Bo Rydin Foundation for
Scientific Research
The Foundation supports technical and natural sciences research at Swedish universities, and institutes within the fields of forestry, health, hygiene, and related areas
The purpose of the Foundation is to promote scientific research of significance within health, hygiene, forestry, and closely related fields and activities.
Examples of prioritised, independent research areas include: Wood technology, forest management, pulp technology, paper physics, fibre chemistry, and biorefinery, as well as health and hygiene products, including feminine care, incontinence products, and personal hygiene items such as napkins, tampons, medical and wound care products, toilet paper, paper napkins, containers,
cleaning, lotion and wiping products, service and sensor technology, and related fields.
The Foundation primarily supports high-quality research projects but also provides travel grants for PhD students wishing to attend scientific conferences. In addition, the Foundation awards a number of scholarships for commendable master’s theses.
The Foundation supports technical and natural sciences research at Swedish universities, and institutes within the fields of forestry, health, hygiene, and related areas
The purpose of the Foundation is to promote scientific research of significance within health, hygiene, forestry, and closely related fields and activities.
Examples of prioritised, independent research areas include: Wood technology, forest management, pulp technology, paper physics, fibre chemistry, and biorefinery, as well as health and hygiene products, including feminine care, incontinence products, and personal hygiene items such as napkins, tampons, medical and wound care products, toilet paper, paper napkins, containers, cleaning, lotion and wiping products, service and sensor technology, and related fields.
The Foundation primarily supports high-quality research projects but also provides travel grants for PhD students wishing to attend scientific conferences. In addition, the Foundation awards a number of scholarships for commendable master’s theses.
Research Funding
Grants may be awarded for projects that demonstrate high standards of independent scientific quality and fall within the …
Grants may be awarded for projects that demonstrate high standards of independent scientific quality and fall within the Foundation’s prioritised areas. The Foundation primarily funds research projects but may also support symposia/conferences and the establishment of new professorships.
The budget for a research project should not exceed SEK 2 million. Co-financing from other funding bodies is encouraged, but not necessarily. Applications may be written in either Swedish or English. Indirect costs may be included in the budget. The Foundation does not use a standard template or specific forms. However, a research application must include a compiled appendix with the following headings and content:
Project Description
(title, summary, background, research questions, objectives, expected results, timeline, and budget)
Participants
(project leader, key personnel, and collaborators)
Contact Details and CV
maximum one page) for the applicant
Applications must be submitted electronically to the Secretary and received by the Foundation no later than 30 September. The Research Council holds its annual decision meeting at the end of November, with decisions announced in December.
Contact details for the Foundation
Bo Rydins Stiftelse för vetenskaplig forskning
c/o Micael Stehr
Essity AB
Juristavdelningen
Box 200
101 23 Stockholm
E-mail: micael.stehr.ext@essity.com
Tel: +46 70 666 89 70
Scholarships for Meritorious Master’s Theses
The Foundation awards a number of scholarships each year, each worth SEK 30,000, for meritorious master’s theses …
The Foundation awards a number of scholarships each year, each worth SEK 30,000, for meritorious master’s theses (Master of Science in Engineering or equivalent), nominated by the supervising academic or examiner. If the thesis has been carried out by two students, the award is typically SEK 20,000 per person. The theses must be completed at Swedish universities and within one of the Foundation’s prioritised areas. Theses may be written in either Swedish or English but must always include a summary in Swedish.
The thesis must be received by the Foundation no later than 30 September, submitted as two printed copies together with a letter of recommendation from the supervisor and/or examiner. Decisions are announced in December.
Contact details for the Foundation
Bo Rydins Stiftelse för vetenskaplig forskning
c/o Micael Stehr
Essity AB
Juristavdelningen
Box 200
101 23 Stockholm
E-mail: micael.stehr.ext@essity.com
Tel: +46 70 666 89 70
Travel Grants
Travel grants can be applied for on a rolling basis by PhD students who are actively participating (oral presentation or poster) in scientific …
Travel grants can be applied for on a rolling basis by PhD students who are actively participating (oral presentation or poster) in scientific conferences within one of the Foundation’s prioritised areas. Grants are not awarded for courses, study visits, or similar activities, nor to individuals other than active PhD students enrolled at a Swedish higher education institution. Normally, only one PhD student from the same department is granted a travel grant to the same conference. Decisions are usually communicated within three weeks, during academic term time.
Applications should be submitted electronically to the Secretary and should include a compiled appendix with the following content:
A brief description of the applicant’s doctoral project and research area, along with the connection(s) to one or more of the Foundation’s priority areas
Brief details of the intended conference, including name, location, and dates
Justification for participation and how the applicant intends to present results
Budget (daily allowances are not granted and should not be included)
Contact details for the applicant’s institutional affiliation
A travel report in digital format must be submitted to the Foundation within one month after the conference.
Contact details for the Foundation
Bo Rydins Stiftelse för vetenskaplig forskning
c/o Micael Stehr
Essity AB
Juristavdelningen
Box 200
101 23 Stockholm
E-mail: micael.stehr.ext@essity.com
Tel: +46 70 666 89 70
Research Council
Responsibility for the allocation of research funding and the assurance of
scientific quality lies with a research council consisting of:
Chairman, Associate Professor Rolf Andersson, Formerly employed at SCA Hygiene Products AB
Professor Emeritus Per-Ove Bäckström Formerly employed at SLU Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Professor Emeritus Thomas Hjertberg Formerly employed at Borealis AB
Professor Emerita Gunilla Jönson Formerly employed at Lund University
Director Mats Sandgren Formerly employed at SCA AB
Associate Professor Anita Teleman Formerly employed at RISE Bioeconomy
Secretary, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Micael Stehr, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Background of the Foundation
The Bo Rydin Foundation for Scientific Research was established in 1982 as a tribute to Dr h.c. Bo Rydin, then CEO (1973–1988, later Group CEO, Chairman and Honorary Chairman) of Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA, on the occasion of his 50th birthday. In 2017, SCA was split into two listed companies: The forest-based company SCA and the hygiene and health company Essity. The Foundation was initially tasked with promoting scientific research of relevance to both SCA and Essity’s fields of operation. Bo Rydin chaired the Foundation until his passing in 2024.
The core of the forest company SCA operations today is its forest holdings – 2.6 million hectares in northern Sweden. Around this unique resource, SCA has built a well-developed value chain based on renewable raw materials from both its own forests and those of other owners. SCA offers packaging paper, pulp, timber, renewable energy, services for forest owners, and efficient transport solutions.
Essity is a leading global player in Personal Care, offering Incontinence Products, Feminine Care, Baby Care, and Medical Solutions, alongside a broad range of personal absorbent products and skin care products, wet wipes, and lotions. Within Medical Solutions, products include wound care, compression, and orthopaedics. The products are sold under brands such as Jobst, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Nosotras, Saba, and the global leading brand TENA, as well as under retailers’ own brands. Essity, with the globally leading brand Tork, is the world’s largest supplier of products and solutions in the Professional Hygiene market.
Contact details for the Foundation
Bo Rydins Stiftelse för
vetenskaplig forskning
c/o Micael Stehr
Essity AB
Juristavdelningen
Box 200
101 23 Stockholm
Micael Stehr