KTH's research in brief
KTH's research spans fundamental and applied research in natural sciences, engineering and architecture, conducted in close collaboration with society and industry. The research contributes to new knowledge and technological development that builds understanding of the world, lays the foundation for a sustainable and safe society, and improves people's quality of life and health.
Researchers and doctoral students
KTH has 369 professors and 240 senior lecturers. Women accounted for 24 per cent of professors in 2025. KTH had 1,513 active doctoral students that same year. Each year, a large number of these students complete their doctoral degrees – in 2025, that figure was 279. Of the 242 doctoral students admitted during the year, 46 per cent held a degree from a country other than Sweden.
Research funding
The majority of KTH's research is funded through external sources. Among the largest funders are the Swedish Research Council, the EU, the Wallenberg Foundations, Vinnova and the Swedish Energy Agency. In 2025, KTH participated in 433 applications within the EU's framework programme Horizon Europe and was awarded 33 new projects. These included three grants from the European Research Council, ERC – one of the EU's most prestigious research funding instruments, awarded to individual researchers in international competition.
Research infrastructure at KTH
KTH's research environments are strengthened by extensive research infrastructure that gives researchers access to cutting-edge expertise and advanced equipment. Ideas and solutions are developed here in collaboration between researchers, industry and public stakeholders. KTH's infrastructure spans a broad spectrum – from specialised laboratories to test beds within national and international collaborations. Many infrastructures are open to users from other universities and research institutes, government agencies and companies. This contributes to both knowledge exchange and resource efficiency.
Collaborations and partnerships
KTH has 15 long-term strategic partnerships with major global companies, public sector organisations and leading research institutes. These partnerships strengthen research and education, and provide better opportunities to apply for research funding, carry out relevant projects for students and share infrastructure. Alongside the strategic partnerships, KTH hosts 26 research centres as lead organisation and participates in a further 12. These centres bring together academia, industry and the public sector around shared research questions, and help accelerate the implementation of research results. An important form of collaboration is industry-employed doctoral students – doctoral students whose doctoral training takes place within the framework of employment outside the university. In 2025, KTH had 219 such doctoral students.
World-class innovation support
KTH Innovation is ranked as one of Europe's leading innovation hubs and has helped launch more than 500 spin-off companies. As a researcher, doctoral student or student, you can receive support in developing and commercialising your ideas. The commercialisation projects supported by KTH Innovation generated a combined total of over SEK 82 million in external funding in 2025.
National strategic research areas
KTH has lead responsibility for five of Sweden's national strategic research areas: e-science, IT and mobile communications, transport research, production technology and molecular bioscience. The last of these is conducted within the framework of SciLifeLab, where KTH is one of four host universities. Within each strategic research area, research groups from multiple disciplines come together around shared scientific questions, often in collaboration with other universities, research institutes and industry. Funding for the five areas where KTH holds lead responsibility totalled SEK 353 million in 2025.
Strategic research initiatives at KTH
Through its own strategic research initiatives, KTH mobilises resources in areas of strategic importance and creates long-term conditions for excellent research. The initiatives enable new collaborations and give researchers the space to develop and deepen shared research directions ahead of forthcoming national and European calls for proposals.
In 2025, 14 such initiatives were under way, covering areas including AI, new materials, electric power, nuclear technology, life sciences, smart urban development and total defence. Each initiative receives between SEK 1 and 2 million per year for up to five years.
Source
All figures are taken from KTH's Annual Report 2025, approved by the University Board on 18 February 2026 (available in Swedish only).