SciLifeLab is an institution for the advancement of molecular biosciences in Sweden.

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Providing capabilities for life science

SciLifeLab, is an institution for the advancement of molecular biosciences in Sweden, funded as a national research infrastructure by the Swedish government.

SciLifeLab leverages the unique strengths of individual researchers across Sweden into a focused resource for the life science community, and provide access for thousands of researchers to the cutting-edge instrumentation and deep scientific expertise necessary to be internationally competitive in bioscience research. The infrastructure is supported and developed by our research community and form a unique environment for carrying out health and environmental research at the highest level.

SciLifeLab started out in 2010 as a joint effort between four universities: Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Uppsala University. Today, we support research activities at all major Swedish universities.

Our vision

For Sweden to be a world-leading nation in life science

Life science is a field of high strategic importance for Sweden, as it impacts the development of healthcare, industry, agriculture and our environment globally. Our success within life science lies in our ability as a country to advance research, innovation, recruitment, collaboration and utilization of data, in an environment of scientific excellence and cutting-edge research infrastructure. 

The overall mission for SciLifeLab is to enable life science research in Sweden that is beyond what is possible for an individual researcher, an individual university or an individual research discipline. By providing access to the latest key technologies, our infrastructure creates prerequisites for research and conceptually new forms of collaboration between individuals, groups and organizations.

We strive to leverage this strong technology base, in collaboration with universities, industry, healthcare and national funding agencies.

The Swedish NMR centre is part of our national infrastructure services. Photo credit: Mikael Wallerstedt.




Our Story

Molecular life science research is evolving rapidly. As an increasingly crossdisciplinary and collaborative endeavour, it requires combining expertise in fundamental biology with computer science, engineering, chemistry, and physics. Moreover, life science depends on advanced, often costly instruments and complex methods that are frequently beyond the capacity of an individual laboratory, or even a university.

SciLifeLab was launched in 2010 with a mission to meet these research demands through a joint initiative by four universities— KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University, and Uppsala University. Today, SciLifeLab supports research activities at all major Swedish universities.


Milestones

2010

  • SciLifeLab established in Stockholm and Uppsala by founding Director Mathias Uhlén and Co-Director Kerstin Lindblad-Toh

2013

  • SciLifeLab awarded status as an official national infrastructure for molecular biosciences
  • Premises in Stockholm completed: 14000 sqm housing persons from three universities
  • Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists inaugurated
  • Initiation of the SciLifeLab Fellows Program

2014

  • Clinical sequencing established in Swedish health care system

2015

  • Olli Kallioniemi recruited as the new Director of SciLifeLab

2016

  • First units outside Stockholm/Uppsala
  • Uppsala and Stockholm operations merged

2017

  • More than 20 SciLifeLab Fellows recruited
  • Swedish government officially proposes that SciLifeLab be designated as one of three major national research infrastructures, along with the MAX IV Laboratory and the European Spallation Source

2018

  • Almost half of users served are from outside host universities, establishing SciLifeLab as a true national infrastructure resource

2019

  • 7 Research Community Programs and 16 Technology Development Projects launched
  • A national hearing is held, where life science stakeholders contribute to SciLifeLab’s strategy for 2020-2030

Last updated: 2024-04-12

Content Responsible: Anna Frejd(anna.frejd@scilifelab.se)