Chalmers University of Technology is launching an academic excellence program – a unique, long-term initiative to strengthen research quality and international competitiveness. In the pilot phase, 22 researchers have been selected for the program.
“It is a strong and committed group of faculty members who are now commencing the Chalmers Academic Excellence Program,” says Susanne Aalto, Deputy President with responsibility for academic environment and excellence. The aim is to create improved conditions for free, ground-breaking research and academic excellence.
The excellence program is designed to give promising researchers better opportunities to combine research, education and academic duties within a coherent commitment, through enhanced base funding and close, dedicated research support.
Laying the foundation for academic excellence and responsibility
“We are now beginning the journey towards a long-time stronger research environment in the long term,” says Martin Nilsson Jacobi, President of Chalmers. “The program creates conditions for both excellence and responsibility. I see this as a first step towards raising the academic level across the entire university.”
The Chalmers University of Technology Foundation is allocating SEK 100 million per year over a ten-year period to excellence-driven initiatives. In the pilot phase of the program, each researcher receives SEK 5 million per year for five years in enhanced base funding. The initiative also includes individual research support aimed at reducing administrative workloads and giving researchers better opportunities to focus on their core activities.
This marks a fundamental shift in how we support and strengthen the development of our research excellence. The selected researchers are expected to combine excellent research with active engagement in education, supervision and the development of Chalmers as a university.
More secure conditions and a clearer definition of excellence
“Outstanding research is built on freedom, focus and stability. The excellence program provides promising researchers with the basic stability required to conduct ground-breaking and innovative research,” says Susanne Aalto. “In parallel, we are strengthening the framework for how excellence and potential are identified and followed up, through a more developed and clearer evaluation process.”
Selection for the pilot phase was based on nominations from Chalmers departments and review by a dedicated evaluation committee with both internal and external experts. The assessment was based on scientific excellence, future potential and academic leadership.
The ambition is for the program to grow gradually and, over time, to include a larger share of Chalmers’ research-leading faculty. The excellence program will be evaluated and may be reviewed ahead of the next stage.
Researchers in Chalmers’ Academic Excellence Program
- Full Professor, Environmental Systems Analysis, Technology Management and Economics
- Full Professor, Urban Design and Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering
- Full Professor, Algebra and Geometry, Mathematical Sciences
- Full Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Associate Professor, Production Systems, Industrial and Materials Science
- Full Professor, Condensed Matter and Materials Theory, Physics
- Full Professor, Interaction Design and Software Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering
- Associate Professor, Applied Quantum Physics, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
- Centrumföreståndare, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
- Professor*, Materials and Manufacture, Industrial and Materials Science
- Associate Professor, Building Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
- Full Professor, Physical Resource Theory, Space, Earth and Environment
- Full Professor, Food and Nutrition Science, Life Sciences
- Professor*, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematical Sciences
- Full Professor, Chemical Physics, Physics
- Full Professor, Quantum Device Physics, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
- Deputy Head Of Department, Life Sciences
- Associate Professor, Signal Processing and Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
- Full Professor, Applied Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Associate Professor*, Data Science and AI, Computer Science and Engineering
- Full Professor, Astronomy and Plasma Physics, Space, Earth and Environment
- Full Professor, Communication, Antennas and Optical Networks, Electrical Engineering