KTH Wins Major Grants for Basic Research

In the latest round of funding from the Swedish Research Council,  KTH will receive more than $25 million to be used in a range of natural science and engineering research projects.

In this year’s annual major call for research funds, the Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) has allocated some SEK 178 million for a total of 62 KTH projects.

“The funding will primarily support projects in basic research such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering sciences and biotechnology,” says Prof. Björn Birgisson, Vice President for Research at KTH.

Birgisson describes subject-based fundamental research as a critical area for societal development. And in the competition for major research funding in the future, he sees great opportunities for KTH.

“Scientists who have the best ideas get the money. Hopefully the 2011 grants will inspire other researchers here,” he says. “They shouldn’t hesitate to apply for these large research grants.”

The top two projects, “Compact 3-Dimensional X-ray Microscopy” and “Domain Structuring and an Optofluidic Platform in Ferroelectrics” will receive SEK 4.65 million ($670,000) each distributed over four years.

“This type of funding is particularly valuable for our scientists because it’s often difficult to find financing for fundamental research, where it can take a long time to move from laboratory study to practical applications,” Birgisson says.

For more information: Bjorn Birgisson; +46-8-790 87 02, or bjornbir@kth.se.

 

Kevin Billinghurst | kb2@kth.se