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Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP)

WASP is a major national initiative for strategically motivated basic research, education and faculty recruitment. The programme will run at least until 2031, and was launched in 2015. With a total budget of SEK 6,2 billion, it is by far the largest individual research program in Sweden.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Building and promoting excellence

Artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems are expected to usher in a fourth industrial revolution. The WASP programme is an initiative to promote intensive research in these two fields. The vision is excellent research and competence in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software to benefit Swedish society and industry.

WASP is funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation with a total commitment of SEK 4.9 billion until at least 2031. Together with co-funding from the partner universities and Swedish industrial groups, the entire initiative is worth SEK 6.2 billion.​​​​​​​

Strategic Instruments

To achieve the ambition of WASP, the programme focuses on six strategic instruments. Each instrument is, in turn, executed by different initiatives. WASP strengthens, expands, and renews the national competence through:

  • A challenging research programme
  • A national graduate school
  • Strategic international faculty recruitment
  • Research Arenas
  • Internationalisation by exclusive university partnerships
  • Communication, events and networking

Read more about the strategic instruments. ​​​​​​​

Partner universities and affiliated research groups

​​​​​​​WASP has five partner universities: KTH, Chalmers University of Technology, Linköping University, Lund University and Umeå University. In addition, there are affiliated research groups at Örebro University, Uppsala University and Luleå University of Technology that are also included in WASP.

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