Upcoming call for “Excellence Clusters for Groundbreaking Technologies” – new guidance available
The Swedish Research Council (VR) and Vinnova have published new information on the upcoming call for excellence clusters in groundbreaking technologies. The application will be an organisational application submitted via Prisma, and therefore an internal KI pre‑registration is required for all planned cluster proposals in which KI participates. Pre‑registration is made via the link below, with a deadline of 13 March.
The call opens on 1 April and closes on 3 June.
Background
VR and Vinnova are carrying out a ten‑year joint initiative to establish excellence clusters that combine research and innovation in groundbreaking technologies. The aim is to build long‑term research and innovation environments in strategically important technological areas.
The information published so far includes the following:
- The application is submitted by a Swedish organisation that acts as the administrating organisation. A representative at the host organisation will be invited in Prisma as project leader.
- Each application may include 5–15 participating researchers, invited through Prisma.
- The funding period is 5 years, with the possibility of an additional 5 years following evaluation.
- Each cluster must have a scope of at least 40 million SEK per year.
- The excellence clusters must also include research in the social sciences and humanities relevant to the technology area.
Information from VR and Vinnova
The funding agencies are organising two information meetings:
- 6 March – presentation available
- 10 March – digital information meeting
Vinnova is also hosting actor dialogues within four thematic areas during the spring:
- 23 March: AI
- 25 March: Advanced connectivity, semiconductors and sensors
- 26 March: Advanced biotechnology
- 30 March: Materials technology
Further information is continuously updated on the funders’ websites:
Excellence clusters for groundbreaking technologies - Swedish Research Council
Upcoming Inspirational Lectures at KI
To support researchers ahead of the upcoming call, KI is offering inspirational lectures that address topics relevant to the planned clusters. The first two will be held in March:
12 March, 14:00–15:00 – Professor Virginia Dignum
Responsible Artificial Intelligence, Umeå University
Professor Virginia Dignum is a professor of Responsible Artificial Intelligence and leads the AI Policy Lab at Umeå University. Her lecture will address ethics, governance and societal aspects of AI, as well as human–machine interaction in complex sociotechnical environments. This is relevant as the excellence clusters are expected to include perspectives from the social sciences and humanities.
20 March, 10:00–11:00 – Professor Hans‑Gustaf Ljunggren
Establishing and Operating NextGenNK
Professor Hans‑Gustaf Ljunggren is a professor of infection medicine and director of NextGenNK, a Vinnova‑funded competence centre at KI focused on next‑generation NK‑cell‑based cancer immunotherapies. The lecture will describe experiences from establishing and running a long‑term centre in collaboration with academia, healthcare and industry.