As we look toward a new year, we extend our warmest thanks to our community of researchers, partners, and collaborators. Digital Futures continues to grow in scale, diversity, and impact. During our first five years, we have supported more than 200 research projects and fostered a thriving community of students and early-career researchers as well as professionals and faculty members, dedicated to shaping a sustainable and human-centered digital future.
Highlights from 2025
2025 has been an exceptional year for Digital Futures, marked by strong engagement across academic, industrial, and public partners. Let me highlight a few events we engaged in. Our Open Research Day illustrated the breadth of interdisciplinary research across Digital Futures with 80 presentations and vibrant discussions spanning AI-driven healthcare, human–robot interaction, and next-generation networks. During Nobel Calling Stockholm, we opened our doors to high-school students and the general public, showcasing groundbreaking research that blends creativity, technology, and societal relevance. Digitalize in Stockholm ’25 positioned the region at the center of the European dialogue on “AI Everywhere,” attracting nearly 700 participants.
Early-career researchers took part in the Future Digileaders ’25 program, focusing on inclusive and responsible research leadership. We strengthened global collaboration through initiatives such as the French–Swedish Workshop on AI and welcomed Hitachi Energy as a new partner in our Industrial & Societal Partnership Program—reinforcing our commitment to advancing sustainable digital transformation. Our community-building activities flourished through a vibrant FemTech & Feminist Tech focus period, and an increasingly international Summer Research Internship program connecting undergraduate students and scholars across continents. During the year, we also organized more than 100 seminars, lectures, and events to inspire and share knowledge.
To deepening our leadership expertise in strategic innovation, medical science, and digital transformation, we welcomed in the end of summer Annika Szabo Portela as our new Executive Director. About the same time, we also welcomed Urban Forssell as Head of AI Strategy and Innovation, an experienced business leader with extensive international experience in driving growth and advancing new ideas from concept to market.
Looking Ahead
In 2026, we will continue expanding our support for ambitious, interdisciplinary research. A major focus will be the Stockholm Digital Sandbox, which is a Digital Futures initiative to create an experimental testbed environment that propels AI and digital innovation in support of a responsible digital transformation. The Stockholm Digital Sandbox connects Digital Futures faculty and researchers, industrial and societal partners, and experts from authorities to bridge the gaps between technological advancement and regulatory frameworks.
The Sandbox will connect and leverage several existing and new physical and digital testbeds in Stockholm, such as the Kista Innovation Park managed by Ericsson, Innovation Zone Hornsgatan managed by the City of Stockholm, and the 5G Healthcare testbed at Södersjukhuset managed by Region Stockholm, to support challenge-driven and applied research and innovation projects.
The development of the Sandbox has accelerated throughout the autumn, targeting an internal initial launch in late January. We look forward to seeing many innovative research projects leverage this experimental testbed environment to achieve impactful results. In parallel, we are planning new innovation-related initiatives targeting both Digital Futures researchers and partners, aiming to establish an Innovation Programme within the center, complementing the existing Research Programme.
Season’s Greetings
As we conclude a productive and inspiring year, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone contributing to the Digital Futures community. We look forward to continuing our mission together in 2026, advancing world-leading research and innovation, shaping a sustainable, equitable digital society.
Let me extend a special thanks to the Digital Futures Operations team: Annika, Claudia, Johanna, Silvia, Vendela, and Ulrika. You are doing an amazing job for all of us in Digital Futures!
We wish you a joyful holiday season and an inspiring start to the new year!
Karl H. Johansson, Director Digital Futures
