The Swedish system of research funding has undergone major changes, while competitive funding schemes gradually have gained popularity, at the expense of institutional block grants. In recent years, there has been a strong drive to improve research performance in universities as a result of governmental desires, resulting in performance-based research funding systems (PRFS) being introduced to distribute block grants. The study on which this article reports sought to understand the development of increased government intent to steer resources for research, by investigating the behaviour of universities and university colleges in Sweden in terms of internal organisation and distribution of funding. The article investigates the structure of and motives for applying PRFS at seven new universities and university colleges through a document and interview study. We identified three categories of higher education institutions: the excellence seekers, the pragmatists and the sceptics. Universities rhetorically signal compliance with governmental propositions to distribute funding according to performance measures, but their actions are limited. Thus, national incentives, models and measures influence decisions at lower institutional levels in a rather modest way.

中文翻译：

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追求卓越的专家，实用主义者或怀疑论者：在瑞典的新大学和大学学院中应用基于绩效的研究资助系统的方法

瑞典的研究经费制度已经发生了重大变化，而竞争性资助计划逐渐受到欢迎，但是以机构整体拨款为代价的。近年来，由于政府的要求，有很大的动力来提高大学的研究绩效，因此引入了基于绩效的研究资助系统（PRFS）来分配整笔拨款。本文报告的研究旨在通过调查瑞典大学和大学学院在内部组织和资金分配方面的行为，来了解政府为引导研究资源而增加的意图的发展。本文通过文献和访谈研究，研究了在7所新大学和大学学院应用PRFS的结构和动机。我们确定了三类高等教育机构：追求卓越的人，实用主义者和怀疑论者。大学夸夸其谈地表示遵守政府的建议，即根据绩效指标分配资金，但行动有限。因此，国家的激励措施，模型和措施以相当适度的方式影响着较低机构级别的决策。但是他们的行动是有限的。因此，国家的激励措施，模型和措施以相当适度的方式影响着较低机构级别的决策。但是他们的行动是有限的。因此，国家的激励措施，模型和措施以相当适度的方式影响着较低机构级别的决策。