1. Aim and scope
WASP is now (2026-01-01) announcing a call for NESTs within AI, Autonomous Systems and Software with the main focus on future topics in AI, Autonomous Systems and Software.
NEST is an instrument in WASP that will encourage Novelty, Excellence, Synergy, and Teams. A NEST should address a specific strategic high-priority research challenge within WASP with international impact and visibility that requires the combined competence of a multi-disciplinary team of investigators to be solved.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Physics- and Theory-Informed AI
- Geometric, Topological and multi-modal Learning
- Next-Generation Foundation Models, Generative and Agentic Intelligence
- Embodied, Physical and Autonomous Systems
- Brain-inspired Intelligence
- Resilient, Safe AI Systems
- Energy-Efficient and Embedded AI
- Trustworthy and Secure AI-Augmented Software
- Hybrid Systems of Software and AI Components
- AI for Scientific Discovery and Complex Systems Modeling
Scientific novelty, originality and impact, as well as the relevance to Swedish industry and/or society are key elements.
Applications for a WASP NEST follow a two-step process. In Step 1, applicants submit a full application for assessment. If selected to proceed to Step 2, the applicant will be invited to a hearing, preliminary during the fall 2026.
Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) is Sweden’s largest individual research program, and provides a platform for academic research and education, fostering interaction with Sweden’s leading companies. The program addresses research in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software as enabling technologies for development of systems acting in collaboration with humans, adapting to their environment through sensors, information and knowledge, and forming intelligent systems of systems. WASP strengthens, expands, and renews the national competence through new strategic recruitments, a challenging research program, a national graduate school, and collaboration with industry and society. The program is conducted in close cooperation between leading Swedish universities with an aim to promote the competence of Sweden as a nation within the area of AI, autonomous systems and software.
2. Who can apply?
A NEST typically consists of a team of 3-5 investigators of which one is the main PI and the rest are co-PIs. For this call, the PI should demonstrate core expertise aligned with the project’s primary domain. Given the multidisciplinary nature of a NEST, it is anticipated that PI partners from different departments and research environments are involved. A plan for how to bridge geographical and competence gaps should be provided.
The main PI and the co-PIs must be employed at one of the WASP partner universities—Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Linköping University, Lund University, Umeå University—or with one of the Affiliated Groups of Excellence at Örebro University, Uppsala University, or Luleå University of Technology. Their research should focus on AI, Autonomous Systems, or Software.
Funded project participants must be/become employed at one of the partner universities as described above, with an exception for industrial postdocs and industrial PhD students (funding conditions are described below).
Additional collaborators from industry, governmental organizations and other organizations are encouraged to be part of the consortium, through in-kind contribution.
If eligible to apply, you may be involved in a maximum of one proposal as a main PI and maximum of one proposal as co-PI.
Main-PIs of a NEST Future project are not allowed to apply as a main-PI in the next call for WASP-WISE NEST 2.
3. Budget
The funding available for this call is 140 MSEK which covers funding for up to 7 NESTs à 20 MSEK.
For each NEST the following applies:
- The maximum funding that can be applied for is 4 MSEK per year for 5 years.
- The main PI should be able to devote at least 25% of their time to the NEST.
4. Use of Funding
The intention is for the NEST funding to be used as flexible as possible, with a major part of the budget allocated to salary costs. Provided that the annual maximum limit is not exceeded, the funding may, for example, be used for:
- Salary costs for academic personnel
- New PhD students
- Postdocs
- Faculty, including the PI and co-PIs
- Research engineers
- Salary costs for new industrial PhD students and new and/or existing postdocs.
- Equipment costs (necessary to perform the project).
- Operating costs, e.g., materials and travel.
PhD students (academic and industrial) funded in the project are required to be a part of the WASP Graduate School.
The funding provided does not cover the full cost, and co-funding may be required depending on the funding conditions outlined below (KAW donation letter 2023.0462):
- Salaries can include a maximum of 52,5% LKP (lönekostnadspåslag/social fees)
- Overhead costs are covered with a maximum compensation of 25% divided as 20% for indirect costs and 5% for premises costs.
- See Standard WASP funding packages for PhD students and postdocs
- The funding will be received according to the WASP standard process for requisition.
- An approved project must follow the budget specified in the decision letter.
5. Evaluation criteria
The main evaluation criteria are:
Scientific quality and impact
The scientific and technical merits of the proposed research and its scientific impact. The potential for the research, if successful, to significantly advance fundamental understanding in the topic area. Relevance to the research areas of WASP.
Novelty and Originality
To what extent does the proposed project define new, interesting scientific questions. To what extent does the proposed project use new ways and methods to address important scientific questions.
Merits of the investigators
It is the collected merits of the team of investigators that are evaluated, and academic age of participants is taken into account to enable fair assessment of academic accomplishments. It is important that the main PI both has time and the potential to take on the academic leadership of the project.
Relevance to Swedish society and industry
The short- and/or long-term relevance to Swedish industry and/or society (such as governmental agencies or other organizations) should be explained. It is an advantage if industry or other organizations are actively involved in the project in-kind.
Multi-Disciplinarity
The project should involve a main PI and co-PIs with complementary skill sets with a foundation in the WASP domain but with possible extensions into other fields.
In addition, the following criteria are considered advantages, but not formal requirements:
Age and gender diversity
It is considered an advantage if the NEST is diversified in terms of age and gender, both among the applicants and other project participants.
Alignment with WASP’s core areas
It is considered an advantage if the proposal relates to and actively addresses more than one of WASP’s three core areas: AI, Autonomous Systems, and Software. This assessment should be based on the nature of the research conducted, rather than on the academic departments to which the investigators are affiliated.
Plan for NEST environment(s) and additional resources
One intention behind the NEST concept is to create several local WASP research environments. It is also an advantage if additional resources can be associated with the NEST. This includes both other resources funded by WASP (e.g., existing PhD students, postdocs, and other recruitments), and resources funded from other sources (e.g., university funding, the Swedish Research Council, VINNOVA, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research).
6. How to apply?
Applications for a WASP NEST follow a two-step process. In Step 1, applicants submit a full application for assessment. If selected to proceed to Step 2, you will be invited to a hearing with the evaluation committee, preliminary during the fall 2026.
The applications will be evaluated by a panel of international experts. The panel members will be selected based on the research fields of the applications. The panel will make a recommendation to the WASP Board about which NESTs to fund, and the Board’s final decision is communicated to the applicants in December 2026.
7. Structure/Format of application
The application must be written in Times New Roman font, 11 pt, single-spaced text, 2.5 cm margins, and must include the following sections:
- Popular Science Description (maximum 1 page)
- Scientific Program (maximum 6 pages)
The program should contain the following sections:
-
- Introduction
- Research challenge and chosen approach
- State-of-the-art and international outlook
- Research program
- Impact
- Collaborations with industry and other organizations
References can be added in addition to the stipulated 6
- NEST Environment description (maximum 2 pages)
- Closely related projects and activities in the environment
- Forms of collaboration (within and between sites)
- Complementary skills among the researchers
- Communication, outreach and visibility plan
- Staffing (Directly funded and in-kind)
- Infrastructureneeds
- Budget motivation and budget according to template (maximum 1 page)
- Summary description and motivation of project costs
- Suggested funding from WASP
- In-kind university and or industrial funding
- Synergy with other available funding for the NEST
- Project budget shall be submitted in the application (wallenberg.org/anslagsguide/blankettarkiv)
- CV for main PI and co-PIs
Description of merits for the main PI and each co-PI:
-
- CV (maximum 2 pages per person)
- List of 10 most relevant publications + Google Scholar link (maximum 1 page per person)
- Support letters
- Hosting universities (according to template)
- Industrial partners
- Other WASP partners
- Letter of commitment from main PI and co-PIs
At least the main PI should be able to devote at least 25% of their time to the NEST (according to template)
The application, including the above sections, shall be submitted as a single PDF file to the submission portal.
8. Submission
The application shall be submitted to the submission portal no later than 2026-05-21, 14:00.
If your application proceeds to step 2, you will receive further instructions on how to prepare for the hearing with the evaluation committee.
Contact
Timeline
2026-01-01 Call opens
2026-05-21 Call closes 14:00
Fall 2026 Hearing with top ranked applicants
2026 December Decision communicated
2027-06-01 Latest project start
