Programme

13.15: Welcome.

Part 1: Do improved selection processes lead to the best projects?

Key questions to be addressed in presentations and panel discussion:‍.

• What are the key aspects of an "effective" selection process?
• Is it possible to agree on what "effective" means?
• Is there a status quo-bias in grant-giving? Do we mostly do it like we have always done without questioning key parts of the process?
• If you believe you are doing well: What could prove you wrong?
• Are foundations in the Nordics conservative, or are they innovations hubs?

8-minute presentations:

1. Eirik Mofoss - Co-founder of Gi Effektivt (and also Policy director, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)) (N)
2. Gry Minor - Senior Adviser, Velux Fonden (DK): Stakeholder Dialogue
3. Laura Lees, Grant Coordinator, Kone Foundation: Evaluation without Panels (SF)

20-minute panel discussion: What can we learn from each other? How do we stimulate development, inhouse and in partnerships?

Part 2: Specific cases of improving grant giving

Four cases in 35 minutes:

1. The case of Villum Fonden (DK): Learning from the Experiment program: Does anonymous evaluation work?, presented by Anders Smith, Head of Program
2. The case of Finnish Medical Foundation (SF): Brain Gain - Piloting of Medical Foundations' Joint Research Funding, presented by Jouni Lounasmaa
3. The case of Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (S): RJ Art and Culture. New ways to make research relevant, presented by Torbjörn Eng, Research Manager
4. The case of Stiftelsen Dam (N): Doing in-house research. theme: quality assurance and openness, presented by Jan-Ole Hesselberg, Chief Programme Officer and Ida Svege, Head of Programme Development

Workshop: Each table discuss one of the cases

20 min + 2 min for each table to present main findings

Meeting starts at 1315

For almost two decades, large foundations in the Nordic region have led the way as agenda-setters and catalysts in their areas of work. Small and medium-sized foundations have allowed themselves to be challenged to innovate, and there have been many study trips, not least to Denmark, where many willingly share their experiences and insights. But are well-established foundations able to adjust their working models?

In this sidetrack, the topic is strategic partnerships between foundations and other social actors who have the ambition to improve social inclusion and living conditions in their purpose and social mission. Can smaller and medium-sized foundations also work more "strategically", "catalytically" and "agenda-setting" as the largest foundations do? Can different forms of strategic partnerships be the key to better results and contributions to systemic change for smaller foundations as well? If so, what obstacles need to be addressed along the way and what are the keys to success?

In the seminar, we will present and discuss examples of partnerships and experiences with various initiatives for interaction in the Norwegian foundation landscape.

Participants: Sparebankstiftelsen SR-bank by Ellen Instefjord, Gjensidigestiftelsen by Ingrid Tollånes, Sørlandets Kompetansefond by Peter Klemsdal and Kristian Weise, TrygFonden

Chair and moderator: Rune Røiseland, Sørlandets Kompetansefond

13.15 Welcome and program for Sidespor 4 v/Karianne Bjellås Gilje

13.20 Introduction: What role do foundations play in Norwegian and Nordic cultural policy? v/Knut Olav Åmås

13.30 Social and political perspectives on the role of foundations

Panel: Hilde Sandvik (moderator), Jacob Haugmoen Handegard and Stein Olav Henrichsen

Do philanthropic foundations contribute to social development in the field of culture? If so, how? Has the power of the foundations increased in recent years? Does the "arm's length" principle of cultural policy and cultural bureaucracy apply to the field of foundations?

13.55 Collaborative institutions' perspective on philanthropic foundations

Panel: Stein Olav Henrichsen (chair), Maria Mediaas Jørstad, Susanna Pettersson and Bosse Nilsson

How is the role and contribution of philanthropic grantmaking foundations assessed from an institutional perspective? What are the differences and similarities between public and private support for cultural institutions? What role do the partner institutions want the grant-making foundations to play?

14:20 Break

14.35 What role do philanthropic grant-making foundations play in the Nordic region today? And what roles do we want to play? What partnerships do we want to enter into? Nordic foundation leaders discuss.

Panel : Hilde Sandvik (chair), Marika Hedin, Susanna Pettersson and Knut Olav Åmås.

Nordic foundation leaders reflect on what they have heard from the political/societal perspective, and from the perspective of institutional leaders - including on philanthropic grantmaking foundations' understanding of their role and their impact and contribution to society, etc.

15.05 Closing and departure to the joint program


Speakers:

• How do the Nordic countries work to solve major societal challenges ("missions")?
• How do we manage to be innovative in our work?
• How can and must we collaborate across sectors to succeed?
• What works and what is challenging about such collaboration and innovation?

13:15 - 13:20 Introduction (Ingrid Lorange, Gjensidigestiftelsen)

13:20 - 13:40 Norway's work with the major social missions and the value of partnerships and innovation to solve these (Anne Kjersti Fahlvik, Director - Innovation in Business and Public Sector, Research Council of Norway)

13:40 - 14:00 Bikubenfonden - practical examples and experiences of collaboration across sectors and actors to solve complex societal challenges and the "Home for All Alliance" (Søren Kaare-Andersen, CEO, Bikubenfonden)

14:05 - 14:25 "Partnership for radical innovation"; What is it and how does KS work together with others to solve specific societal challenges (Henrik Dons Finsrud and Kirsten Viga Skretting, KS)

14:25 - 14:45 "Together for children's innovation". Arild Bjørndal from the Center for Evidence and Implementation Nordic

14:45 - 15:15 Panel discussion and questions

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