The Swedish Research Council has awarded 108 million SEK to research environments in nuclear technology at universities and colleges, including KTH.
In August 2025, the Swedish Research Council issued a call for proposals entitled ‘Grants for research environments in nuclear technology’.
A total of 15 applications were submitted to the Council, with four being approved. The aim is to build up activities and environments for basic research in nuclear technology at universities and colleges.
The researchers and areas being developed at KTH are:
- Jonas Faleskog: Microstructural development, fatigue and fracture in metals from advanced manufacturing for long-term operation of nuclear reactors.
- Payam Pourmand: Safe lifetime extension in nuclear power: digital twins and AI for polymer ageing and non-destructive condition monitoring.
- Mats Jonsson: Radiation-induced processes in oxide-water interfaces.
Establishing more advanced research environments across the nuclear industry
The purpose of the research environment grant is to develop operations and environments for fundamental nuclear technology research.
This initiative aims to establish larger, more advanced research environments with more active researchers, thereby attracting national and international researchers.
It also expands opportunities for academic career paths in the field, which could increase student interest. The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity to attract doctoral candidates, students, and external project funding in these environments.
Advancing safety across nuclear technology applications
Alongside fellow contributing researchers, Mats Jonsson, Professor of Nuclear Chemistry at KTH’s Department of Chemistry, will establish a research environment in radiation chemistry at phase interfaces, focusing on radiation-induced processes at oxide-water interfaces.
“These types of processes occur in most parts of the nuclear fuel cycle and are of crucial importance in terms of both safety and process optimisation,” Jonsson explained.
Previously, research in this area at KTH has mainly been conducted within Mats Jonsson’s group, but with the grant from the Swedish Research Council, more senior researchers can be involved.
Jonsson said: “We hope to be able to start establishing the research environment shortly, which will also involve doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers who are active in the field but have other funding.
“In addition to establishing and developing the environment, we will also develop methodologies for both experimental and theoretical studies in the nuclear technology field.”
