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 and for 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. The program is conducted in close cooperation between leading Swedish universities with an aim to promote the competence of Sweden.
The objective of the Bridge instrument is to support and facilitate fast and flexible support for initial steps of research collaboration between WASP industries and WASP academic research groups. This is done by providing funding for university research engineers for up to one year, as well as possible support for necessary experimental equipment. The aim of this call is to explore the possibilities and form the foundations for longer and deeper collaborations in the other WASP instruments, such as research arenas (WARA) and industrial/academic PhD projects.
Aim and scope
WASP now announces a call for Industry Bridge-projects and accepts applications from researchers with on-going funding from the WASP program.
Overall intention:
- A collaboratively defined win-win project involving at least one academic and at least one industrial WASP partner.
- Funding of research engineer time or other necessary resources.
- Connection to existing WASP research projects/results.
The results of the project should be reported to WASP within one year from the project start.
Application Structure/Format
The application is expected to contain the following information:
- A description of the purpose and expected outcome of the project.
- Clarification and specification of the connection to the on-going WASP funded research.
- A presentation of the participating researchers and engaged industry(-ies).
- A specification of the resources available and cost for which the funding shall cover, maximum 1 MSEK.
- A clear timeline with milestones from 3 to max. 12 months.
The application text length is a maximum 3 pages, A4 format, 12 pt font.
A support letter from the involved industry(-ies) must be included as an appendix in the application.
Evaluation criteria
The applications will be evaluated by a panel assigned by the WASP board, and applications will be assessed according to the following criteria:
- Relevance to WASP mission and profile
- Scientific novelty and quality
- Industrial relevance
- Impact of expected results, including creation of a starting point for future collaboration between partners
- Level of engagement of academic and industrial partners
- Connection to on-going WASP projects and initiatives
- Track record of applicants
Submission
The application should be submitted as one pdf document to the WASP application portal at the latest February 28.
Timeline
- Call opens December 18
- Deadline for application February 28
- Decision expected March 17
- Projects must start no later than September 2021