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.

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Research Funding

Grants may be awarded for projects that demonstrate high standards of independent scientific quality and fall within the …

Research Funding
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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 …

Scholarships for Meritorious Master’s Theses (minimum 30 ECTS credits)
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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

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.

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SCA logotype

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 produktportfölj
Essity logotype

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