Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation

The largest private financier of research in Sweden

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 2023 Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation awarded grants totalling almost SEK 2.2 billion, 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 Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation in 1917 with an initial endowment consisting of shares in SEB and Investor worth SEK 20 million. The value is equivalent to SEK 746 million in today’s value.

Even though the Foundation since 1917 has awarded over SEK 37 billion in grants, the assets have grown to SEK 216 billion, thanks to active, long-term investments.

The Wallenberg Ecosystem

What is commonly referred to as “the Wallenberg ecosystem” includes 16 non-profit foundations – the Wallenberg Foundations, the public industrial holding company Investor AB and the private holding companies Wallenberg Investments AB and FAM AB, including Navigare Ventures AB and their respective holdings. Dividends from holdings are utilized for research and education grants that strengthen Sweden over time.

Long-term work with these international corporations — and their successes — enabled the Foundations to award SEK 2.7 billion in grants to Swedish research and education in 2023 of which, the biggest one, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation granted SEK 2.2 billion.

Ownership and holdings

Ownership

The purpose of the Foundation

 The Foundation’s aim is to benefit Sweden by supporting Swedish basic research and education, mainly in medicine, technology, and the natural sciences.