Background and Aim: High-quality residential care for older adults requires expertise in evidence-based practice, person-centered care (PCC), and sustainability in quality improvement efforts. This is a complex endeavor, as it may require research competence and flexibility to move beyond standardized guidelines. Therefore, collaboration between academia and clinical practice is encouraged. To address this, several Academic Residential Care Facilities (ARCFs) have been established across Sweden. These aim to strengthen the research profile and evidence base of residential care, while also offering potential to provide a foundation for PCC. However, the characteristics, structure and core components of these ARCFs remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the defining characteristics and core components of ARCFs in Sweden. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 key informants from clinical practice and academia at 12 ARCFs, focusing on organization; research; and education. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.  Results: Findings show that all ARCFs had some level of cooperation with academia, although the structure, nature and frequency of it varied. All ARCFs were involved in different research projects, but only a few as co-creative partners. All hosted students for clinical practice, but differences were found in supervisor training, and the academic environment. Conclusions: The partnership between academia and ARCFs holds strong potential for advancing sustainable, high-quality PCC, research, and education. However, the definition and understanding of ARCFs and their core components vary. Our study shows that while many ARCFs engage with academia through student placements and research participation, the depth, structure and consistency of these collaborations vary across facilities. Strengthening the co-creative partnership between clinical practice and academia is likely a key to realizing the full potential of the ARCF model. To support broader implementation, a clear definition and operational framework are needed to reach full scope of ARCFs.