Aim and scope
Hereby, WASP and WISE announce the WASP-WISE 2026 call for NEST 2 (Novelty, Excellence, Synergy, and Teams), which are joint projects that span across the thematic profiles of WASP and WISE. A NEST shall address a specific strategic high-priority research challenge with international impact and visibility that requires the combined competence of a multidisciplinary team of investigators to be solved. The added value from collaboration, in particular between WASP and WISE, but also within each of the programs, must be clearly emphasized. Scientific novelty, originality and impact, as well as the relevance to Swedish industry and/or society are key elements.
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 and other actors. The program addresses research in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and software as enabling technologies for developing 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 strategic recruitments, a challenging research program, a national graduate school, and collaboration with industry and society. WASP aims at increasing gender balance and building a culture based on inclusion and diversity. The program is conducted in close cooperation between leading Swedish universities to promote the competence of Sweden as a nation within the area of AI, autonomous systems and software.
Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE) is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and encompasses major efforts at Sweden’s leading universities over the course of (at least) 10 years. The aim is to create the conditions for a sustainable society by researching the next generation of ecofriendly materials and manufacturing processes. This will also facilitate better technology for energy systems of the future, and to combat climate change, pollution, and toxic emissions. Specifically, efforts will be devoted to identifying new or significantly improved materials, which provide a distinct advantage in physical, chemical, biological, or functional performance when compared to existing materials and technologies. This relates to materials that demand fewer resources, are less environmentally hazardous, and enable sound and efficient recycling processes. WISE will also explore materials that, when used in energy technology, generate less negative climate impact under operation, while offering high performance and efficiency when in action at large scales.
Project structure and management
A NEST project in the present call is expected to consist of 2-6 principal investigators (PI). Larger constellation may apply if scientific added value can be motivated. The project is led jointly by one WASP main PI and one WISE main PI. Additionally, one to four co-PIs, from either program, may participate. 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. Since projects with as few as 2 PIs are allowed in this call (compared to the previous NEST), the size of the constellation should be reflected in the budget.
Who can apply?
The WASP main PI must be employed by any of the WASP partner universities Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Linköping University, Lund University, Umeå University or be part of the Affiliated Groups of Excellence at Örebro University, Uppsala University or Luleå University of Technology and have their research focus within AI, Autonomous Systems or Software.
The WISE main PI must be employed by any of the seven partner universities, Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Linköping University, Uppsala University, Stockholm University, Lund University, and Luleå University of Technology, or be part of any of the affiliated groups of excellence at Göteborg University, Karlstad University, Umeå University, and Örebro University.
Funded project participants must be/become employed at one of the partner universities as described above, with an exception for industry-postdocs and -PhD-students (funding conditions are described in section 5 below).
Additional collaborators from industry, governmental organizations and other organizations are encouraged to be part of the consortium, through in-kind contribution.
The WASP and WISE programs aim to achieve an overall gender balanced outcome, and possibly so also in every project.
An applicant can be involved in a maximum of one proposal as a main PI and maximum of one proposal as co-PI. Main PIs who received funding in the first WASP-WISE NEST call are not eligible to apply in this NEST 2 call.
Budget
The total funding for this call is 100 MSEK, maximum 50 MSEK from WASP and 50 MSEK from WISE.
- The project budget is in the range of 10-25 MSEK.
- The maximum budget for one project is 25 MSEK. Maximum 12,5 MSEK from WASP and 12,5 MSEK from WISE.
- 4-10 projects are expected to be funded.
- The project duration is expected to be 4-5 years.
- The main PIs must be able to devote at least 20% of their time to ensure leadership and engagement in the project.
Since projects with as few as 2 PIs are allowed in this call (compared to the previous NEST), the size of the constellation should be reflected in the budget.
Each proposal shall contain a project budget using the KAW budget template.
Use of funding
The intention is that the NEST 2 funding should be used as flexibly as possible, and a major part of the budget shall be allocated to salary costs. The funding can be used for:
- Salary costs for academic personal
- New PhD students
- Postdocs
- Faculty, including the PI and co-PIs
- Research engineers
- Salary costs for Industrial PhD students and postdocs
- Equipment costs (necessary to perform the project).
- Operating costs, e.g. materials and travel.
An approved project must follow the budget specified in the decision letter.
PhD students funded in the project are required to be a part of the WASP or WISE Graduate/Research school, respectively. WISE Postdocs funded by the project shall participate in the WISE Research school.
The WASP and WISE Programs are funded by KAW and each has distinct KAW donation letters that specify the funding conditions unique to each program. The funding provided does not cover the full cost, and there may be a need for co-funding based on the funding conditions specified for each program as outlined below.
The following applies to the WASP funding (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.
The following applies to the WISE Program (KAW donation letter 2021.0312)
- The eligible costs include a maximum compensation of up to 52,5% for social fees (lönekostnadspåslag/social fees) and a maximum of 5% surcharge for premises and a maximum of 20% surcharge for indirect costs.
Evaluation criteria
The main evaluation criteria are:
- Scientific quality and impact
The scientific 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 and WISE.
- Feasibility
The project’s feasibility will be evaluated.
- Novelty and Originality
How the proposed project defines new scientific questions, and how the project uses new ways and methods to address those.
- Sustainability Aspects
Relevance and potential impact of the proposed project’s contribution to sustainability (relate to sustainability considerations, the SDGs, or other relevant aspects, see “Sustainability considerations for excellent materials research conducted in WISE” and “UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from a materials science perspective”)
- Merits of the investigators
It is the collected merits of the team of investigators that are evaluated, and the academic age of participants is taken into account to enable a fair assessment of academic accomplishments. It is important that the main PIs both have 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) shall be explained. It is an advantage if industry or other organizations are actively involved in the project in-kind.
- Multidisciplinarity
The project shall involve PI and co-PIs with complementary skill sets with a base in the WASP and WISE domain but with possible extensions into other fields.
Important aspects that will be considered are:
- Diversity
It is an advantage if the project is diversified with respect to age and gender regarding the applicants as well as other project participants. In cases where proposals are otherwise assessed as equivalent, gender balance may be considered as a factor in the funding decision. Nonetheless, a proposal of higher scientific quality shall always be ranked above others.
- Relevance and added value to the programs
The application shall address and demonstrate the requirement for inter-program collaboration.
- Plan for NEST environment(s) and additional resources
One intention behind the NEST concept is to create several strong WASP and WISE research environments. It is also an advantage if additional resources can be associated with the project. This includes both other resources funded by WASP and/or WISE (e.g., existing PhD students, postdocs, and other recruitments), and resources funded from other sources, (e.g., university funding, Swedish Research Council, VINNOVA, Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research).
Proposal structure
The proposal must be composed in Times New Roman font, 11 pt, single-spaced text, margin 2,5 cm and include the following sections:
- Project Summary (1 page)
- Executive summary for publication (1/2 page)
The ½ page Executive summary may be used for screening of proposals if necessary. The potential sustainability impact must be clearly described in the summary.
- Scientific description (6 pages)
The program shall contain the following sections:
- Introduction
- Research challenge and chosen approach
- State-of-the-art and international outlook
- Project plan including descriptions of e.g. hypotheses, methods, expected results, etc
- Impact in the academic focus areas of the respective programs
- Collaborations with industry, e.g. through the research arenas, WARA and WIRA, and other organizations
References can be added in addition to the stipulated 6 pages.
- NEST 2 Environment description (2 pages)
- Closely related projects and activities in the environment
- Forms of collaboration (within and between sites)
- Multidisciplinary added value
- Communication, outreach and visibility plan
- Staffing (Directly funded and in-kind)
- Infrastructure needs
- The project’s contribution to Sustainability (2 pages)
Describe the relevance and potential impact of the proposed project’s contribution to sustainability (relate to sustainability considerations, the SDGs, or other relevant aspects, see “Sustainability considerations for excellent materials research conducted in WISE” and “UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from a materials science perspective”)
- Relation to previous and ongoing projects (1 page)
If you currently have WASP- and/or WISE-funded activities, describe your new proposal’s relation and possible overlap to these existing activities. A significant novelty is expected in comparison to your previously funded WASP and/or WISE activities.
- Budget motivation and budget according to template (1 page)
- Summary description and motivation of project costs
- Suggested funding from WASP and WISE
- University and/or industrial in-kind funding
- Synergy with other available funding for the NEST
- Project budget shall be made in KAW budget template and the summary page
(“1. Sammanställning”) for each program shall be submitted in the application. (https://kaw.wallenberg.org/anslagsguide/blankettarkiv)
- CV for PI and co-PIs
Description of merits (for each PI and for each co-PI):
- Maximum two pages CV
- List of 10 most relevant publications + Google Scholar link (1 page)
- Support letters
- Industrial and other partners
- Other WASP and WISE partners
At least the main PIs shall be able to devote at least 20% of her/his time to the NEST.
The proposal, including the above sections, shall be submitted as a single PDF file to the submission portal.
Submission
The proposal shall be submitted no later than 2026-05-21, 14:00 to the Easychair submission portal
Timeline
2026-02-02 Call opens
2026-05-21 Call closes 14:00
Oct 2026 Decision of accepted projects communicated
2027-06-01 Latest project start
