Grants raining over KTH
It has been announced that the Research Council Formas has allocated SEK 25 million to KTH as part if its efforts to strengthen research environments. This funding, which will be spread over five years, has been granted to the CarboMat consortium that is researching into advanced carbohydrate materials.
To date, this is the biggest grant that Formas has allocated to the strengthening of research environments.
“We received a lot of exciting, innovative applications,” says Anna Ledin, Executive at Formas.
She adds that criteria for allocation of funding include that the research area as such is to be characterised by the highest scientific quality and that it contributes great benefit to the development of a sustainable society.
CarboMat fulfils all these demands.
Harry Brumer, Docent in wood biotechnology and the team leader of CarboMat, is extremely pleased with this additional grant.
“These funds will be used for research concerning how new and advanced carbohydrate material can be used for improved water purification and treatment of wounds,” states Harry.
More specifically, CarboMat’s research concerns cellulose, a carbohydrate found in the cell walls of plants. Cellulose easily attaches to other carbohydrates and then unique material is formed whose characteristics are adapted for certain, specific functions.
The researchers are trying for a clearer understanding and improved utilisation of this collaboration between carbohydrates in order to create new, revolutionary materials on the nano scale. These, in turn, can be used to improve filters for water purification or for the recreation of different types of tissue.
For more information, please contact Emilie von Essen, Press Director at Formas on +46 733 50 31 61 or at eve@formas.se.
Harry Brumer can be reached at +46 8 553 78 367 or at harry@biotech.kth.se.
Peter Larsson