The field of accounting has long been under significant pressure. Several key players, such as FAR and Civilekonomerna, explicitly speak of a crisis in the field. The survival of the field of accounting is seriously threatened. Based on these considerations, the Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm University, and Uppsala University jointly sought funding in 2014 (from Handelsbanken’s Research Foundation and the Torsten Söderberg Foundation) to establish a research school in accounting (FIRE). In 2015 and 2016, FIRE admitted two cohorts of doctoral students, offered three doctoral courses, and organized four internal workshops. We now have thirteen active doctoral students within FIRE, and a strong network among the doctoral students is taking shape. Another important outcome of FIRE is that collaboration between faculty and researchers at the universities has developed and deepened. A third outcome is that international researchers are being connected to FIRE in various ways.

So far, FIRE can be described as a great success. We are now seeking additional funding to develop and strengthen FIRE. As of fall 2017, the Gothenburg School of Economics at the University of Gothenburg will join FIRE.