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    "localId": "486498019",
    "label": "Report, OSI - 1/49, Central Intelligence Agency, An Estimate of Swedish Capabilities in Science",
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    "id": "486498019",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Report, OSI - 1/49, Central Intelligence Agency, An Estimate of Swedish Capabilities in Science",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486498019",
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        "President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
        "Intelligence Files"
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    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 9,
            "logicalDate": "1949-08-09",
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{
    "seq": 12,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875491/875491-01-012.tif",
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    "ocrText": "SECRET\nWith these assumptions, the following sections will attempt to assess present and\nexpected scientific developments. As will be apparent from reading on, one cardinal\nfact emerges-In whatever field of science Sweden chooses to enter it does well or\nbrilliantly. However, because of limited manpower and economic resources, certain\nareas of investigation remain relatively untouched. Sweden feels the necessity of\nbending most of its efforts in those directions that will aid and improve its economy\nand well-being.\nThe fact that Swedish contributions in any particular field are in the main of a\nvery high order is directly attributable to a disciplined and intensive educational sys-\ntem, a system which prides itself on the fact that, on the average, a degree-holder,\nwhatever his field, is in fact as or more capable than anyone in the world to the limits\npertaining to that degree.\na. Status of Chemical Research\nSwedish scientists have produced results of great fundamental significance\nin biological chemistry and in the physical chemistry of macromolecules and high-\nmolecular-weight materials. The development and application of new experimental\ntechniques for determining the chemical nature and size of large molecules have led\nto a better understanding of the basic functioning of biological systems and the course\nof reactions in cellulose chemistry. Continued successes may be expected in this\nresearch.\nSwedish research capabilities in organic (including pharmaceutical), inor-\nganic, and industrial chemistry are of a decidedly lower order. In part this is traceable\nto the comparatively recent establishment of a Swedish chemical industry from which\nmuch of the impetus for research must come. Although new laboratories are being\nbuilt and equipped, technical manpower shortages and lack of raw materials make\nunlikely any basically new developments in these fields within the next five years.\n(1) Physical Chemistry\nThe important developments in physical chemistry in Sweden have been\nnew research tools, such as the ultracentrifuge, chromatographic-analysis equipment,\nand electrophoretic apparatus. Although important basic studies using these tools are\nin progress, few direct industrial or technical advances have yet been attained. During\nWorld War II, however, the discovery by Swedish scientists that blood serum contains\nfive, not two, proteins was important to the large-scale blood fractionation work in\nthe United States and elsewhere. As these studies reveal more about the internal\nstructure of high-molecular-weight materials, practical results, in the way of improved\ntextile fibers and plastics, should be obtained.\nIt is believed probable that the application of physico-chemical methods\nwill produce significant advances in the identification of virus proteins. Extensive\nbe expected to lead to improved textile fibers from cellulose.\nresearch on the structure and size of the cellulose aggregate may in a few years' time\nOn the physico-chemical aspects of chemical warfare, such as flames,\nSweden within the next five years.\nscreening smokes, and aerosol dispersion, no important developments are expected from\n(2) Organic Chemistry\nSynthetic organic chemistry is a comparatively new and undeveloped\nfield in Sweden. Strong attempts are now being made, however, to build up an industry\nwhich will fill the majority of Swedish requirements. Serious deficiencies in raw\nmaterials is and fuels as well as scientific manpower must first be overcome. A start\nbeing made on the pioneering research and the expansion of plant facilities.\n5\nSECRET"
}