Neuron went to take inspiration from major Swedish foundations supporting science

At the beginning of September the Neuron Foundation visited Sweden. The mission was clear — to gather inspiration and make important contacts. The Neuron delegation travelled to Sweden at the invitation of the Czech ambassador to that Nordic country, Anita Grmelová. Sweden can boast a long tradition of family foundations devoted to supporting science.

"I was pleased that the reasons these private foundations come into being are similar to ours at Neuron. That is, keeping clever scientists in the country and connecting the world of science with the world of business," is how the co-founder and director of the Neuron Foundation Monika Vondráková describes her impressions from the trip. "It was wonderful to look behind the scenes of their ecosystem and their way of thinking. It is, in a word, clever." We asked Monika about the visit to Sweden in a short interview.

Monika, did you find anyone you would like to invite to the Neuron Foundation in Prague?

Definitely. I was fascinated by the thinking of Peter Wallenberg (a member of one of the largest family foundations, the Wallenbergs, and a representative of the 5th generation), who thinks in business terms while emphasising the development of scientific knowledge in Sweden. It is a similar mindset to our patrons'. That is exactly why I would very much like him to pass on his experience to Neuron and its supporters.

Was there anything in Sweden that surprised you?

It was my first time in Sweden and essentially only three days. At the same time I am a very observant person and several things surprised me. On the one hand, how efficiently they work. They devise a system and, if it works, they roll it out to all their other projects. They create a kind of factory. One example is the band ABBA — they focused on what lay behind its success and tried to find a system that could be rolled out so that further world-class bands would emerge. The result is a great many other successful Swedish bands and musicians, Roxette for instance.

I was also fascinated by the wealth of private family foundations combined with their modesty. They do not pay themselves large salaries, they have no yachts, but they try to maximise returns for the development of society. You do not see overpriced cars in the streets; overall I sensed modesty in favour of success within society — a superbly designed economic and social system that motivates people and leads to pride in their country.

I was fascinated by Peter Wallenberg's business and scientific thinking. I would like him to pass on his experience to Neuron and its supporters.

— — Monika Vondráková —

What do you think the Czech Republic could learn from Sweden?

I think precisely that rolling out of a system that proves successful, and its large-scale implementation. And also the thinking that the best things for society come about through cooperation between entrepreneurs, scientists and government, that they have to meet, discuss with each other and look for shared solutions.

And is there anything Czechs could teach the Swedes?

The Swedes are a fairly closed society, turned in on themselves. Here they could perhaps open up a little more and be more generous outside their own group.

Is any further cooperation with Sweden planned, another meeting, whether there or in Prague?

Yes, we are already arranging another meeting in person, which we are very much looking forward to.