This is the ninth call for Partner Postdoc Projects within Digital Futures.
Important dates
- Call opens: 5 October 2026
- Proposal Submission Deadlines: 10 December 2026
- Expected decision on Projects: February 2027
- Expected Start of Projects: 1 July 2027, depending on the duration of project contract negotiations
Purpose
The partner projects aim to foster research collaboration with public actors and industry and generate impact within the Digital Futures eco-system. The main goals are to position Stockholm as a leading area in the field of digitalisation, to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities related to digitalisation for different actors (industry as well as public authorities), and to foster the creation of novel and innovative project consortia that can address challenges and grow into larger consortia and initiatives.
Scope
Partner Postdoc Project proposals are welcome in all areas of digital transformation. The research question must include a digitalisation component and align with the Digital Futures Research Matrix by addressing at least one research theme and one societal context. More information about these areas can be found at: https://www.digitalfutures.kth.se/research/
Eligibility
PIs and Constellation
Researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University are eligible to apply in this call as PI or Co-Pis.
The following positions/titles/roles are eligible to apply: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Full Professor, Permanent full-time Researcher or equivalent (”tillsvidareanställning”) with a PhD degree and 80% employment or more at KTH or SU. Researchers from RISE (Division of Digital Systems) are eligible as co-PIs without funding from Digital Futures.
PIs or co-PIs do not need to be Digital Futures faculty when applying, but will become Digital Futures faculty if the project is granted.
Project Duration and Funding Conditions
- Project duration: ISPP postdoc projects must last 2 years.
- Maximum Digital Futures funding: SEK 1 million per postdoc (SEK 500 000 per year).
Stockholm University will fund up to one PI.
Partner Postdoc Projects must be co-funded by project partners. The partner’s matching contributions must at least equal the amount requested from Digital Futures (1:1). Partners may be industrial or public organisations, and there is no upper limit on how much they can contribute.
Please apply for sums of multiples of SEK 100 000.
The external funding must be clearly outlined in a Letter of Intent (one per partner) submitted together with the project proposal.
For partner postdoc projects, only Digital Futures partners* qualify as project partners. Furthermore, only cash funding is considered matching funds for the requested Digital Futures funding.
Partner postdoc projects are subject to signing a project contract among all involved parties after proposals are decided to be funded. The project contract relates to funding and IPR. Project consortia submitting proposals under this call are encouraged to discuss and align their interests before submitting proposals to ensure a swift process once the project is accepted.
Applicable Funding Policy for Digital Futures Faculty
For this call, no restrictions on previously received Digital Futures funding is applied.
Q&A Meeting
- An optional Q&A session will be held on 9 November 09:00am online via Zoom.
- Zoom link: https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/64047232941
- No registration is required
Evaluation
Proposals will be evaluated in two steps:
Step 1:
External review based on:
- Scientific quality and originality
- Societal and/or industrial impact and outreach
- Team, interdisciplinarity and partner involvement
- Feasibility and project plan
Step 2:
Board recommendation: Feedback from Step 1 will inform the Digital Futures Industrial and Societal Board, which will then recommend funding to the Governing Board.
After the decision and contract closing, the PI will initiate the HR process to hire the postdoc. The postdoc will be employed at the PI’s school and department.
How to apply
- Prepare your application using the Partner Project Template and budget template.
- All proposals must include a Letter of Intent from partners outlining their contributions.
- Send your application file together with all supplementary material to: call@digitalfutures.kth.se with subject line: “Partner Postdoc Project Call 2026”
Contact & Questions
Contact call@digitalfutures.kth.se for further questions.
Background
About Digital Futures
Digital Futures is a cross-disciplinary research centre that explores and develops digital technologies to address major societal challenges in Sweden and globally. We generate knowledge, innovations, and future leaders of high industrial relevance and strategic importance. Today the centre involves twelve partners across the three sectors: KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, AstraZeneca, City of Stockholm, Ericsson, Hitachi Energy, Region Stockholm, Saab, Scania, Skanska, and Xylem. This partnership forms the foundation of a vibrant ecosystem where scientific knowledge, innovation, and societal needs intersect. Find out more about Digital Futures here.
Digital Futures’ research is organised around its Research Matrix, which contains four societal contexts: Smart Society, Digitalised Industry, Rich and Healthy Life, and Educational Transformation, and three core scientific themes: Trust, Cooperation, and Learn.
*Digital Futures partners:
AstraZeneca, City of Stockholm, Ericsson, Hitachi Energy, Region Stockholm, Saab, Scania, Skanska, and Xylem.