Gudmund Hernes and CAS Launches Hernes-CAS Mobility Grant

This is an exciting initiative launched to strengthen international research connections, enhance collaborative opportunities, and create continuity for former CAS projects, all while strengthening our ties with our European sister institutions.

Fully funded residencies in Paris and Uppsala

The Hernes-CAS Mobility Grant offers former CAS PIs a unique opportunity to continue their research from their CAS projects at one of our sister institutions: The Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study (SCAS) in Uppsala or The Paris Institute for Advanced Study (Paris-IAS).

Generously supported by the Hernes Foundation, the grant will initially run as a three-year pilot programme. Selected researchers will have the opportunity to relocate to either Paris or Uppsala for residencies of up to five months, with full access to office space, institutional facilities, and participation in the rich academic and social activities at their host institute.

The residency is fully covered by the Hernes Foundation, placing no financial burden on the researcher's home institution. This creates an excellent opportunity for scholars to pursue high-level, innovative, and interdisciplinary research under ideal conditions.

“On behalf of the board and all at CAS, I wish to express our sincere thank for this generous donation which allows CAS to strengthen the core activities and ideas that form the basis for CAS. At the same time a new dimension is added by establishing close formal collaborations with the Institutes for Advanced studies at Uppsala and Paris” says Rolf Reed chair of the Board of Directors at CAS and professor emeritus at University of Bergen.

Celebrating the launch

Gudmund Hernes was instrumental in establishing CAS and as such the Centre share many of his core values and commitment to foster high quality research and contributions to science. 

Hernes served as Norway's Minister of Education and Research (1990-95) and Minister of Health (1995-97). From 1999 to 2005, he directed UNESCO's International Institute of Educational Planning in Paris and served as UNESCO's Coordinator on HIV/AIDS. Since 2006, he has served as President of the International Social Science Council.

The grant was first announced in a closed call to relevant CAS alumni and will be available to scholars working within or across the fields of social science, history, and politics, the fields Gudmund himself has been working in for many years. Though applications from mathematics and natural sciences are also welcome when the proposed research demonstrates clear societal relevance.

The programme launch was celebrated with a visit to Paris-IAS, by Gudmund Hernes, Charlotte Haug and chair of the CAS board of directors, Rolf Reed, where Paris-IAS Director Saadi Lahlou provided a tour of the facilities. Both CAS and its sister institutes share commitments to supporting innovative research, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, and creating communities where researchers can pursue meaningful contributions to scientific development.

The application deadline for the closed call concluded on 15 May 2025, and we are delighted to announce that the first Hernes-CAS fellow will be revealed in September 2025. This milestone marks the beginning of what we anticipate will be a prestigious new addition to the CAS portfolio.

We are honored to engage in this exciting collaboration and look forward to the scientific contributions the fellowship will encourage.