Newsletter from the Infrastructure Board – Autumn 2025
Here you will find updates on strategic initiatives, new opportunities for researchers, and important developments in the planning and support of infrastructure. Our aim is to keep you informed about resources and initiatives that strengthen research at KI and beyond.
Strategic investments
Strategic investments in e-infrastructure
During autumn 2025, the Infrastructure Board decided on two strategic investments in e-infrastructure. The first concerns hardware for AI computations, and the second focuses on establishing a pool of experts to provide the advanced support often required to use such hardware.
There is a need among research groups at KI for support in utilising modern and advanced analytical methods and information technologies.
The initiative is a two-year pilot project running from 2026–2027.
Strategic investment in freezer infrastructure
The Infrastructure Board aims to improve safety at KI’s freezer facilities and has therefore decided on a strategic investment of up to SEK 6 million during 2025–2026 to strengthen KI’s freezer infrastructure at Neo, ANA Futura, and Biomedicum.
The investment includes:
- Purchase and commissioning of new freezers to be managed by the freezer facilities
- Investigation of a shared Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for sample handling, including resource requirements
The strategic management group for KI’s freezer facilities, including the facility heads, is responsible for implementation and reporting back to the Infrastructure Board.
International advisory panel – goals and process established
The Infrastructure Board plans to conduct a review of the research infrastructure portfolio with the support of an international advisory panel. In line with the Board’s mandate, the aim is to ensure that KI researchers have access to high-quality research infrastructure in a resource-efficient manner and to create favourable conditions for the operation of core facilities.
VR funding for national research infrastructure
A KI-coordinated research infrastructure, Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS), will continue to receive funding through the Swedish Research Council’s 2025 call for research infrastructures of national interest. CBCS supports researchers in developing new small-molecule tools.
Needs assessment ahead of VR’s 2027 Call
The Swedish Research Council (VR) has completed its needs assessment for research infrastructure of national interest, with a total of 80 submitted needs. These priorities will form the basis for VR’s upcoming 2027 call. KI has contributed three new proposals and one from Stockholm Trio:
- MIRA – Medical Imaging Research Alliance – a national research infrastructure for non-invasive medical and molecular imaging throughout the lifespan of humans and animals
- National Laboratory for Research and Innovation on Pathogens (NRI-BSL3)
- National Integrated Platform for Human Performance and Translational Medicine – Sweden’s Strategic Infrastructure for Health, Resilience, and Total Defence
- Infrastructure for Personalised Radiotherapy (Stockholm Trio)
KI will now continue the process in dialogue with other universities, which will then recommend a consolidated prioritisation to VR.
MAX IV and ESS – expanding research opportunities
A dialogue meeting November 27 at KI Campus Solna brought together Life Science researchers and experts from MAX IV to explore how advanced synchrotron techniques can complement current methods. Key themes included proteins, cells, and tissues, and the meeting sparked new collaborations.
In 2026, the Infrastructure Board will continue to promote the use of MAX IV and ESS through targeted information initiatives led by Martin Moche, helping researchers connect and explore these world-class resources.
LINXS – a gateway to collaboration with MAX IV and ESS
LINXS promotes Swedish X-ray and neutron technologies. Synergies between KI’s 3D-EM (electrons), MAX IV beamlines (photons), and the upcoming ESS (neutrons) were highlighted at the KI–MAX IV dialogue meeting on 27 November. These collaborations could evolve into future LINXS Themes, which often lead to EU-funded projects.
KI researchers are welcome to join existing Themes and explore opportunities to create new ones in the coming years.
Dialogue with strategic research areas (SFOs)
The Infrastructure Board has met with the heads of KI’s Strategic Research Areas (SFOs) to discuss needs and priorities. The discussion focused on the importance of reliable, long-term funded core facilities, improved marketing, and support for big data and AI. The Infrastructure Board maintains ongoing dialogues with various stakeholders as part of its strategy.
Project on revisable cost estimates
The Infrastructure Board and the Research Support Office have completed a project to enable reimbursement of costs for the use of core facility services with funding from EU and NIH projects. The work has resulted in revisable cost estimates for five core facilities and identified the need for a central resource to support departments in preparing and updating estimates in accordance with EU and NIH regulations.
The final report from the project leader is now available in SharePoint (Reporting&Controlling) for departmental financial officers.
The SESAM Project
A handbook for making research infrastructures accessible has been developed, targeting staff at higher education institutions’ research infrastructures, such as facility managers, financial officers, legal experts, leadership teams, and administrative support functions. An English version of the handbook is planned and will soon be available on SESAM’s website. In the meantime, you can find a guide and a supplementary tutorial in English to the New Swedish Regulation on Fees for Research Infrastructure.
SESAM
Checklist for making research infrastructure accessible to external users
A checklist for both heads of department and facility managers, detailing what needs to be done before making research infrastructure accessible to external users, is now available online. A downloadable certificate for departmental approval is also provided.