Article

Scand J Work Environ Health 2007;33 suppl 1:1-53    pdf

Status report on Swedish work environment research—history, context and international evaluation

by Wegman DH, editor, Hogstedt C, editor

The Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS) would like to thank the International Evaluation Group, the Swedish reference group, and all of the participating researchers for their contributions to the successful completion of this evaluation. We are also very pleased with the opportunity to present the bulk of this inventory and evaluation, the historical overviews, and some concluding remarks as a supplement of the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health and thereby to an international audience.

The report has been submitted to the relevant ministries in the Swedish government, and the results have been presented at several seminars for researchers and practitioners. The latter have, in general, been very appreciative of the evaluation. The evaluation provides solid ground for future initiatives from the Council and, hopefully, also from the Swedish government. Work environment research in Sweden is in organizational transition due to the abolition of the National Institute for Working Life and the demographic transitions within the relevant sciences. Thus strong decisions need to be made to secure financial support for its future development. We are faced with major challenges—the need to facilitate response to demographic changes, to continue to support research of high international standard, and to promote dissemination and user dialogue. Finally, the report will be useful for the research strategy that the Council has to present as background material for the next bill of research, to be expected in 2008.

This article refers to the following text of the Journal: 2005;31(1):30-35