WISE Dialogue brought materials research together in Uppsala
WISE gathers materials scientists at UKK
WISE Dialogue 2026 was held on 17–18 March at Uppsala Konsert & Kongress and gathered close to 400 participants. The conference brought together researchers, industry and funders within the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE).
Materials research is strongly rooted in Uppsala, where several departments and research environments are involved in WISE. This year’s conference gathered a large part of the Swedish network, from fundamental theory and regulatory frameworks to innovation and industrial use.
The full research system in focus
WISE includes investments in doctoral education, international guest professors, research infrastructure and collaboration with industry. The programme is funded with approximately SEK 3 billion over the period 2022–2033 and includes a large number of doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers across Sweden.
Professor Magnus Berggren, Director of WISE, and Professor Olle Eriksson, Co-Director and Head of the Materials Theory Division at the Ångström Laboratory, opened the conference and outlined the programme’s ambition to connect research, infrastructure and application.
The programme included presentations on European regulatory frameworks, research infrastructures such as MAX IV and the European Spallation Source, as well as initiatives in innovation and commercialisation.
Professors Magnus Berggren and Olle Eriksson
Sustainability in a broader context
A central theme of the conference was how sustainability is integrated into materials research. Joseph Samec, Professor of Sustainable Chemistry and Director of Sustainability within WISE, and Niclas Svensson, specialist in life cycle assessment, highlighted the need to analyse materials beyond the laboratory environment.
They emphasised the importance of considering the full lifecycle, from use to end of life, and of placing research in a broader context.
Key questions included what materials replace, how they can be scaled, what resources are required and which unintended consequences may arise.
At the same time, funding agencies are placing increasingly clear demands on integrating this type of analysis into research projects.
Tools and requirements for upcoming calls
Peter Dyreklev, Research Coordinator within WISE, presented how sustainability will play a more prominent role in upcoming calls.
An important requirement is that projects, including participating researchers such as co-PIs, must demonstrate that a documented sustainability assessment has been carried out.
To support this, the WISE Assist tool is used. It helps researchers systematically analyse the lifecycle of materials and identify relevant sustainability aspects.
From research to next steps
Sustainability has been an integral part of WISE since its inception, but was given stronger emphasis at this year’s conference. At the same time, pathways from research to application were highlighted.
Within the programme, there are links to the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation’s investments in proof-of-concept projects (PoC) and funding via Navigare Ventures, aimed at advancing research results towards innovation and industrial application.
“The research built within WISE forms the foundation for the next generation of industry,” says Sandor Albrecht, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
Together, these efforts illustrate how materials research within WISE is progressing from fundamental science to solutions with relevance for industry and society.