About WASP
The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) is the largest individual research program in Sweden.
Our ambition is to advance Sweden into an internationally recognized and leading position in the areas of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software. Together, these research areas address technologies that are central to Sweden’s future competitiveness, security, industrial transformation, and societal development.
By supporting strategically motivated basic research, education and faculty recruitment we are building long-term competence and knowledge for the Swedish research and innovation system. WASP is funded by Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
Vision
Excellent research and competence in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software for the benefit of Swedish society and industry.
Mission
Build a world-leading platform for academic research that interacts with leading companies and actors in Sweden to develop knowledge and competence for the future.
Who is involved?
WASP brings together researchers from six partner universities:
- Chalmers University of Technology
- Linköping University
- Lund University
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology
- UmeĂĄ University
- Uppsala University
In addition, there are affiliated research groups at Ă–rebro University and LuleĂĄ University of Technology.
Collaboration with Swedish industry is crucial and runs throughout several parts of WASP. Today, WASP collaborates with around 80 companies and organizations across sectors and of different sizes.
WASP also has Memorandums of Understanding with several strong universities abroad to support international collaboration, namely:
- Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute
- Imperial College London
- Aalto University
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- ETH Zurich
- Stanford University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
- UC Berkeley
What we do
Six strategic instruments form the foundation for WASP’s activities and guide how the program creates long-term impact for Swedish academia and the research fields covered by WASP.
- A research program that aims for disruptive developments by funding excellent research projects selected in open competition. Most research is conducted through PhD student projects, as well as through larger collaborative projects, many of which are interdisciplinary.
- Communication, events and networking that support knowledge sharing and create strong professional relationships. These activities strengthen collaboration and innovation on a national scale.
- An international recruitment program that strengthens Swedish research environments by increasing the number of researchers in Sweden over the long term. The recruitment program is designed to attract both outstanding early-career researchers and established experts. This is achieved by offering recruitment packages that are attractive by international standards.
- A national graduate school that raises the level of knowledge and competence in Sweden. The WASP Graduate School provides students with a specialized course package, generous international opportunities and a broad professional network.
- Research and demonstration arenas that connect researchers with industry and other partners. The arenas provide advanced research and demonstration environments and support cross-sector networks that strengthen research relevance and knowledge exchange.
- Internationalization that linksSwedish research environments with renowned international expertise and networks. Memorandums of Understanding with world-leading universities abroad support collaboration and increase WASP’s international impact.
Facts and Figures
- Launched in 2015
- Will continue at least until 2031
- Funding in total 6,5 billion SEK
Where of 5,1 billion SEK is donated by Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the rest is co-funding from partner universities and Swedish industry - 83 successful international recruitments of senior faculty made by May 2026
- 80 companies and organizations engaged in the program
- Aiming to exam 600 PhD students, whereof 150 in industry
- Aiming to establish at least 80 research groups