Questions and answers about RIKI

Which types of research infrastructure will be included in RIKI?

RIKI encompasses research infrastructure that offers advanced methodologies and technical services with broad utility. To be included in RIKI at present, the operation should be funded by the Rector and/or the Infrastructure Board, thereby providing high-quality methodological and technical services that are relevant and appropriate for KI's research.

How do I know whether the operation in which I work will be affected by RIKI's development?

The development of RIKI will proceed in stages. Which operations are to be included will be determined following preparatory dialogue between RIKI's implementation group and leadership at the respective institution. In the first phase, the operation includes Comparative Medicine, KI Biobank, and within the Research infrastructure for medical radiation science, the radiation bunkers at Campus Solna.

In spring 2026, dialogue will commence with core facilities that receive funding from the Infrastructure Committee. Implementation will then proceed according to a plan developed in consultation with the affected operations and prefects.

How will the institutions be affected when research infrastructure changes its organisational home as RIKI develops?

• The institution will relinquish responsibility for the operation transferring to RIKI; however, the infrastructure will continue to be a part of the institution's and KI's research environment.
• Depending on the operation's circumstances, personnel will transfer their organisational affiliation from the institution to RIKI.
• The prefect of the affected institution will participate in decisions regarding implementation of the operation within RIKI and will take part in planning to address the organisational and financial aspects of the change.
• Deans bear responsibility for monitoring how organisational changes affect the institutions within their respective campus group as a whole.

How will researcher influence in RIKI's development and operations be ensured?

A Development Council will be established for the development of operations as a whole. The Infrastructure Board, which sits under the Faculty Board, will continue to play a central role in financing and represents an important mechanism for faculty influence. The modalities for this will be developed during 2026.

What does RIKI mean for me as an employee in an affected operation?

As soon as possible, you who work in an affected operation will be informed about how this change will affect your employment and the work you currently perform. What we know at present:

• Your employment will remain with KI
• Your workplace will not be relocated physically—that is, there will be no impact on the daily environment of existing operations
• Employees working in research infrastructures that are incorporated into RIKI will have their organisational affiliation placed with RIKI
• All existing terms and conditions will be maintained in accordance with law and collective agreements
• There will be one principal line manager, normally located where the majority of the employment is held
• Employees in RIKI will have the opportunity to participate in events and similar activities at the respective institution where the core facility is located

RIKI aims to be able to offer:

• Ensuring long-term financial stability
• Creating conditions for investment planning
• Overall financial balance
• Promoting staff mobility between infrastructures
• Offering permanent employment and professional development opportunities for improved recruitment and retention
• Qualified administrative support with specialist expertise in research infrastructure
• Marketing support for the research infrastructure
• Coordination of core facility management systems
• Dedicated focus on operational security

How will staff members be informed about the change process?

• A news article was published and linked in KI News on 17 November 2025
• Continuous news updates will be provided throughout the process on RIKI's website
• Initial information is being published continuously on the staff portal: Establishment of RIKI 2026–2027 | Staff
• Decisions regarding incorporation into RIKI will be preceded by consultation with the responsible managers of both the transferring and receiving operations
• The implementation group supports relevant managers in informing their staff through guidance, presentation materials, and needs-driven updates to frequently asked questions and answers
• The implementation group is available to participate in dialogue meetings where there is a need

Which channels will be used to receive questions and feedback from operations during implementation?

In the first instance, your immediate manager is responsible for answering questions from their staff and forwarding them for action. The implementation group is available to support this work and also maintains a form through which questions may be submitted anonymously.

How will RIKI be organised?

• An Infrastructure Director will lead RIKI and report to the Rector
• The Director is responsible for strategic development, operational management, and coordination within RIKI and with other operations
• Within RIKI, operational areas and departments will be established with various units (consisting of existing core facilities and other research infrastructure) and support functions as needed
• Support will be provided by an Administrative Director responsible for overall operational support—for example, human resources, finance, and communications

How will RIKI be financed?

• RIKI will be financed through government appropriations, external grants for research infrastructure, and user fees
• The Infrastructure Committee will continue to play a central role in financing operations
• Animal operations (Comparative Medicine) currently have a separate funding stream from the Rector
• It is essential that RIKI's management prepares investment plans to ensure that the instrument inventory and necessary competence are continuously upgraded

What will the decision-making pathways look like within RIKI?

• The organisation will be led by an Infrastructure Director who reports to the Rector
• The Administrative Director reports to the Infrastructure Director
• Core facilities will form departments led by a department head

What is the plan for RIKI's support functions?

In spring 2026, the implementation group will initiate dialogue with prefects and affected operations to develop a plan for incorporation. This dialogue will take place on an institution-by-institution basis.

Operational support will be built around the current administrative support at Comparative Medicine and will be expanded with a focus on functions related to the provision of advanced methodological and technical services, such as contracts, intellectual property rights, and pricing calculations. A dedicated implementation group will be responsible for ensuring that development proceeds in stages and in dialogue with the University Management Office.

Will any new IT systems or administrative procedures be introduced?

It is too early to say definitively, but this will be examined and, if necessary, planned by the implementation groups. Through planning and work within implementation groups with representation from relevant functions, we will ensure that the transition to new systems proceeds smoothly.

Why is RIKI being established?

The proposal to establish RIKI emerged from work on one of KI's priority areas: E2. A Unified Organisation for KI's Research Infrastructure for Increased Quality and Efficiency. This proposal aligns with developments at other medical faculties, both nationally and internationally.

The Rector has made the decision to proceed with implementation following consultation with the Pro-Rector, University Director, Deans, and the Faculty Board. The work, including anchorage through broad dialogue with Deans, institutional leadership, and core facility directors, has been documented by the working group in a report available on the staff portal.

With RIKI, KI aims to:

• Achieve better oversight, coordination, and governance of KI's research infrastructure within a unified organisation
• Strengthen support for researchers through easier access to advanced methodologies and technologies. Through appropriate research infrastructure, research achieves high quality
• Increase quality and optimise operations through shared working methods, quality systems, and sustainable resource utilisation. There are no cost-reduction targets at present
• Meet future requirements in line with international trends and KI's needs and priorities
• Create clearer structures, career pathways, and professional development opportunities for employees in research infrastructure
• Follow recommendations from internal audit regarding the description, quality assurance, and strategic development of KI's research infrastructure

How will implementation proceed? What will the various implementation groups do?

• Implementation will take place in stages from 2026 to 2027. An implementation group will plan and monitor the transition
• Decisions regarding incorporation of additional functions will be made separately for each institution in dialogue with prefects, affected operations, and RIKI's leadership
• When decisions are made, a risk and impact assessment will be conducted and further information will become available
• For each operation to be incorporated, a dedicated implementation group will be created to prepare a plan based on the specific needs of the affected operation—for example, regarding administrative systems and IT solutions

What is the role of the Infrastructure Committee in relation to RIKI? Now and in future?

The Infrastructure Committee will continue to play a central role in financing and represents an important mechanism for faculty influence. The modalities for this will be developed during 2026.

How will RIKI affect KI's collaboration with Region Stockholm?

RIKI will provide a clearer point of access to KI's infrastructure and its leadership. The Infrastructure Director will represent KI in regional and national groupings within research infrastructure.

How should RIKI relate to and collaborate with SciLifeLab? How will the risk of duplicated effort be managed?

Through RIKI, the interaction surface between KI's research infrastructure and SciLifeLab becomes clearer, which increases the conditions for dialogue regarding core facilities that support related research areas.

• 1 January 2026: Integration commences
  • Comparative Medicine, KI Biobank, and the radiation bunkers at Campus Solna are brought together within RIKI. An Infrastructure Director and advisory group are appointed. RIKI's operational support and IT infrastructure are developed in collaboration with the central operational support unit (GVS).
• Autumn 2026: Expansion commences
  • Additional core facilities and freezer facilities are integrated into RIKI following dialogue with the affected institutions. Expansion of governance, advisory, and support functions within RIKI.
• 1 July 2027: Integration complete
  • The expansion of RIKI, including governance, advisory, and support functions, is expected to be complete by mid-2027.