The principal aims of the Academy as set out in its present statutes are
• To promote research in the field of the humanities, theology, and social sciences
• To work for the preservation of the cultural heritage of Sweden
• To co-operate with other Swedish bodies and associations in the humanities
• To promote international cooperation in the same fields and by so doing maintain contact with foreign academies and international scholarly organizations
• To publish scholarly works within its field of activity
• To give economic support and rewards to scholars and others who have promoted the objects of the Academy
• To make statements and express opinions when called upon to do so by the Government or other public bodies, or when the interests of the Academy require it.
The Academy’s promotion of scholarly work is increasingly assuming the character of initiating and stimulating endeavours in the form of conferences, symposia, working groups and also today supporting research projects initiated by the Academy. The purpose can be to identify important and often neglected problem areas or aspects, to stimulate innovative thinking and thus generate and mobilise interest and activity. The scope and importance of such efforts cannot be measured in terms of the money spent on them but rather in terms of their long range impact, also with regard to future allocation of resources. Independent learned societies of high standing in close co-operation with the international world of scholarship as well as with other interested partners would seem today, to occupy a key role in the undertaking of such promotion efforts. The Academy works in close co-operation with other academies as well as different state authorities such as The Swedish Research Council, the National Heritage Board, Museums, Libraries, Archives and regional and provincial bodies in the field of the preservation of the cultural heritage.
Nevertheless, direct economic support of research activities and the publication of scholarly writing remains an important part of the activity of the Academy. Such support is often granted in co-operation with other institutions, e.g. The Swedish Research Council in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences and The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation. Finally, the Academy has hosted informal meetings to which representatives of the Cabinet have been invited. Experience has proved such meetings to be of great value for effective communication between scholars on the one hand and politicians and administrators on the other.
