8 Sep 2026
KAW Proof of Concept Grants 2026 Now Open
The call for the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation’s (KAW) Proof of Concept Grants in Materials Science for Sustainability 2026 is now open.
14 Sep 2026
WISE Congratulates ERC Starting Grant Laureates
“The WISE Academic Postdoc project gave me my first opportunity to work with a postdoctoral researcher and was an important step in growing my research as an independent PI. The ERC Starting Grant now allows me to build my own research team and pursue a long-term research vision, says Professor Kim from Linköping University.
Photo: Catherine Aitchison (left) and Professor Nara Kim (right) from Linköping University.
The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the winners of its 2026 Starting Grant competition. A total of €705 million will be awarded to 421 early-career researchers across Europe, enabling them to pursue ambitious research ideas, build their own teams and establish their independence at a pivotal stage in their careers.
ERC Starting Grants support promising early-career researchers who have already produced excellent work during their doctoral and postdoctoral studies and have demonstrated the potential to become independent research leaders.
In the field of Physical Sciences and Engineering, nine researchers from Swedish institutions received grants. The laureates are based at Linköping University, Lund University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Chalmers University of Technology.
WISE is especially proud to congratulate two WISE-affiliated researchers at Linköping University: Assistant Professor Catherine Aitchison and Assistant Professor Nara Kim.
Catherine Aitchison received funding for her project, Crystallisable Organic Heterojunctions for Photons to Fuel. Nara Kim was awarded a grant for High-Efficiency Thermal Energy Harvesting via Ionic Thermoelectric–Electronic Bridging.
—The WISE Academic Postdoc project gave me my first opportunity to work with a postdoctoral researcher and was an important step in growing my research as an independent PI. The ERC Starting Grant now allows me to build my own research team and pursue a long-term research vision, says Professor Kim from Linköping University and WISE-affiliated researcher.
WISE warmly congratulates both researchers on this outstanding achievement!
To know more about WISE Fellow Professor Catherine Aitchison please visit:
To know more about Professor Nara Kim please visit:
