Stockholm School of Economics recommended for multimillion-krona research funding in health, AI, and life sciences
SSE has been recommended for funding within the Swedish Research Council’s Strategic Research Areas initiative, one of Sweden’s most competitive national research funding programs. The recommendation places SSE among a select group of institutions proposed for support in a field traditionally dominated by science and medical faculties.
Initiated by scholars at the House of Innovation (HoI), “The Future of the Swedish Healthcare Ecosystem: Scaling and Integrating AI Solutions for Personalized and Preventive Care” is one of only three research programs recommended in the area of health, AI, and life sciences, out of nine applications submitted.
A business school in a science-dominated field
Strategic research funding in health and life sciences has historically gone to universities with medical faculties and natural science departments. SSE’s inclusion shows that research in management, organization, and digital innovation plays a critical role in how AI is implemented in healthcare, not just developed. SSE President Lars Strannegård welcomes the recommendation.
“This recognition reflects the strength and relevance of our research. It shows that the Stockholm School of Economics can contribute at the highest level to addressing complex societal challenges, including the future of healthcare,” says Lars Strannegård.
The program addresses how AI solutions can be scaled and integrated into healthcare systems to enable more personalized and preventive care. It draws on the House of Innovation’s track record in AI and digital transformation research and applies it to one of society’s most complex and impactful sectors.
From top left: Magnus Mähring, Anna Essén, Panos Constantinides, Stefan Haefliger, Bomi Kim, Sebastian Krakowski, Elmira van den Broek, and Kalle Lyytinen.
The research team
Anna Essén, Associate Professor at the House of Innovation, is the principal investigator for the proposed research program.
“This is a strong example of the House of Innovation’s increasingly interdisciplinary research and our ambition to create impact in sectors where innovation and organizational change are both urgently needed and genuinely difficult. The proposed program builds on our previous experience and research in digital transformation and innovation in the healthcare sector,” says Anna Essén.
She is joined by Professor Magnus Mähring, Scientific Director of the House of Innovation, Professor Stefan Haefliger, Visiting Professors Panos Constantinides and Kalle Lyytinen, and Assistant Professors Elmira van den Broek, Sebastian Krakowski, and Bomi Kim.
The proposed research program explores how AI can be scaled and integrated into healthcare systems to enable more personalized and preventive care.
“Healthcare is one of the hardest environments in which to scale new technology. The organizational and managerial challenges are as complex as the technical ones. At the same time, there are many opportunities to create value for patients, professionals, and society. The funding for this program enables us to contribute research that is academically rigorous and practically useful at a national level,” says Magnus Mähring.
A team effort behind the application
The recommendation is the result of a sustained, collaborative effort at the House of Innovation. Jelena Angelis, Research Grants and Partnerships Expert; Elena Braccia, Team Leader; and Lee Malm, Executive Assistant, all played important roles in bringing the application together.
In its application, SSE requested SEK 10.4 million for 2027 and SEK 20.5 million for 2028. The final funding decision rests with the Swedish Government (Ministry of Education and Research) and will be announced later in the year.
