Stockholm University recommended to lead four strategic research areas

The Swedish Research Council recommends that the Government allocate funding to Stockholm University in four strategic research areas.

The funds are intended to enable higher education institutions to build up research at the highest international level over a long-term basis within eight strategic research areas.

The environments at Stockholm University that the Swedish Research Council recommend the Government to approve are:

Polar research

Project title: Swedish Centre for Integrative Polar Research (SCIPolar)

Project leader: Professor Martin Jakobsson

Participating HEI: Umeå University, Luleå University of Technology, KTH and Lund University

Proposed amount: SEK 22 000 000 in 2027 and SEK 44 500 000 in 2028

SCIPolar explores the far-reaching consequences of rapid Arctic and Antarctic change for the global climate system, cryosphere, ecosystems, and societies.

Quantum technologies

Project title: Quantum Technology Alliance: From Fundamental Science to Future Applications (QUANTA)

Project leader: Professor Emil Bergholtz

Participating HEI: Linköping University and Uppsala University

Proposed amount: SEK 20 000 000 in 2027 and SEK 40 000 000 in 2028

“There is an enormous potential in quantum technology, but which applications will be most significant is still open. We are building a broad and cohesive research environment that combines experiments, materials science and theory – from quantum communication and photonics to quantum sensors and new quantum materials. The idea is to give Sweden and Stockholm University a strong foundation for both early breakthroughs and more long-term leaps,” says physics professor Emil Bergholtz at Stockholm University.

“Enormous potential in quantum technology”

Climate-related research

Project title: Stockholm Centre for Climate Transitions (ClimTrio)

Project leader: Professor Karin Bäckstrand

Participating HEI: KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Karolinska Institutet

Proposed amount: SEK 14 670 000 in 2027 and SEK 29 670 000 in 2028

The Stockholm Centre for Climate Transitions (ClimTrio) aims to advance the theoretical,
methodological and empirical understanding of how societies can be transformed in effective,
legitimate, fair manners toward net-negative emissions consistent with human health.

Health, life sciences and artificial intelligence

Project title: Modelling Cell Membrane with AI

Project leader: Professor David Drew

Participating HEI: University of Gothenburg and Umeå University.

Proposed amount: SEK 9 600 000 in 2027 and SEK 19 200 000 in 2028.

Building on world-class expertise in experimental and computational cell membrane research, CEMERAI will create a unique environment for predictive, AI-driven cell membrane biology.

Strategic research areas

The Swedish Research Council has decided to recommend that the Government award funding to 16 of the 49 applications received under the call for proposals for Strategic research areas. It is the Government that makes the final decision on funding and allocates the funds as earmarked portions of the higher education institution’s research grant.

The eight strategic research areas are:

• Health, life sciences, and artificial intelligence
• Quantum technologies
• Polar research
• Climate-related research
• Crisis preparedness and total defense
• Practice-oriented professional research on crime
• Excellence in school
• Research on advanced materials

The total budget for the initiative is SEK 200 million for 2027 and SEK 400 million for 2028.

Read more on the Swedish Research Council’s website: 16 environments are recommended for funds within new strategic research areas

Source: Communications Office