The Foundation supports long-term, free basic research beneficial to Sweden, mainly in medicine, technology, and the natural sciences. This is achieved through long-term grants to excellent researchers and to projects. The Foundation can also initiate grants to strategic projects and scholarship programs.
In recent years, grants of SEK 1.8 billion annually have been awarded, making the Foundation one of the largest private funders of scientific research in Europe.
Long-term investments
The Chairman of Stockholms Enskilda Bank, K. A. Wallenberg, and his wife Alice, founded the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation in 1917 with an initial endowment consisted of shares in SEB and Investor worth SEK 20 million. The value is equivalent to SEK 593 million in today’s value.
Even though the Foundation since 1917 has awarded SEK 25 billion in grants, the assets have grown to SEK 111 billion, thanks to active, long-term investments of 20 million Swedish crowns.
The Wallenberg Cycle
The companies in which the Wallenberg Foundations, Investor, and FAM have ownership interests form the backbone of the Wallenberg family’s business interests. Long-term work with these international corporations — and their successes — enable the Foundations to award more than SEK 2.1 billion in grants to Swedish research and education each year.
