Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability

Name

Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability

Legal name

Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability

Website

https://wise-materials.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Programs

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL), STEM Research & Inquiry Programs (Research Mentorship, Science Fair Prep) (EDAMABAC)

Keywords

• Materials science research
• Sustainable materials development
• Research funding programs
• Academic research collaboration
• Industry research partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Norrköping

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Funding: WISE is funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The searchable framework budget was expanded with an additional SEK 265 million, marking a significant expansion of the programme.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE) is a foundation-funded research initiative that funds, coordinates, and executes sustainable materials science research across seven Swedish universities. It provides research and technology platforms with advanced instrumentation, supports PhD students and postdocs through a dedicated research school, hosts international invited professors, and connects academic research with industrial partners through the WISE Industry Research Arena (WIRA) and its specialized sub-programs.

Product overview

WISE is a large research initiative funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, not a commercial software product. It operates as a coordinated research program across seven Swedish universities (Chalmers, KTH, Linköping University, Luleå University of Technology, Lund University, Stockholm University, and Uppsala University). The organization offers structured research platforms including WISE Research and Technology Platforms, the WISE Industry Research Arena (WIRA) with three specialized sub-programs (WIRA-SET, WIRA-SUPRA, WIRA-ICME), a Research School for PhD students and postdocs, and the WISE Invited Professors program. Notable specific platforms include CII-A at Chalmers and WISE ACT @ LUMIA at Luleå University of Technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WISE RTP: WISE Research and Technology Platforms providing advanced research infrastructure
• WIRA
• WISE Invited Professors

Products and services

• WISE Research and Technology Platforms

Quantifiable outcome

• 38 engaged companies participating in research programmes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Chalmers University of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating university partner hosting the CII-A Research and Technology Platform. Key research areas include structural batteries research led by Professor Leif Asp.
• Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating university partner in the WISE research consortium.
• Linköping UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to WISE Director Magnus Berggren. Provides leadership and coordination for the programme.
• Luleå University of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating university hosting the ACT @ LUMIA Research and Technology Platform and inaugurated a new tribological measurements research platform in May 2026.
• Lund UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating university partner hosting the BioSAXS instrument for molecular-level materials research.
• Stockholm UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating university partner in the WISE research consortium.
• Uppsala UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating university partner in the WISE research consortium.
• WISE Industry Research Arena (WIRA) PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner38 engaged companies participate in WIRA programmes including WIRA-SET, WIRA-SUPRA, and WIRA-ICME, connecting industry with academic materials research.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UK Catapult Network: Network of 10 UK technology and innovation centers connecting academic research with industry, particularly relevant to sustainable materials and energy. Comparable in mission to bridge academic innovation with industrial application.
• Max Planck Society: Germany's leading basic research organization operating 86 institutes with multi-billion euro funding. Comparable as a large-scale, multi-institutional research enterprise focused on scientific excellence with similar governance and talent models.
• Helmholtz Association: Germany's largest scientific organization conducting research in energy, materials, and sustainability across 18 centers. Comparable in scale, multi-institutional structure, and focus on large-scale research infrastructure for sustainability challenges.
• Horizon Europe Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy, Mobility): EU's primary funding mechanism for climate, energy, and mobility research, including sustainable materials. Comparable as a large-scale research funding program targeting sustainability challenges with multi-stakeholder engagement.
• Fraunhofer Society: Europe's largest applied research organization with 76 institutes bridging academic research and industry applications. Comparable to WISE in its mission to connect academic research with industrial partners, though more applied-focused than WISE's fundamental materials research.
• NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC): US National Science Foundation-funded network of interdisciplinary materials research centers. Comparable in funding model, multi-institutional research collaboration, and focus on fundamental materials science research with industry partnerships.

Direct peers

• Graphene Flagship: EU-funded €1 billion research initiative focused on graphene and related materials, coordinating 150+ academic and industrial partners. Directly comparable as a large-scale materials science research consortium bridging academic and industrial research.
• Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT): Another Wallenberg Initiative with the same foundation backing, focused on quantum technology research. Directly comparable in structure, funding model, and cross-university coordination approach as WISE.
• Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP): Sister Wallenberg Initiative funded by the same KAW Foundation, WASP focuses on AI and autonomous systems research across Swedish universities. Directly comparable as a parallel large-scale research funding initiative with similar structure, governance, and foundation backing.

Emerging players

• Battery 2030+: European large-scale research initiative for next-generation batteries, coordinated by Uppsala University (a WISE partner). Comparable in materials science research focus, particularly relevant to WISE's structural batteries work with Professor Leif Asp at Chalmers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wise-wallenberg-initiative-material-science-for-sustainability

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability