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A national hub for research on trust

Trust is a critical foundation for innovation, resilience, and societal well-being. Research shows that high-trust environments foster creativity, effective collaboration, and healthier organizations - while excessive control, administrative burdens, and declining confidence in institutions risk undermining both innovation capacity and social cohesion. Sweden is no exception to these challenges, and the need for renewed knowledge and leadership models has become increasingly urgent.

With the Carl Bennet Research Chair in trust-based management, a dedicated academic environment is established at SSE to promote research, policy development and organizational transformation in this important area.

About Louise Bringselius

Louise Bringselius is an Associate Professor in management studies with more than 20 years of academic and policy experience. She has published widely in international journals as well as Swedish books, served as Research Director for the Swedish Government's Trust Commission (Tillitsdelegationen), and is a recognized and well-known voice in public debate on governance, leadership, and administrative reform. Her work spans over both public administration and the private sector, making her uniquely positioned to bridge research and practice.

A strategically important investment

With support from Carl Bennet AB, SSE will host a five-year guest associate professorship dedicated to research and collaboration related to trust based leadership. The initiative will strengthen Sweden's capacity for sustainable public and private sector development, with a special focus on models promoting collaboration and dialogue, building strong relations between citizenry and the welfare sector, and supporting front-line professionals. It will advance research on trust-based governance and leadership, and contribute to the growing international literature in this field.

“We see trust not only as an academic topic, but as a strategic necessity for Sweden’s future capacity to innovate, collaborate and govern effectively. This initiative positions SSE as a national hub for knowledge and dialogue on trust.” says Louise Bringselius.

Louise Bringselius will organize the work in three streams:

• Analysis of ongoing trust-based models in Sweden, in particular in the welfare sector.
• Analysis of trust-based initiatives in other countries, with a special focus on the Nordic countries and Benelux.
• A trust dialogue network, supporting learning between academia, policymakers, professionals, clients/citizens, and leaders in the public and private sectors.

About the funding

This initiative is made possible through the generous support of , founded and chaired by Swedish industrialist Carl Bennet. For more than three decades, Bennet has been one of Sweden's most influential long-term owners, known for his commitment to sustainable competitiveness, knowledge development, and societal responsibility.

Carl Bennet AB is an active ownership company with significant holdings in globally operating firms such as Getinge, Arjo, Elanders and Lifco. Across these companies, the group pursues a strategy grounded in long-term value creation, innovation, and continuous improvement. A strong commitment to research, education and collaboration runs through the organisation's work, reflected in its ongoing partnerships with universities and scientific institutions.

By funding this new research initiative at SSE, Carl Bennet AB enables the School to strengthen national capacity in trust-based leadership - an area where Sweden faces both urgent challenges and unique opportunities. The support provides long-term stability for advancing research, generating new knowledge, and fostering dialogue between academia, public institutions and the business community.

Contact

For more information about the initiative or future collaboration opportunities, please contact:

Louise Bringselius
Associate Professor
Carl Bennet Research Chair in trust-based management
Email: louise.bringselius@hhs.se