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Kungliga Tekniska Hoegskolan

KTH

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Lobbying Activity

Response to Advanced Materials Act

13 Jan 2026

KTH Royal Institute of Technology welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop an Advanced Materials Act to strengthen Europes research excellence, industrial capacity, and resilience in advanced materials. As Swedens largest technical university with recognised strengths in materials science, nanotechnology, sustainable materials, advanced manufacturing, and data-driven materials research, KTH supports an EU-level approach that reduces fragmentation, strengthens supply chains, and ensures long-term industrial, environmental, and societal benefits. KTH emphasizes the central role of universities in enhancing Europes strategic autonomy, innovation capacity, and sustainability transitions. Our response builds on previous contributions to EU public consultations, including those on the EU Chips Act, European Life Sciences Strategy, European Biotech Act, and European Quantum Act, highlighting the importance of coherent frameworks that support emerging technologies across the R&I value chain. Key recommendations: Increasing EU R&I capacities and uptake of advanced materials Strengthen EU-wide coordination, shared infrastructures, and dedicated investments for advanced materials research, including high-performance computing and digital platforms. Support transdisciplinary training, doctoral programmes, and researcher mobility to build a skilled workforce. Facilitate pre-competitive collaborations between universities, industry, and other partners to accelerate industrial uptake. Increasing production capacity and availability in the EU Promote EU-level strategic production initiatives and cross-border collaborations. Support education and training to develop engineers and specialists capable of scaling advanced materials production. Encourage a culture of calculated risk-taking and parallel development across the innovation process to enable breakthrough successes. Circularity and sustainability Advance recycling, disassembly, remanufacturing, and utilization of biobased resources, including design for recycling and biodegradable polymers where appropriate. Foster transdisciplinary collaboration with biotechnology and energy sectors to accelerate sustainable materials deployment. Simplification, regulatory burden, and acceleration Streamline regulatory and permitting procedures, including use of regulatory sandboxes, harmonised rules, and clearer guidance to accelerate research, piloting, and early-stage deployment. Conclusion KTH strongly supports the Advanced Materials Act as a framework to strengthen Europes research excellence, industrial capacity, and global competitiveness. Technical universities, as hubs of talent, infrastructure, and innovation, are essential for implementing the Act effectively, fostering sustainability, industrial resilience, and transdisciplinary collaboration.
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Meeting with Nienke Buisman (Head of Unit Research and Innovation) and Karolinska Institutet and Stockholms universitet

2 Dec 2025 · University Alliance - Presidents from the Trio (3 universities mentioned above)

Response to Evaluation and Revision of the Chips Act ("Chips Act 2.0")

28 Nov 2025

KTH strongly supports the European Commissions ambition to strengthen Europes semiconductor ecosystem through the revised EU Chips Act. Semiconductors underpin critical technologies such as AI, quantum, automotive, energy systems, defence, and high-performance computing, and Europes current manufacturing capacity and fragmented demand create strategic vulnerabilities. KTH highlights that achieving technological sovereignty requires more than leading-edge fabs. Europe needs coordinated industrial demand, long-term investment in low-TRL frontier research, cross-disciplinary collaboration in areas such as materials, chip design, photonics, packaging, and power electronics, as well as flexible pilot lines and first-of-a-kind production facilities. KTH underscores Europes strong position in essential semiconductor domainspower electronics, photonics, sensors, and microcontrollersand calls for sustained funding, research infrastructures, and strengthened academicindustry collaboration to maintain and expand this leadership. A major challenge is the severe semiconductor skills gap. KTH calls for expanded education, coordinated European training initiatives, industry partnerships, and talent-attraction measures to ensure a skilled workforce across design, manufacturing, testing, and emerging areas such as AI-hardware. KTH also stresses the need for long-term stability in research funding, sustainable and energy-efficient semiconductor production, accessible infrastructures for SMEs and startups, and a balanced approach to security and international collaboration. Overall, KTH supports the Commissions forward-looking vision and commits to contributing through its research facilities, participation in pilot lines, skills development initiatives, and collaborations with industry and SMEshelping ensure Europes semiconductor ambitions translate into tangible capability, competitiveness, and resilience.
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Response to EU Fusion Strategy

1 Jul 2025

KTH Royal Institute of Technology strongly supports the EUs initiative to develop a strategic innovation framework for nuclear fusion energy. Fusion holds transformative potential for Europes energy security, sustainability, and global competitiveness. As Swedens largest technical university and a long-standing member of the EUROfusion programme, KTH welcomes the direction proposed by the Fusion Expert Group and the Draghi report. Fusion is a long-term but essential component of Europes decarbonised energy future. The EU must act decisively to retain its global leadership, fostering a strong, coordinated research and innovation ecosystem that brings together public and private stakeholders. KTH stresses the need for increased investment, infrastructure access, and capacity-building to support both fundamental research and applied engineering. European fusion R&I has generated advances not only in energy science but also in materials, AI, diagnostics, and high-precision technologies. These breakthroughs benefit multiple sectors beyond fusion. To sustain this innovation pipeline, EU support must continue across all TRLsespecially in low-TRL and fundamental plasma physics research. KTH supports maintaining a dedicated fusion programme under Euratom, with improved financial sustainability. Current funding mechanismssuch as the 50% reimbursement rate under EUROfusionundermine long-term planning and competitiveness. Future frameworks, including FP10, should introduce Research Actions (RA) alongside RIAs and IAs to better support collaborative, lower-TRL work and reflect the increased funding needs of the fusion roadmap. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can help scale promising technologies but must be grounded in scientific credibility. Public funding should prioritise actors with rigorous external evaluations, realistic timelines, and sound approaches to complex issues like tritium breeding and neutron resistance. PPPs must build on, not replace, the public research foundation Europe has invested in over decades. KTH supports the development of a dedicated, harmonised regulatory framework for fusionseparate from fission rules. Fusions significantly lower risk profile requires tailored, innovation-friendly regulation that enables investment while safeguarding safety and public confidence. Skills development is also critical. Europe must invest in structured doctoral programmes, technical training, mobility support, and long-term career pathways to attract and retain top talent. Fusion's complexity also demands expertise in advanced digital tools, modelling, and AIareas where KTH is actively engaged. Europe must maintain strategic autonomy in fusion development while remaining globally connected. Continued international collaboration, especially through ITER, is vitalbut so is the development of European supply chains, infrastructure, and leadership capacity. Finally, KTH strongly supports a coordinated, well-resourced roadmap to DEMO as the next major step after ITER. A shared vision with credible milestones and openness to multiple technological pathways is essential to translate scientific progress into future power generation. More in the attached response to the Call for Evidence.
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Response to A European Strategy for AI in science – paving the way for a European AI research council

5 Jun 2025

The University Alliance Stockholm Trio Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Stockholm University highlights key priorities for an ambitious European AI strategy for science. Europe must invest in robust AI research platforms, high-quality data infrastructures, and interdisciplinary collaborations ("AI + X") to accelerate scientific discovery. Strategic funding should support foundational models, secure access to sensitive health data, explainable AI, and domain-specific applications such as life sciences, biotechnology, and mathematics. Strengthening talent pipelines, upskilling researchers, and building institutional AI readiness are essential. Dedicated instruments are needed to ensure broad participation and integration of AI across the research landscape. Please find attached our full position paper.
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Response to Quantum Strategy of the EU

3 Jun 2025

Summary of KTH's Contribution to the EU Quantum Strategy (June 2025) KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Swedens largest technical university, strongly supports the EUs efforts to establish global leadership in quantum technologies. Drawing on its deep engagement in quantum computing, communication, and sensing, KTH emphasizes the need for a broad, flexible, and long-term funding strategy that supports both foundational research and targeted investments in key technology areas. KTH advocates maintaining an inclusive research portfolio to foster innovation across emerging quantum platforms and hybrid technologies. At the same time, targeted EU investments are needed in areas such as infrastructure for quantum communication, lab instrumentation, algorithm development, and component fabrication. KTH highlights successful national initiativessuch as WACQT, the National Quantum Communication Infrastructure in Sweden (NQCIS), and the Quantum Sweden Innovation Platform (QSIP)as models of how sustained, coordinated investment can drive innovation, talent retention, and academicindustry collaboration. The university stresses the importance of strengthening quantum skills and infrastructure across Europe. This includes supporting advanced education and training, improving access to shared research infrastructure, and providing instruments that support synergies between academia and industry, particularly in secure communications and dual-use technologies. KTH also calls for increased EU investment in low-TRL research, improved national co-financing mechanisms, and more flexible funding instruments that allow adaptation to new scientific developments. Interdisciplinary collaboration and strategic alignment between member states are seen as essential for scaling the societal impact of quantum technologies. The submission underlines the need for universities to play a central role in EU quantum initiatives, particularly in standardization, security, and responsible international collaboration. To secure Europe's technological sovereignty, KTH recommends stronger coordination, stable funding, and policy frameworks that balance research autonomy with security compliance.
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Response to European strategy on research and technology infrastructures

22 May 2025

Stockholm Trio the University Alliance of KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Karolinska Institutet, and Stockholm University welcomes the European Commission's public consultation on the European strategy for research and technology infrastructures and would like to contribute with the following key reflections: looking ahead to FP10, it is essential that research and technology infrastructures remain a central pillar of the next framework programme. A future-proof RTI strategy must be fully integrated into the design of FP10, with dedicated instruments for long-term investment, access, and coordination. This includes targeted support for AI-driven and interdisciplinary infrastructures, stronger links with education and skills initiatives, and effective collaboration with industry and public actors. Ensuring that universities retain a central role in shaping and operating these infrastructures will be key to delivering excellence, impact, and European competitiveness. We also strongly emphasise the need for a higher budget for FP10 to take this into account. Our full position is outlined in the attached position paper.
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Response to EU Life sciences strategy

17 Apr 2025

KTH welcomes and supports the European Commission's initiative to create a European Life Science Strategy, acknowledging its potential to foster innovation and strengthen Europe's global leadership in health, biotechnology, food and sustainable solutions. 1. The investment landscape: The Stockholm-Uppsala Life Science Cluster is a prime example of a world-class ecosystem, with strong research, infrastructure, and industry collaboration. Investments should prioritize such clusters, where partners are geographically close and aligned. The current funding landscape is often inaccessible; a more inclusive approach is neededintroducing Research Actions alongside RIAs and IAs would help unlock creativity. Academia is essential in settings research directions for Europe and should play a key role in shaping long-term, stable funding mechanisms that foster emerging fields. 2. Data, AI, and Health Data Governance: The future of life sciences in Europe hinges on effective health data collection and the use of AI. While the European Health Data Space (EHDS) focuses on data interoperability, it must evolve to account for broader challenges in health data governance. Theres a need for more flexible regulatory frameworks that foster collaboration across disciplines and sectors. Moreover, emerging AI technologies in health diagnostics and disease modeling must be integrated with systems engineering approaches to address societal problems. 3. Research and Technology Infrastructures: KTH highlights the importance of large-scale, well-supported research infrastructures like SciLifeLab, which enables multi-disciplinary research in fields like personalized medicine and precision nutrition. These infrastructures foster breakthroughs by providing flexible, needs-based resources for researchers. The EU must continue to invest in research infrastructures to stay competitive in fields like precision diagnostics and personalized treatments. Additionally, KTHs collaborations, such as MedTechLabs, bridge academic research with clinical applications, further accelerating technological innovation. 4. Key Emerging Research Areas: AI, quantum technology, and biotechnology are transforming life sciences. KTH researchers are advancing in fields such as medical imaging, computational modeling, and biotechnological applications. The EU should support the commercialization of academic research by facilitating funding and mobility programs that help researchers translate discoveries into startups or industry applications. Moreover, food science and sustainable food production are emerging as crucial components of life sciences, exemplified by KTHs work in blue food and foodtech. 5. Simplifying the Regulatory System: GDPR: While the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is essential for privacy protection, its ambiguities and variations across member states hinder data sharing and collaboration in life sciences. Research, particularly in health data, requires clearer, more consistent guidelines to navigate legal challenges. AI Act: The EUs AI Act raises questions about the regulatory distinction between academic research and commercial applications. KTH suggests exploring differentiated compliance pathways that support non-commercial research without compromising ethical standards. Medical Device Regulation (MDR): KTH suggests reviewing MDR, particularly Article 62, to develop a regulatory framework that supports academic research involving medical devices without creating excessive administrative burdens. GMOs: The EUs current GMO regulations need to be adjusted to align with scientific advancements in biotechnology, such as CRISPR genome editing. The regulatory system must balance innovation with precaution, considering food security and resilience in the global context. Please find attached KTHs full response to the EUs public consultation on its Life Science Strategy.
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Meeting with Robert Schröder (Cabinet of Commissioner Carlos Moedas)

10 Apr 2018 · Presentation of Viable Cities, the Swedish national strategic innovation programme for smart and sustainable cities

Meeting with Silvia Bartolini (Cabinet of Vice-President Miguel Arias Cañete)

9 Apr 2018 · FP9, Smart cities & Covenant of Mayors

Meeting with Xavier Prats Monné (Director-General Education, Youth, Sport and Culture)

27 Jan 2015 · To discuss the work of KTH (the Royal Institute of Technology) Stockholm