23 Feb 2026
Peter Dahlén, Technical Director at Holmen Board and Paper speaks at WISE Dialogue 2026
We are pleased to introduce Peter Dahlén as one of our speakers at the WISE Dialogue conference on March 17–18.
25 Feb 2026
WISE congratulates recipients of two EU fellowships for research supporting the green transition
Two cutting-edge research projects at Luleå University of Technology have been awarded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme.
Two cutting-edge research projects at Luleå University of Technology have been awarded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. Selected in highly competitive calls, the projects aim to deliver innovative solutions that reduce environmental impact while strengthening Europe’s access to sustainable materials and chemicals.
Turning pollution into sustainable fertiliser
The first project, PulseUS, focuses on developing a novel method for converting carbon dioxide and nitrate into sustainable urea. The ambition is twofold: to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to simultaneously purify polluted water.
—We want to develop an innovative method to produce urea directly from carbon dioxide and nitrate. If successful, we can turn two serious environmental problems into a valuable resource for agriculture. It is about gaining control of the reaction at a leel that has not been previously possible, says Alberto Vomiero, Professor of Experimental Physics at Luleå University of Technology and WISE-affiliated researcher.
By combining advanced catalyst design with pulsed electrochemistry, the project seeks to precisely control the reaction microenvironment and improve the coupling of carbon and nitrogen.
—By combining a novel catalyst design with pulsed electrochemistry, we can control the reaction microenvironment in a way distinct from conventional methods. This is essential to make the process both efficient and sustainable, adds Abebe Reda, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at Luleå University of Technology.
Circular use of industrial residues
The second project, SURGE, addresses the growing demand for critical raw materials by transforming industrial residues into advanced materials for energy technologies. By recovering graphite from hydrometallurgical process streams and stabilising fluorine in mineral forms, the project creates a more circular and resource-efficient material flow.
—Global demand for critical raw materials is increasing rapidly. We need strategies that both secure resources and reduce environmental impact. This project shows how industrial residues can become a resource in a circular economy, explains Sadia Ilyas, Associate Professor of Process Metallurgy at Luleå University of Technology and WISE Fellow.
International recognition for excellence
Both projects were funded through one of the EU’s most competitive research calls. The PulseUS proposal received an exceptional evaluation score of 97.2 percent.
—This is a highly prestigious recognition and a strong confirmation of the research excellence and environment we have built, Together, the projects strengthen our expertise in sustainable chemical production and circular material flows that are essential for the green transition, says Prof. Alberto Vomiero.
The projects are strongly aligned with WISE. To learn more about of Prof. Alberto Vomiero’s and Prof. Sadia Ilyas’ research at WISE, please visit:
Low bandgap solar absorbers: a combined experimental and computational approach
