Materials research shapes industries of the future
The materials of the future will need to be produced in a more energy-efficient way with reduced environmental impact. KTH conducts world-leading research in materials science and collaborates closely with the Swedish industry. Developing advanced materials increases resource efficiency as they can be made stronger, lighter and more versatile than conventional materials. New materials and manufacturing processes can potentially transform industries such as energy technology, electronics, biomaterials, medical technology and metallurgy.
Meet our researchers in materials science
Daniel Söderberg
Daniel Söderberg is a professor and head of the Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, as well as the director of Treesearch, a Swedish platform for collaboration in research on materials derived from forests. His research focuses on developing new or improved industrial processes and materials, as well as enhancing the understanding of the mechanisms and physical phenomena utilised by nature.
At present, Daniel Söderberg is working on developing a new generation of advanced bio-based materials that can replace today's fossil-based materials and help address the material challenges society faces in relation to sustainability. With the support of world-leading expertise and new tools in robotics, analytical methods, and computer simulations, Daniel and his research team aim to develop the research laboratory of the future – a fully automated facility for advancing new material concepts.
Eva Malmström Jonsson is a professor of surface treatment technology and the director of the Wallenberg Wood Science Centre. She leads a research group at the Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, working on transforming biomass into functional materials with the aim of replacing traditional plastics with more environmentally friendly alternatives.
For example, she and her research team are developing techniques to create materials with plastic-like properties by combining biofibres and large molecules. Rather than merely mimicking the properties of plastic, they start from the unique characteristics of biomass and tailor new materials with the right properties to replace today’s plastic materials. They are also developing biodegradable plastics from bio-based raw materials.
