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Closed call 2021-03-31: Second Call for Research Pairs Projects in Technologies for a Digital Transformation

This is the second call for Research Pairs collaboration projects between two young researchers within Digital Futures in the area of technologies for a digital transformation. We will support projects that can show novelty and an interdisciplinary approach. KTH schools, Stockholm University (SU), and RISE Digital Systems are encouraged to apply.

Important dates

Call opens: 15 February 2021
Call closes: 31 March 2021, 14:00 (CET)

The funding decision is expected by the end of June. The earliest starting date of the projects is July 1, 2021.

Background

Digital Futures is a cross-disciplinary research centre that explores and develops digital technologies. We bring solutions to great societal challenges in Sweden and globally. We generate knowledge, innovations, and future leaders of high industrial relevance and strategic importance. Digital Futures is jointly established by KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University, and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Digital Futures awards funding to strategic research projects to support a specific action or project that furthers the vision of Digital Futures. Find out more about Digital Futures background here.

Purpose and Eligibility

This is a funding instrument intended to foster collaboration between two young researchers that have obtained their doctoral degrees not more than 10 years ago at the time of application [1]. The researchers in the pair should belong to either i) two different KTH schools, ii) KTH school and RISE [2]/SU, or iii) RISE and SU. The applicant should either have a faculty position or be a permanent researcher. This instrument is aimed to identify new research collaborations that have the potential to develop into a leading scientific activity over the next 3- 5 years and therefore be a vehicle for supporting and promoting young scholars with the potential to become future digital leaders that substantially participate and contribute to various activities in Digital Futures.

[1] The eligibility period set out above can be extended beyond 10 years for certain circumstances such as maternity and paternity leave, clinical training, long-term illness, or national service. Please indicate those in your CV.

[2] Researchers employed by RISE Digital Systems Division are eligible to apply.

In this call, up to 4 projects are intended to be selected. The duration of the projects is two years. The projects will be funded with a maximum of 2 MSEK in total (1 MSEK/year).

Please note the Digital Futures funding policy: Researchers can be involved in several projects under different instruments, but within Digital Futures, the funding per PI is limited to 1 MSEK/year. Hence, funding that you may have received under the current Digital Futures instruments Collaborative Research Projects, Research Pairs, Demonstrator Projects, and Collaborative projects targeting Diversity and Inclusion will be taken into consideration. Digital Futures Postdoctoral Fellows projects or C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute projects are not taken into account.

The projects should address cutting-edge research within Technologies for a digital transformation and involve researchers that complement each other and conduct interdisciplinary research. The proposals shall address subject areas at an intersection of the Digital Futures Research matrix illustrated below. More information about the research matrix can be found here.

Figure 1 The three research themes Trust, Cooperate and Learn cut across the four contexts Smart society, Digitalized industry, Rich and healthy life, and Educational Transformation.

The three research themes Trust, Cooperate and Learn cut across the four contexts Smart society, Digitalized industry, Rich and healthy life, and Educational Transformation.

How to apply

  1. Fill in the application according to the project description template: Download PROJECT DESCRIPTION TEMPLATE here
  2. Register the project with the PIs and a short abstract via this link: https://www.kth.se/form/602aa0b246731dc25f0fd8cf
  3. Send the application to call@digitalfutures.kth.se before 31 March 2021, 14:00.

Evaluation

The project proposals will be evaluated by an external international expert panel. The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

  1. Scientific potential, originality, and degree of interdisciplinary of the research proposed.
  2. Creation of new collaboration
  3. Potential, feasibility, and composition of the research pair
  4. Conformity to the scope of Digital Futures and eligibility as outlined above

Matchmaking event

Digital Futures hosted a “Matchmaking” on-line event on 24 February. It was open to all potential project applicants to help with the creation of proposals.

Contact

Contact call@digitalfutures.kth.se for further questions. Please include “Research Pairs call” in the subject of your email.