The Åke Wiberg Foundation was established in 1953 through a donation from industrialist and politician Åke Wiberg (1902–1963). Wiberg had a profound interest in culture and science, as well as a strong commitment to social issues, which shaped the foundation’s areas of focus. He was also inspired to create the foundation after several trips to the United States in the early 1950s, where he witnessed the significant role foundations could play in driving societal development. Wiberg’s dedication to science and social matters is clearly reflected in a statement he made at a shareholders’ meeting of one of his companies, Malmö Strumpfabrik, after World War II:

“As a result of the war, a troubling situation had arisen in many places, particularly for children and the elderly. Under these circumstances, individuals and companies with the financial means should demonstrate a strong public spirit by offering help. It would be desirable to provide support not only for humanitarian purposes but also, and importantly, for scientific and cultural endeavors. A nation’s progress depends greatly on its culture and science.”

With an initial endowment of one million SEK (equivalent to just over 18 million SEK in today’s 2025 value), the Åke Wiberg Foundation began its operations. According to its charter, the foundation has since worked in three main areas: medical research, research in the humanities and social sciences, and initiatives for children and young people. In the past ten years alone, more than 3,300 projects have received financial support from the foundation, totaling over 420 million SEK. Under 2024 alone, more than 60 million SEK was distributed across the foundation’s three focus areas.

For many years, the foundation also owned AB Borgen, a timber company once managed by Åke Wiberg, which operated primarily in the production of treated wooden poles. In 2013, AB Borgen was sold, and since then, the foundation has managed its funds through a dedicated securities portfolio. Through skilled financial management, the foundation’s capital has steadily grown over the years and now exceeds 2.5 billion SEK. This makes the Åke Wiberg Foundation one of the larger foundations in Sweden, with a continued commitment to being a major supporter of Swedish research and civil society, particularly in initiatives for children and young people.