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Our organisation
The Swedish Research Council for Sport Science (CIF) is a governmental body that strengthens and coordinates sport research, facilitates collaboration between higher education institutions and practice, monitors government support to organised sport, and develops a knowledge platform for sport and outdoor recreation facilities. The organisation was established in 1988.
Governance and organisation
The Swedish Research Council for Sport Science (CIF) is a governmental research funding body and knowledge centre, with the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences as its host institution. The CIF secretariat is also located at this institution.
CIF’s governance is regulated by a government ordinance and annual appropriation directions issued by the Government.
The organisation is led by a Board, which includes a Chair appointed by the Government and thirteen members appointed by Swedish higher education institutions. An independent Scientific Review Panel is affiliated with the Board and is responsible for the scientific assessment of research funding applications.
Additionally, CIF has a Secretariat with seven employees, which is directed by Christine Dartsch Nilsson.
The Board and the Scientific Review Panel
The organisation is governed by a Board consisting of a Chair appointed by the Government and thirteen members appointed by Swedish higher education institutions.
The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences appoints one member, the Swedish Sports Confederation appoints two members, and the following higher education institutions each appoint members in consultation with partner institutions:
– Lund University, in consultation with Malmö University and Linnaeus University
– University of Gothenburg, in consultation with Karlstad University and Halmstad University
– Karolinska Institutet, in consultation with Stockholm University
– Örebro University, in consultation with Uppsala University and Linköping University
– Umeå University, in consultation with Mid Sweden University, Luleå University of Technology and Dalarna University
All Board members are appointed for a maximum term of three years. For each member, except the Chair, a deputy may be appointed. Deputies are appointed in the same manner and for the same term as the respective Board member.
Chair
- Björn O. Nilsson (Chair)
Members
- Torbjörn Andersson, Malmö University
- Toni Arndt, Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences
- Erik Backman, Dalarna University
- Frida Eek, Lund University
- Marie Hedberg, Swedish Sports Confederation
- Charlotte Häger (Vice Chair), Umeå University
- Andreas Linderyd, Swedish Sports Confederation
- Eva Carin Lindgren, Halmstad University
- Carolina Lundqvist, Linköping University
- Stefan Pettersson, University of Gothenburg
- Elodie Ponsot, Örebro University
- Torben Spaak, Stockholm University
- Anders Stålman, Karolinska Institutet
Deputies
- Jesper Augustsson, Linnaeus University
- Susanna Geidne, Örebro University
- Joanna Kvist, Linköping University
- Ola Stadler, Swedish Sports Confederation
- Liselott Ohlson, Swedish Sports Confederation
- Johan Lindholm, Umeå University
- Erika Schagatay, Mid Sweden University
- Carolina Lunde, University of Gothenburg
- Henrik Gustafsson, Karlstad University
- Marita Löfgren Harringe, Karolinska Institutet
- Magnus Kilger, Stockholm University
- Victoria Blom, Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences
Each year, The Swedish Research Council for Sport Science appoints a Scientific Review Panel to review and assess the research applications submitted.
The Scientific Review Panel is organised into three review panels, each consisting of four members. In addition, a complementary review panel assesses applications for funding for organisations, collaboration and networking.
Members of the Scientific Review Panel are appointed by the Board following consultation with the Swedish Research Council.
Basic and Applied Biological Sciences
- Ylva Hellsten (Chair), Professor,
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark - Abigail Mackey, Clinical Professor,
University of Copenhagen, Denmark - Pascal Madeleine, Professor,
Aalborg University, Denmark - Oliver Witard, Reader in Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism,
King’s College London, United Kingdom
Humanities, Social Sciences and Behavioural Sciences
- Jørn Hansen (Chair), Professor Emeritus,
Department of Sports Science and Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark - Sebastian Ruin, Professor of Movement and Sport Pedagogy,
University of Graz, Austria - Ulrica von Thiele Schwarz, Professor of Psychology,
Mälardalen University, Sweden - Anne Tjønndal, Professor,
Faculty of Social Sciences, Nord University, Norway
Sports Medicine
- Olof Sköldenberg (Chair), Professor of Orthopaedics,
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden - Eivind Inderhaug, Professor,
University of Bergen, Norway - Fiona Wilson, Professor of Physiotherapy,
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland - Brit Elin Øiestad, Professor,
Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), Norway
Complementary Review Panel 2025
Grants for organisations, collaboration and networking
- Pia Lundquist Wanneberg (Chair)
- Eva Jansson, Professor Emeritus,
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden - Apostolos Theos, Senior Lecturer,
Umeå University, Sweden