KTH Smart cities - Stockholm SPHERE
KTH's strategic research initiatives mobilize efforts around strategically important areas, where the link to societal development and its needs is clear. Researchers are brought together in new collaborations, either in an existing research area or by developing a new one. One such initiative is SPHERE, which aims to transform Stockholm into a leading smart city by leveraging advancements in sensing, digital technologies, materials, and 3D printing.
The SPHERE initiative focuses on domains such as smart transportation, urban manufacturing, and intelligent buildings, with the overarching goal of accelerating sustainability through cyber-physical systems (CPS).
The project rests on three core pillars:
- stakeholder integration across governance, industry, and academia.
- cross-disciplinary research targeting zero emissions and accidents.
- experimental capabilities that connect existing testbeds for efficient innovation testing at scale.
SPHERE seeks to unify the currently fragmented research and innovation landscape into a cohesive and collaborative arena. This integration will enhance the scalability, governance, and effectiveness of experimental infrastructures, supporting research into CPS trust, interoperability, data sharing, and socio-technical transitions. The initiative emphasizes responsible innovation by aligning science and policy, engaging stakeholders to co-develop scalable, real-world solutions.
By fostering strategic partnerships, SPHERE aims to position KTH and Stockholm as global leaders in smart city research and innovation. It will create novel opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and serve as a catalyst for impactful socio-technical transformation.
In addition, SPHERE addresses the growing need for skills that bridge technology and society, providing educational opportunities such as internships, capstone projects, and PhD research. It will support the development of new academic programs and continuing education in systems thinking, ethics, and socio-technical systems—equipping both researchers and policymakers with the tools needed to navigate and guide emerging technologies responsibly.
Prof Martin Törngren (martint@kth.se) is the contact for Mechatronics & TECoSA.
For more information, please see the SPHERE homepage:
www.kth.se/en/forskning/sarskilda-forskningssatsningar/strategiska-initiativ/sphere
And for more information about other KTH Strategic Initiatives, please see
https://www.kth.se/en/forskning/sarskilda-forskningssatsningar/strategiska-initiativ