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The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research has earmarked SEK250m ($25m) for the next five years' funding of new microelectronics research centres. In reality, this means a decrease of funding by at least 30 per cent from 2003. And researchers seem to have nowhere else to turn for extra funding.
"This is unacceptable. At least, the volume should be kept at a constant level in key areas like photonics and microelectronics," says Professor Lars Thylén at the Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, in Stockholm.
Professor Thylén is just one of several prominent Swedish researchers who have responded angrily to the cutbacks. According to Elektroniktidningen, the critics argue that Sweden's organisation of research funding needs to be changed.
Presently, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) is the main funding agency for research in the field of microelectronics, administering some 85 per cent of the funds. Additional funds come from the government agency Vinnova and the Research Council.
However, there is no collaboration between the three, which are managed very differently. The Research Council is managed by the Ministry of Education, whereas Vinnova is run by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, although Education Minister Thomas östros is responsible for research issues. The SSF is a separate foundation, with a government elected chairman.
As a result neither Vinnova nor the Research Council have allocated extra funds to make up for the SSF shortfall.
"It is irresponsible not to have an overall perspective on Swedish microelectronics research," says Professor Olof Engström at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg.
Professor Thylén is just one of several prominent Swedish researchers who have responded angrily to the cutbacks. According to Elektroniktidningen, the critics argue that Sweden's organisation of research funding needs to be changed.
Presently, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) is the main funding agency for research in the field of microelectronics, administering some 85 per cent of the funds. Additional funds come from the government agency Vinnova and the Research Council.
However, there is no collaboration between the three, which are managed very differently. The Research Council is managed by the Ministry of Education, whereas Vinnova is run by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, although Education Minister Thomas östros is responsible for research issues. The SSF is a separate foundation, with a government elected chairman.
As a result neither Vinnova nor the Research Council have allocated extra funds to make up for the SSF shortfall.
"It is irresponsible not to have an overall perspective on Swedish microelectronics research," says Professor Olof Engström at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg.
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