Photo of SITE's partners together with Finn Rausing, Benjamin Dousa, & Torbjörn Becker. Photo: Dominick Nilsson

On Wednesday, 22 October, SITE hosted the Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa, SITE’s Chairman Finn Rausing, and representatives from key business partners - including Tetra Laval AB, Alfa Laval, SEB, Carl Bennet AB, and Medicover - for a discussion on the future of Ukraine and Eastern Europe, followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the government and our business partners. The agreement secures SITE’s funding for the coming years.

The discussion underscored that Europe is at a pivotal moment that tests our collective commitment to a free and democratic future. Meeting this challenge will require coordination across government, business, and the research community, but also offers significant returns to those who engage.

Photo of Finn Rausing, Benjamin Dousa, & Torbjörn Becker. Photo: Dominick Nilsson

Since the late 1980s, sustained support from the Swedish government and Sweden’s business community has enabled SITE to serve as a trusted partner for research‑based policy analysis and institution‑building in Eastern Europe. This history provides a strong platform for impact in a more challenging environment.

Photo: Dominick Nilsson

Through the FREE Network, coordinated by SITE with support from the Swedish government, we now collaborate with institutions in six countries across the region, with additional partnerships under development. The new funding agreement ensures we can continue to:

• Advance independent, research‑based policy work;
• Support the development of local human capital in the region; and
• Help Ukraine prevail by countering disinformation and propaganda about sanctions and the relative economic strength of Russia versus Ukraine’s partners.

We are grateful for the continued support from both the Swedish government and our corporate partners and are confident that, together, we can lay the foundations for a more secure and prosperous future for all of Europe.

Call for partners

We welcome additional partners, particularly from the business community, to join our efforts. Engagement has not always been easy, but this is a moment for action and long‑term commitment.

Photo: Dominick Nilsson