Research centre established by:

KTH, Stockholm University and RISE
Five people sit around a conference table having a discussion. Papers, pens, and coffee cups are on the table, along with a humanoid robot head in the centre. Everyone appears engaged and attentive.

Best Paper Award for Research on Conversational Companion Robots

At Digital Futures, we are thrilled to share that our former Digital Futures Postdoc Bahar Irfan has received a Best Paper Award from Frontiers in Robotics and AI for the journal paper titled “Recommendations for Designing Conversational Companion Robots with Older Adults through Foundation Models”. This prestigious recognition follows just a week after a Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) on her work on turn-taking in conversational HRI with Gabriel Skantze.

The paper, a collaborative effort with her supervisors Sanna Kuoppamäki and Gabriel Skantze, was selected as one of the 11 best papers out of 261 publications in the field of robotics from last year. It has also been included in the Editor’s Picks 2024 e-book, showcasing outstanding research across various domains including robotic rehabilitation, space robotics, and autonomous navigation.

We are very proud of Bahar’s achievements and the contributions she has made to advancing the understanding of human-robot interaction.

Text: Johanna Gavefalk

More news

09/10/2026

How and why the Nobel Prize is awarded: Sten Grillner shares insights from neuroscience A...

From the classroom to the wider public: Digital Futures welcomed visitors during Nobel Calling 2026

09/10/2026

On 7 October, Digital Futures opened its doors to school students and the general public,...

A panel of four people seated on a stage at the Nobel Prize Museum in front of an audience.

Does AI make us stupid? Experts explore how AI is changing human abilities

06/10/2026

As artificial intelligence becomes part of research, education, workplaces and everyday life, an important question...

French business delegation explores Sweden’s collaborative innovation model

02/10/2026

On 29 September, Digital Futures welcomed Business Sweden and a delegation of French industrial leaders...