Sweden-Korea Education, Research, and Innovation Collaboration (SKERIC)
Sweden-Korea Education, Research, and Innovation Collaboration (SKERIC) is a three-year collaborative project that spans from 2024 to 2026. It involves eight* leading universities from Sweden and South Korea and focuses on research and innovation.
The project aims to equip some of the most promising young researchers, future academic leaders, and innovators with the tools and skills needed to excel in their fields. These individuals are expected to actively contribute to addressing current societal challenges and promoting democracy and academic freedom.
Primarily, it's a research and innovation-promoting collaboration that also aims to prepare for South Korea's entry into Horizon Europe.
The project targets the following groups:
- for emerging researchers
- for future academic leaders
- for representatives of research-based companies
*Swedish Universities: Uppsala University, University of Gothenburg, Royal Institute of Technology, Lund University (coordinator), and Umeå University. Korean Universities: Korea University, Pohang University of Science and Technology, and Seoul National University.
Opportunities for participants
Sweden-Korea Education, Research and Innovation Collaboration (SKERIC) have one activity that will run throughout the duration of the project and target emerging researchers.
Call to participate in Future Laureates Societal Challenges Programme
SKERIC invites doctoral students and researchers who have obtained their PhD in 2020 or later, to apply. The programme gives you the opportunity to be part of a dynamic interdisciplinary group of early career researchers, that work together and meet regularly for two and a half years (between early fall 2024 and late fall 2026) to discuss and address complex societal challenges.
Apply to participate in one of the following five interdisciplinary thematic groups:
- Climate change and green transformation
- Precision health
- Innovative energy solutions
- Dynamic, secure, and sustainable society
- Artificial intelligence
Join the programme to:
- Deepen your understanding of global challenges and the complex issues facing our world today. Delve into various interdisciplinary approaches to address these.
- Apply for mobility funding, to spend between 5-10 months at one of the partner universities in Sweden or Korea.
- Apply for seed-funding to develop new research projects or innovations together with your fellow researchers.
The programme is designed to widen your perspectives, thereby enhancing your CV, facilitate the expansion of your research networks, give added value to your research competence, and guide you in improving your skills in an international collaborative environment.
Deadline: 23 April, 2024
Link to full call text on the project website
Applications form for staff at Uppsala university
Each SKERIC partner can nominate in total 12 candidates for the SKERIC Future Laureates Societal Challenges Programme. The review and final selection of participants will be decided by the SKERIC Steering Committee. SKERIC aims to create dynamic and diverse interdisciplinary groups with mixed academic backgrounds and will strive for a balanced participation in terms of gender, country, and university affiliation. Notification of the selection results will be sent to all applicants by early June 2024.
Funding opportunity
Call for joint research proposals between SSF, Sweden and NRF, South Korea
The programme is a collaboration between NRF, the National Research Foundation of the Republic of Korea and SSF, the Foundation for Strategic Research. The organisations invest together close to SEK 100 million and will select about ten projects. The grants must be used for research collaboration, joint seminars, conferences, workshops and exchange of researchers between the applicant groups, over a three-year period.
The research must be in natural science, technology or medicine and must contribute to development in one of the areas: Semiconductors, displays, rechargeable batteries, hydrogen technology, smart transport, next-generation nuclear power, biotechnology, aeronautics, marine technology, cyber security, AI, robotics or communication technology.
The deadline for applications is 15 April at 14:00.
More information on Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
More information
Read more about the platform on the SKERIC webpage.