WASP (Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program) and WISE (Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability) have recently awarded grants to nine collaborative projects, three of which include participants from the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM) at Linköping University (LiU) - a significant achievement for IFM.
We asked IFM's Head, Örjan Danielsson, why he believes IFM has been so successful in this call, the historical significance of IFM for Swedish materials research, and how he thinks IFM can continue to lead in this field.
Why has IFM received so many grants?
- LiU has long been successful in research within both AI and materials science. At IFM, we are accustomed to working on interdisciplinary projects in collaboration with other departments and external partners. The purpose of the WASP-WISE pilot projects is to enable researchers within the two Wallenberg-funded programmes to explore new ideas together at the intersection of AI/autonomous systems and materials science. Our success in these calls, in addition to having skilled researchers, is likely due to the relative proximity we have between different parts of the university. We find it easy to connect with each other, even though we work in different disciplines. This leads to well-thought-out project ideas that truly leverage the strengths of both parties.
What is the historical significance of IFM for Swedish materials research?
- It is difficult to quantify the impact, but it is clear that LiU and IFM have significant importance for Swedish materials research, not least because many of the PhDs we educate go on to hold leading positions in research and development at various companies that rely on materials research in all forms. IFM has built up successful research over a long period, and within materials science, we have several very strong research environments that have existed for a long time. This would not have been the case if our research had not been significant. Although we are not the only Swedish university with research in the materials field, my impression is that we have a good reputation and that what we do is of high quality and relevant both within and outside academia. Through IFM's long and good relationships with a number of larger and smaller companies whose entire business idea is fundamentally based on materials research, we contribute to Swedish materials research with both knowledge and competence through our research collaborations.
Future strategies to stay at the forefront?
- Fundamentally, it is about ensuring that everyone who works here thrives and has the best conditions to do what they are good at. This contributes to the desire to create good things together and also makes it easier to recruit more talented colleagues. However, this is not unique to either IFM or LiU. Creating the best conditions for our research involves, among other things, access to research infrastructure. Research at IFM is largely dependent on access to well-equipped and well-functioning labs. The equipment in these labs needs to be maintained and updated regularly for us to continue conducting successful research, which of course requires funding in various ways. Here, external research grants are crucial. It is also about facilitating various forms of collaboration. I would argue that we are too small to compete internally, both within LiU and within Sweden, and that we have greater opportunities to achieve excellent research together. To solve complex scientific problems, collaborations between researchers from different disciplines are increasingly required. The WASP-WISE pilot projects are a good example of this.
Researchers who received the grant
The researchers from LiU who received the grant are Zheng Zhao and Henrik Pedersen, Talha Bin Masood and Florian Trybel, Jan Rolfes and Emma Björk, and Sebastian Mair.
