Ministry of Education and Research

On December 12, 2024, the Swedish Government decided on an Action Plan against racism and hate crimes. With this Action Plan, the Swedish Government is taking important steps forward in its work to safeguard equal rights and opportunities for all by intensifying efforts to make Sweden a country free from racism and hate crime.

SEK 25 billion to strengthen military defence; an additional SEK 16.5 billion to increased 2025 ‘Ukraine framework’; and a SEK 96 million package of targeted measures to counter hybrid threats. These are the proposals the Government will present in the forthcoming Spring Amending Budget. The Government and the Sweden Democrats have also agreed on a funding model to ensure that Sweden is able meet to a new, higher NATO spending target.

Poland, which holds the EU presidency in the spring of 2025, has invited Minister for Education Johan Pehrson and his counterparts in other EU countries to an informal meeting of the Competitiveness Council (COMPET). The meeting will take place on March 10-11.

Pupils’ ability to read and understand what they read is the foundation of their learning in all school subjects. The Swedish Government’s school policy aims to get back to basics and re establish a strong knowledge-based school system, with the focus in early grades on fundamental skills such as reading, writing and arithmetic. Digital learning aids should only be introduced in teaching at an age when they encourage, rather than hinder, pupils’ learning.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Jewish life in Sweden. The National Agency for Education has been tasked with raising awareness of this anniversary and presenting proposals on how it can be highlighted in schools.

More than 600 leading Swedish and international companies, investors and decision-makers gathered in Stockholm on 19 February for the Join Sweden Summit, the Government’s international investment conference that set a new attendance record this year. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hosted the conference.

Minister for Education Johan Pehrson has now presented the Government’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) strategy. The strategy contains objectives to strengthen STEM education in Sweden. A new STEM delegation will also work to get more people studying in those fields.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Jewish life in Sweden. The anniversary is an opportunity to highlight the Jewish minority, Jewish culture and Jewish cultural heritage that is found all over the country. The Government has therefore tasked a number of agencies with contributing to the observance of the anniversary.

On Wednesday 19 February, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is hosting the Join Sweden Summit 2025, bringing together more than 600 international and Swedish companies, investors and decision makers. HRH Prince Daniel will open the conference and a number of Government ministers are also participating.

Sweden’s national life sciences strategy serves as a long-range framework, and the strategy’s eight priority areas remain the starting point for this update of the previous strategy from 2019.

In 2025, the 250th anniversary of established Jewish life in Sweden will be celebrated. This will be an opportunity to highlight the Jewish minority, culture and cultural heritage throughout the country. The Government has therefore, in appropriation directions for 2025, instructed a number of government agencies to help highlight the 250th anniversary. The year 2025 also marks 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

On Thursday 28 November, the Task Force for Jewish life in Sweden held its final meeting of the year. The main topic was education, which has been the task force’s main focus in 2024. Representatives from a number of organisations were invited to take part and talk about their work in this area.

This compilation contains a selection of the acts and ordinances – both new and amended – that enter into force in the second half of 2024 or in early 2025.

Sweden aims to be one of the world’s leading countries in research and innovation. In the research and innovation bill, the Government is investing SEK 6.5 billion on research and innovation of the highest quality. Investments include funding for excellent research, increased and competitive funding for higher education institutions, enhanced research infrastructure and investments in groundbreaking technologies to position Sweden at the forefront.

The Government is announcing a new action plan to combat racism and hate crime. Through this concerted action, the Government is taking important steps in the efforts to free Sweden from racism and hate crime. The efforts in this area will be accurate, measurable and long-term. Schools, judiciary, welfare and working life will be in focus.

In the Budget Bill for 2025, the Government proposes several measures to overhaul integration policy. The Government proposes broad initiatives, including measures aimed at improving language skills for children and staff in preschools, schools, after-school care and care for older people. To better follow the development, it is proposed that funding be set aside to develop and implement more appropriate follow-up of integration.

On 20 September, the task force for Jewish life in Sweden held its fifth meeting. The topic was rising antisemitism, with a special focus on social media and how it affects Jewish schoolchildren in Sweden.

Swedish and Finnish ministers will undertake a number of joint visits on the afternoon of 16 September. Media representatives are welcome to take part in the visits. Contact the relevant press contacts for more information, see below. Note that the list is subject to change.

Today, Tuesday 10 September and in connection with the Statement of Government Policy, Mr Kristersson announced changes within the Government: two new ministers and four ministers who are changing ministerial posts.

How many people work at the Government Offices? What was the central government budget like last year? How many acts and ordinances were issued last year? The answer to these and other questions can be found in the Swedish Government Offices Yearbook 2023.