NEWS The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation is funding a historically large research initiative in materials science in Sweden – the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE). Umeå University is one of the partner universities, alongside KTH, Lund University and Uppsala University, among others.
Research within WISE aims to develop better technologies for future energy systems, improved materials and manufacturing processes for a sustainable society. The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation has allocated SEK 2.7 billion to the research initiative.
Professor Thomas Wågberg
ImageMattias Pettersson“It is extremely pleasing that Umeå University has been accepted as a partner university in WISE. In recent years, the University and the Faculty of Science and Technology have strengthened our position in materials research with a focus on sustainability, and this is recognition of that work. It also gives us opportunities going forward to strengthen this research area further,” says Professor Thomas Wågberg, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology and Umeå University’s representative on the WISE board.
Umeå University has participated in WISE through collaborations in selected research groups, but is now a partner university, which provides more opportunities to strengthen research and research collaborations. The initiative also includes a research school and support for the continued career development of early-career researchers.
“The Kempe Foundations have provided extremely important support through a targeted postdoctoral programme, and Professor Ludvig Edman, Physics, has made a major contribution to driving the process forward,” continues Professor Thomas Wågberg.