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Nobel Foundation (Nobelstiftelsen)
The Nobel Foundation was established in 1900 under the terms of Alfred Nobel's will to manage his industrial fortune and administer the prizes in physics,...
Nobel Foundation (Nobelstiftelsen)
The Nobel Foundation was established in 1900 under the terms of Alfred Nobel's will to manage his industrial fortune and administer the prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace. Hanna Stjärne was appointed Executive Director in 2024. The foundation operates from Stockholm and maintains legal separation between its investment activities and the independent prize committees at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, and the Swedish Academy. Investment deployment follows a 10 percent target allocation to private equity alongside larger holdings in global equity indices and real assets. Confirmed positions include commitments to Carlyle Group real estate funds, Global Infrastructure Partners, Two Sigma, and Millennium Global. The portfolio also contains direct ownership of commercial properties in Stockholm valued at approximately 37 million USD and intellectual property rights tied to the Nobel Prize brand. Geographic exposure centers on Sweden and broader European markets with additional allocations to global developed equities. The foundation employs external providers including Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken for investment advice and Handelsbanken for custody and index services. It maintains affiliated vehicles such as Stiftelsen Nobel Center and Stiftelsen Nobels Fredssenter that operate museums and outreach programs. In 2024 Hanna Stjärne assumed the Executive Director role while Ulrika Bergman continues as Chief Investment Officer. The foundation signed the UN Principles for Responsible Investment in 2016. A key structural feature is the statutory requirement that the foundation preserve the real value of the endowment in perpetuity while transferring annual returns to the prize-awarding institutions. This mandate limits risk-taking and requires board approval for any change in investment policy or real asset commitments.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1900
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Sweden
City
Stockholm
Corporate office
Sturegatan 14, SE-102 45 Stockholm, Sweden
Principals
Hanna Stjärne
Executive Director
Astrid Söderbergh Widding
Chair of the Board of Directors
Ulrika Bergman
Chief Investment Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Nobel Foundation?
Ulrika Bergman serves as Chief Investment Officer. External advisors from Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken provide ongoing counsel on allocation and risk.
Does the Nobel Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation acts as a limited partner in private equity, real estate, and infrastructure funds. It also holds direct ownership of Stockholm commercial properties through Nobelstiftelsen and Nobelhuset AB.
What asset classes does the Nobel Foundation allocate to?
Allocations include public equities via index funds, private equity at a 10 percent target, real estate, and infrastructure. Passive equity structures represent the largest portion of the portfolio.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The endowment originates from Alfred Nobel's manufacturing fortune, primarily derived from dynamite and other explosives patents in the late 19th century.
How is the Nobel Foundation related to the prize-awarding institutions?
The foundation provides financing to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, the Swedish Academy, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee while remaining legally separate from prize selection decisions.
Does the Nobel Foundation maintain philanthropic structures?
It operates Stiftelsen Nobel Center and Stiftelsen Nobels Fredssenter to manage museums and educational outreach. These entities receive funding from the foundation and external donors.
What is the Nobel Foundation's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The foundation invests through fund commitments rather than direct co-investments. It maintains long-term relationships with managers such as Carlyle and Global Infrastructure Partners.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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