Congratulations, Emma! You and several colleagues from Lund University, together with researchers from other Swedish universities, have received SEK 1.2 million in network funding from the Swedish Research Council (VR) to prepare the groundwork for a future excellence cluster titled EXCITE: Excellence Cluster for Innovative Soft Adaptive maTErials and Technologies.
How does it feel to advance in the Swedish Research Council’s call for excellence clusters in breakthrough technologies?
– Thank you! We are very happy about this opportunity. It feels both exciting and an honor that our proposal was selected. It is especially rewarding since Swedish materials science often focuses on hard materials, so the fact that we succeeded with a proposal on soft materials is very encouraging. This network grant gives us the chance to bring together expertise from science, engineering, and social sciences to think big about how we can prepare the ground for a future excellence cluster in soft materials.
What does the initiative on excellence clusters mean?
– Following the government’s research bill, the Swedish Research Council was tasked with funding world-leading research clusters in areas with potential for breakthrough technologies. With this network grant, we now have six months to describe how our area could form the basis for such a cluster. The funding allows us and our partners to devote time to developing a concrete vision and a report for the Swedish Research Council, which is due in March next year.
Based on these reports, the Council will select a number of areas for excellence clusters. Each cluster may receive around SEK 40 million per year for ten years, so these are long-term and substantial investments. If our proposal advances, a call for a full excellence cluster in soft materials will open – an enormous opportunity for the entire research field.
Can you tell us about the proposal EXCITE?
– We work with soft materials – proteins, lipids, and polymers – and their unique ability to respond rapidly to changes in their surroundings, such as light, temperature, or pH. Our idea is to understand the fundamental mechanisms at the molecular level while also exploring how this knowledge can lead to new technologies. This could involve smart drug delivery systems, food products with new functions, or materials for the energy transition.
Who are your collaborators?
– In addition to researchers from different faculties at Lund University, the network includes KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, and Linköping University. We have also established a broad network of international researchers and industry partners who serve as scientific advisors. They help us identify needs, understand what will be most relevant going forward, and guide us in which technological applications to explore further. The interplay between basic research and applications is absolutely central to the project.
You also work with the excellence center COMMONS. Are there links between the two initiatives?
– There are definitely synergies with COMMONS, Commonalities in Membrane Molecular Interactions, which parts of our group have led since last year, and with EXCITE. COMMONS and EXCITE largely address the same fundamental mechanisms, even if the applications differ. Earlier this year, we wrote about COMMONS for those who want to learn more and dive deeper into the work.
What do you hope to achieve with EXCITE?
– In the short term, we want to create a clear vision and a strong network that demonstrates Sweden’s potential to take a leading position in soft materials. In the longer term, we hope for real technological breakthroughs – smart drug delivery systems, sensors, or new materials for sustainable energy. We are hopeful that this is just the beginning of something much bigger.