Karolinska Institutet’s Sustainability Award
Many students and staff at KI promote sustainability in different ways. The aim of KI's Sustainability Award is to celebrate and inspire continued and new actions for sustainable development at KI.
What does the award entail?
The winner is presented at KI's Sustainability Day and is awarded a diploma and a check of SEK 30 000 to develop or enhance the awarded initiative or activity at KI.
Who can be nominated for the award?
A particularly good initiative, activity or workplace at KI which promotes sustainability can be nominated for the award. Nominations can include groups or individuals, students or staff at KI.
Who can nominate for the award?
Heads of departments and directors at KI are encouraged by direct invitation to nominate candidates for the award.
How is the award decided?
KI's Council for Environment and Sustainable Development decides on the award, based on a review of the nominations made by an assessment group.
The assessment is based on four criteria:
- The initiative/work includes both students and employees
- Contribution to sustainability work at KI
- Effects the work led to
- Expected results in the future.
Recipients of the award

Hanna Karlsson and Sara Widén receive KI’s new Sustainability Award
Hanna Karlsson and Sara Widén are the first ever recipients of KI’s new Sustainability Award, which they have earned in recognition of their efforts to support the KI faculty on issues of sustainability. They were presented with the award consisting of SEK 30 000 by KI's president Annika Östman Wernerson at KI's Sustainability Day on 24 May 2023.
More about sustainability at KI

Sustainable development
An important part of KI:s sustainability work is to highlight and strengthen research and education that contribute to knowledge about how society affects human health, now, in the future, locally and globally.

Environment and Climate Action Plan 2021-2024
By 2030, Karolinska Institutet will be a groundbreaking, engaged and global university, as stated in the KI's Strategy 2030. Sustainability is a prerequisite for this work and will permeate all of the university's activities, including ensuring that the campus is environmentally and socially sustainable in the long term.