26 May 2025
The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, in partnership with the WISE research program, has selected nine promising innovation projects to receive Proof-of-Concept (PoC) grants. ,
The Proof of Concept grants are aimed at accelerating the journey from academic discovery to real-world application.These newly awarded PoC grants support research that addresses critical sustainability challenges through advances in materials science. Each project will receive between SEK 1 million and 4 million over a two-year period, along with coaching and commercialization support from the Wallenberg Launch Pad (WALP).
The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academic research and market-ready innovations, helping researchers transform early-stage ideas into validated products, methods, or processes with commercial potential.
“Advanced materials are a key to reach a sustainable society. To boost the implementation and deployment of new materials for a circular economy and crucial energy technologies, it is important that research results are translated into innovations that enable fast upscaling to make impact. The granted KAW-PoC projects provide a fast and significant route towards sustainability,” says Magnus Berggren.
Since the first PoC grants were awarded in 2017, a total of 115 projects have received funding. This is the first time the call has focused specifically on materials science for sustainability. A second call is scheduled to open on September 1, with an application deadline of October 15, 2025.
Proof-of-concept grants make it possible for research funded by the Foundation to also lead to innovations and jobs by bridging the gap between academic research and the possibility of commercialization. This is also fully in line with the Foundation’s purpose of being beneficial to Sweden. The grants are awarded to the researcher’s host university and must comply with the university’s regulations,” says Sara Mazur, Executive Director, Knut and Alice Wallenberg
Awarded Proof-of-Concept grants in the 2024 call
Researchers have expressed their appreciation for the support, emphasizing the vital role the grants play in moving beyond the lab and into real-world applications.
”We are very excited and grateful for the grant which will allow us to mature our nanomaterial technology towards commercialization. We will now address challenges in up-scaling of the synthesis and the development of high-performance demonstrators, which will be crucial for approaching future customers within the printed sustainable electronics segment,” says Klas Tybrandt, Professor of Material Science at Linköping University.
“We are honored and grateful to receive this support, which helps advance sustainable innovation. The proof-of-concept funding allows us to accelerate the development of biobased wood adhesives that reduce reliance on fossil-derived materials, valorize underutilized industrial sidestreams, and enable more efficient use of wood resources – thereby promoting the transition to a circular economy,” says Eva Malmström Jonsson, Professor Coating Technology at KTH, Royal Institute of Technology.
For more information about upcoming calls and application procedures, visit the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation website
22 May 2025
Making steel the traditional way pushes a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere—about 8% of all global energy-related emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). But there’s a greener way forward.
Picture taken by Smoltek Hydrogen.
19 May 2025
A notable ensemble of WISE expertise—including Vladislav Borisov (WISE-affiliated researcher, Uppsala University), Prof. Mikhail I. Katsnelson (Radboud University, WISE Guest Professor), Prof. Konstantin Novoselov (National University of Singapore, member of WISE’s International Scientific Advisory Board), Prof. Olle Eriksson (Uppsala University, WISE co-director), and collaborators—uncovered a novel form of magnetic order in 2D materials.
16 May 2025
Chalmers University of Technology has officially inaugurated a new high-end research infrastructure to support Sweden’s transition to sustainable materials, as part of the national WISE initiative.
13 May 2025
The hazardous materials within e-waste can pose severe environmental and health risks if not managed properly. To pave the way for a sustainable future, we need to embrace cutting-edge technologies and innovative approaches.
Picture taken by Mycronic.
9 May 2025
Lennart Bergström, WISE-affiliated Professor of Materials Chemistry at Stockholm University, has been awarded the 2025 Staudinger-Durrer Prize by ETH Zurich.
7 May 2025
Luleå University of Technology has unveiled one of Northern Europe’s most advanced laboratories, dedicated to the sustainable materials of the future.
Picture taken by Luleå University of Technology.
6 May 2025
The fifth seminar in the series: Machine Learning meets Materials Science is coming up on May 8th. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain fresh perspectives, learn foundational AI concepts, and connect with leading minds in materials science and machine learning.
29 Apr 2025
Five large collaborative research projects joining AI and material science have been approved funding. Together, the projects receive 100 MSEK.
12 Apr 2025
“Even after undergoing multiple cycles of degradation and recycling, the recovered devices work just as well and last as long as new ones. This approach is also great for the environment and saves money — it uses 96.6% fewer resources and reduces cancer-related health risks by 68.8%”, says Prof. Feng Gao from Linköping University.
28 Mar 2025
Join us for a WIRA-SuPRA event, Polymer R&D in Sweden.
21 Mar 2025
In a recent Nature Sustainability article, WISE-affiliated researcher and optoelectronics professor at Linköping University, Feng Gao, along with PhD student Muyi Zhang and collaborators, explored the challenges of commercializing next-generation light-emitting diodes (LEDs) known as perovskite LEDs.
14 Mar 2025
Feng Gao, WISE-affiliated professor in optoelectronics at Linköping University, is awarded the prize in physics.
Picture taken by Thor Balkhed, Linköping University.
14 Mar 2025
A successful WISE Dialogue 2025 just wrapped up, bringing together approximately 300 participants from diverse sectors, including leading industry professionals, academic experts, WISE PhD students and Postdocs, as well as representatives from the public sector.
11 Mar 2025
During their three-day trip through northern Sweden, participants explored LTU’s high-tech labs, engaged with leading researchers, and visited top industrial companies. Talga, SSAB, LKAB, Stegra, and SWERIM showcased how materials research drives sustainable solutions across industries.
10 Mar 2025
The topic of my speech will be “Commercialization of research for sustainability – the KTH Innovation approach”, says Lisa Ericsson, from KTH Innovation.
7 Mar 2025
-We need to build more with less resources. Use less raw materials, use new alternative materials, optimize structures, structures that maintains its properties and resistance over hundreds of years.
6 Mar 2025
The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW) has announced the opening of a Proof of Concept call for Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Quantum Technologies. The initiative aims to bridge the […]
5 Mar 2025
At the WISE Dialogue, I will present our cement technology Phlego—a low-carbon, white cement designed for seamless integration into existing manufacturing processes, says Tiziana Vanorio, Associate Professor at the school of Sustainability, Stanford University.
3 Mar 2025
-Advanced materials are vital for reducing emissions, promoting circularity, and replacing harmful materials.
25 Feb 2025
-Both new materials that can help us save resources and the science about how we use materials will play a significant role facing our global challenges.
10 Feb 2025
Check out our photo montage from the WISE Networking Day, which just concluded, leaving a trail of energy and excitement.
3 Feb 2025
The WISE Networking Day, a dynamic event bridging academia and industry in the field of material science for sustainability, has just concluded with a buzz of excitement and energy.
31 Jan 2025
Scania, a global leader in transport solutions, has teamed up with KTH, one of the partner universities of the research program WISE, to drive innovation and excellence.
27 Jan 2025
WISE is eagerly preparing for the inaugural WISE Networking Day, set to take place in Norrköping on January 28. Among the prominent speakers is Lars Jerpdal, Technical Manager at Scania Group and Project Manager of WIRA-SuPRA.
24 Jan 2025
We are happy to introduce Lena Killander, one of our great speakers, to present at WISE Networking Day, January 28, 2025
23 Jan 2025
-Sustainability is at the core of Graphmatech’s mission. By incorporating graphene into polymers, we significantly improve how these materials behave. We make them better, says Cecilia Århammar, Reaserch Area Manager at Graphmatech.
17 Jan 2025
Published in Nature Energy, Prof. Gao’s and researcher Rui Zhang’s study identifies the key factors controlling morphology, a long-standing challenge to improve efficiency. These findings also provide a roadmap for designing organic solar cells that meet the requirements of large-scale production using green solvents.
16 Jan 2025
We are happy to introduce Magnus Fredriksson, one of our great speakers, to present at WISE Networking Day, January 28, 2025.
7 Jan 2025
We are happy to introduce Susanne Norgren, one of our great speakers, to present at WISE Networking Day, January 28, 2025.
12 Dec 2024
-The WISE Research School plays a crucial role in helping doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers contribute to the green transition through materials research, says Prof. Larsson from LTU.