Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation’s strategic programs are comprehensive investments in basic research and postgraduate education in areas that the Foundation considers to be of great importance for Sweden’s development.

The six strategic programs within; life sciences, AI, quantum technology, sustainable materials and the use and conservation of Swedish forests, create an extensive network of basic scientific knowledge building for the Swedish scientific community but also for industry and society at large. 

Anders Ynnerman, who at the turn of the year left as program director for the Foundation’s largest strategic program WASP, Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program to take over the role of program chair, will now also become director of strategic research at Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. 

“We are very pleased that Anders Ynnerman, with whom we at the Foundation have worked closely for many years in his various roles within the Foundation’s initiatives, is now also stepping into the Foundation’s organization to take overall responsibility for the strategic programs,” says Peter Wallenberg Jr, Chair of Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. 

“Anders, with his background both in the WASP program and in data-driven technology and visualization, is perfect for the role, especially with the idea that AI as a scientific tool is becoming increasingly crucial for new scientific breakthroughs,” says Sara Mazur, Executive Director of Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. 

“I am really looking forward to working with the strategic programs. The coming years will be incredibly exciting and the strategic programs have fundamental roles to play in the rapid development of research and research methodology that is underway. We must ensure that we both maintain and strengthen Sweden’s position. It is also important to get the programs to collaborate and utilize our unique ability for cross-border research in Sweden,” says Anders Ynnerman. 

 A long national and international academic career

Anders Ynnerman is a professor of scientific visualization and research leader for world-leading research in visualization and computer graphics at Linköping University. Until the end of the year, he was program director for WASP, Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program. After five years as program director, he then moved to the role of program chair. Ynnerman is also consortium director for Visualization Center C in Norrköping and for WISDOME, Wallenberg Immersive Science Communication Dome, which is located at five Swedish Science Centers. 

Anders Ynnerman has a long national and international academic career and has been the initiator and driver behind several national projects in supercomputer-based computing power. He has been director of the National Supercomputer Center, NSC, and SNIC, The Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing, SNIC, which was the predecessor to NAISS, which is today responsible for the national supercomputer infrastructure. 

Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation Strategic Programs: 

• WWSC – Wallenberg Wood Science Center. Founded 2009. 
• WASP – Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program. Founded 2015. 
• WACQT – Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology. Founded 2018. 
• DDLS – Data-driven Life Science. Founded 2020. 
• WISE – Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability. Founded 2021. 
• WIFORCE – Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research. Founded in 2024 

Read more about the strategic programs

Contact: 

Peter Wallenberg Jr, Chair, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
Phone: +46 8 545 017 80
Email: kaw@kaw.se 

Sara Mazur, Executive Director, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
Phone: +46 8 545 017 80
Email: kaw@kaw.se

Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation was established in 1917. The Foundation’s aim is to benefit Sweden by supporting Swedish basic research and education, primarily in medicine, technology and the natural sciences. This is achieved by awarding grants to excellent researchers and projects.

Over SEK 39 billion in grants has been awarded since the Foundation was established. In 2024 the yearly grants to excellent basic research and education in Sweden was in total almost SEK 2.4 billion, making the Foundation the largest private funder of scientific research in Sweden, and one of the largest in Europe.