994:1220), compared with 2 § 5 Act (2002:1022), regarding auditing of government activities, etc. indicates that the Swedish National Audit Office may appoint one or more auditors to participate in the audit, together with other auditors.
Article 15.
The Board will deliver the annual report to the auditors for their scrutiny not later than four months after the end of the financial year.
Article 16.
If the auditors specified in the first paragraph of Article 14 so request, the Board will be convened.
Article 17.
After completion of the audit, the Foundation will deliver a copy of the annual report and financial statements to each of the aforesaid three Royal Swedish Academies (of Sciences, Engineering Sciences, and Agriculture and Forestry).
Evaluation etc.
Article 18.
These three Royal Swedish Academies are entitled to review the Foundation’s activities.
Article 19.
The Foundation will ensure regular evaluation of the research it supports. Moreover, the Board will publish annually, and disseminate widely, a readily accessible report on the Foundation’s work.
Supervision
Article 20.
Under the Swedish Act (1929:116) on the Supervision of Foundations, the Foundation is exempt from supervision.