Call for WACQT-WISE Collaboration Projects 2026

Version history

Version 1.0: 2026.05.04
The call text is available for download at the bottom of the page

Application deadline: 2026-08-27 at 14:00

Aim and scope

The aim of this call for proposals is to fund collaborations between WACQT and WISE researchers in the areas of quantum technology for materials science or in the field of materials science for quantum technology. In both cases a focus on sustainability is required. Proposals shall be within both WACQT and WISE scientific areas. Project shall be based on a joint research plan with one main Principal Investigator (PI) from WACQT and one PI from WISE partner universities. Eligible applicants are defined under “Who can apply”.

Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT, https://wacqt.se) is a 12-year, 1 billion SEK research effort that aims to take Sweden to the forefront of this very rapidly expanding area of quantum technology. WACQT is coordinated from Chalmers. Our main project is to develop a high-end quantum computer that can solve problems far beyond the reach of the best conventional supercomputers. Through an extensive research programme, we aim at developing and securing Swedish expertise within the main areas of quantum technologies: quantum computing and simulation, quantum communications and quantum sensing. Our vision is to build an open and interactive Swedish quantum technology community – an environment where people meet and where creativity and knowledge exchange is stimulated. Our main instruments to create this environment are our graduate school with PhD students from around Sweden, the guest researcher program that invites foreign researchers for stays in Sweden, and industrial partnerships for the exchange of ideas and knowledge between academia and industry.

Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE, https://wise-materials.org) is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and encompasses major efforts at Sweden’s leading universities over the course of (at least) 10 years. The aim is to create the conditions for a sustainable society by researching the next generation of ecofriendly materials and manufacturing processes. This will also facilitate better technology for energy systems of the future, and to combat climate change, pollution, and toxic emissions. Specifically, efforts will be devoted to identifying new or significantly improved materials, which provide a distinct advantage in physical, chemical, biological, or functional performance when compared to existing materials and technologies. This relates to materials that demand fewer resources, are less environmentally hazardous, and enable sound and efficient recycling processes. WISE will also explore materials that, when used in energy technology, generate less negative climate impact under operation, while offering high performance and efficiency when in action at large scales.

Who can apply?

This call is open for academic researchers at WACQT’s and WISE’s partner universities and Affiliated Groups of Excellence as specified below. An applicant can only serve as main applicant in one application within this call. However, a main applicant may also participate in other applications as a co-applicant (corresponding to PI and co-PI roles in funded projects). Applicants are eligible to apply regardless of whether they have received previous funding from WACQT or WISE.

The WISE main applicant must be employed by any of the seven partner universities, Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Linköping University, Uppsala University, Stockholm University, Lund University, and Luleå University of Technology, or with any of the affiliated groups of excellence at Göteborg University, Karlstad University, Umeå University, and Örebro University.

The WACQT main applicant must be employed by any of the WACQT partner universities, i.e. Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Linköping University, Stockholm University, Lund University, and Göteborg University.

Project structure

The projects are expected to be collaboration projects engaging PhD-students and/or postdocs with a tight collaboration between the programs. The benefit of collaboration shall be clearly explained in the application, where the roles of all funded personnel shall be motivated.

A project shall be jointly led by one principal investigator (PI) of the WACQT community that is eligible to apply for projects and one PI of the WISE community that is eligible to apply for projects. The synergy/interaction between the two PI’s competence in the project must be obvious for a successful project. In addition, the PIs are responsible for an efficient coordination and collaboration between the two programs in the project. Additional co-PIs are allowed, and their role shall be motivated in the application.

Use of funding

The total funding for this call is 32 MSEK, with maximum 16 MSEK from WACQT and 16 MSEK from WISE. The call aims at funding up to 4 projects with equal funding from WACQT and WISE. Funding in one project can be used for one PhD-student or one postdoc in each program. Additional funding for supervision and other expenses is included as described below. Limited further funding may be granted to cover explicit collaboration efforts (e.g. travel, training, experimental costs and meetings), if well motivated and explained in the application.

WACQT

KAW 2026.0233 reimburses salary and a maximum of 52.5% social security contributions (LKP). The part of social security contributions that exceeds 52.5% must be co-financed by the higher education institution. Operating costs, for example travel and materials, are reimbursed at 100% up to the amount granted for each grant. Premises costs are reimbursed at 50% of the booked cost, however a maximum of 7.5% of the salary cost. Indirect costs (OH) must be booked, and a maximum of 17,5% of salary costs as indirect costs.

Salary of up to 10% FTE of the supervisor of PhD student or postdoc as per below for their respective duration (4 or 2 years).

Costs of consumables and travels for the PhD student or postdoc should be made clear and explained in the proposal. This may include costs for supervisors to attend project meetings.

A maximum amount of funding of the combined OH and facilities will be stated in the decision letter. Costs in excess of this maximum amount will need to be co-financed.

WACQT PhD student

Salary for a PhD student, up to equivalent of 4-years full-time studies.

WACQT Postdoc

Salary for postdoc for up to 2 years full-time employment.

WISE

Funding in WISE for PhD students and postdocs according to following packages.

WISE PhD student

Salary (including 52,5% social fees) for PhD student, 4 years full-time studies that can be extended to 5 years if the doctoral studies are carried out at 80% full-time.
Salary (including 52,5% social fees) for supervision up to 10% of 4-year FTE for a maximum of 5 years.
Costs for travel to WACQT and WISE events, and consumables will be covered up to 50 kSEK/year (total 200 kSEK).
The costs include a maximum of 5% surcharge for premises and a maximum of 20% surcharge for indirect costs.

WISE Postdoc

Salary (including 52,5% social fees) for postdoc, 2 years full-time that can be extended to 2.5 years if the research is carried out at 80% full-time.
Salary (including 52,5% social fees) for mentorship up to 10% of 2-year FTE during a maximum of 2.5 years.
Costs for travel to WACQT and WISE events, and consumables will be covered up to 25 kSEK/year (total 50 kSEK).
The costs include a maximum of 5% surcharge for premises and a maximum of 20% surcharge for indirect costs.

Recruited PhD students in WACQT will be part of the WACQT graduate school. Recruited PhD students and postdocs in WISE will be part of the WISE Research School.

Evaluation criteria

Projects will be evaluated considering scientific excellence and impact from a materials science for sustainability perspective as well as from a quantum technology perspective, alike. Specifically, the following criteria will be used:

Scientific quality and impact

The scientific merits of the proposed research and its scientific impact. Relevance to the research areas of WACQT and WISE. The potential for the research, if successful, to significantly advance fundamental understanding in the topic area, or provide significant improvement of a materials platform currently used in quantum technologies embraced by WACQT.

Feasibility

The project’s feasibility will be evaluated, including the expected collaboration benefits.

Novelty and Originality

How the proposed project defines new scientific questions, and how the project uses new ways and methods to address those.

Sustainability Aspects

Relevance and impact of the proposed project’s contribution to sustainability.

Merits of the investigators

It is the collected merits of the team of investigators that are evaluated, and the academic age of participants is taken into account to enable a fair assessment of academic accomplishments. It is important that the main PIs both have time and the potential to take on the academic leadership of the project.

Relevance to Swedish society and industry

The short- and/or long-term relevance to Swedish industry and/or society (such as governmental agencies or other organizations) shall be explained.

Multidisciplinarity

The project shall involve PI and co-PIs with complementary skill sets with a base in the WACQT and WISE domains but with possible extensions into other fields.

Important aspects that will be considered are:

Diversity

It is an advantage if the project is diversified with respect to age and gender regarding the applicants as well as other project participants. In cases where proposals are otherwise assessed as equivalent, gender balance may be considered as a factor in the funding decision. Nonetheless, a proposal of higher scientific quality shall always be ranked above others.

Relevance and added value to the programs

The application shall address and demonstrate the requirement for inter-program collaboration. One intention behind this call is to create strong WACQT and WISE combined research collaborations. It is therefore an advantage if the proposed project has clear relevance for other ongoing efforts within WISE or WACQT.

The WACQT and WISE programs aim to achieve an overall gender balanced outcome, and preferably also within each individual project. In cases where proposals are otherwise assessed as equivalent, gender balance may be considered as a factor in the funding decision. Nonetheless, a proposal of higher scientific quality shall always be ranked above others.

Proposal structure

The proposal must be composed in Times New Roman font, 11 pt, single-spaced text, margins 2,5 cm and shall include the following sections:

Project Summary (1 page)
- Name of the project
- Names and affiliations of the two main applicants
- Scientific summary of the project including expected results and potential sustainability impact
Executive summary for publication (1/2 page)
The ½ page Executive summary may be used for screening of proposals if necessary. The potential sustainability impact must be clearly described in the summary. The summary may be published if the project is funded.
Project Description (max. 4 pages, references can be added beyond the page limit)
- Motivation, Significance, and Scientific Challenges
  - Include a clear description of the visions and goals, the distinguishing features, and foci
  - Include a motivation for why a doctoral student or postdoc is most appropriate for the proposed project
- State of the Art
- Scientific Approach, Methodology, and Novelty
  - Describe the research contribution
- Preliminary and Previous Results
  - Include results from previous related projects, if applicable.
- Research Environment and Supervision
  - Description of research environment and infrastructure (demonstrating feasibility of the proposed project)
  - Research supervision plan (for PhDs) and/or career development plan (for postdocs)
  - List of key collaborators and their roles for the project, if applicable

Collaboration environment description (1 page)Closely related projects and activities in the environment
- Forms of collaboration (within and between sites)
- Multidisciplinary added value
- Motivation for additional budget to support collaboration (e.g travel and meetings)

Relation to previous and ongoing projects (1 page)

If you currently have WACQT- and/or WISE-funded activities, describe your new proposal’s relation and possible overlap to these existing activities. A significant novelty is expected in comparison to your previously funded WACQT and/or WISE activities.

The project’s contribution to Sustainability (1 page)

Describe the relevance and potential impact of the proposed project’s contribution to sustainability. Relate to sustainability considerations, the SDGs, or other relevant aspects, see “Sustainability considerations for excellent materials research conducted in WISE” and “UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from a materials science perspective”.

CV of the PI (main supervisor) (max. 2 pages per PI, the publication list can be added beyond the page limit) including:
- Name, title, and affiliation
- PhD year
- Previous positions (and relevant supervisors)
- Periods of leave (parental, health-related, etc.), if applicable
- List of ongoing grants/projects
- (Optional) Short descriptions of utilization, commercialization, outreach, pedagogical, or other activities of relevance, e.g. efforts in sustainability
- Number (not name list) of current and number of former PhD students, postdocs, and master students
- List of 10 publications including:
  - 5 most important publications (during past 15 active years)
  - 5 recent publications most relevant for the proposed project (during past 7 active years)
- The PI should provide relevant bibliometric data and additional excellence markers of relevance to the proposed project.
- Link to Google Scholar profile or similar

Support letters
- Hosting universities
- Template: Support letter

Submission

The proposal shall be submitted as a single PDF file to the submission portal https://www.lyyti.in/WACQT-WISE-collaboration-projects no later than 2026-08-27, 14:00.