Chalmers launches excellence program to reach the top in Europe

“It is a strong and committed group of faculty members who are now commencing the Chalmers Academic Excellence Program,” says Susanne Aalto, Deputy President with responsibility for academic environment and excellence. The aim is to create improved conditions for free, ground-breaking research and academic excellence.

The excellence program is designed to give promising researchers better opportunities to combine research, education and academic duties within a coherent commitment, through enhanced base funding and close, dedicated research support.

Laying the foundation for academic excellence and responsibility

“We are now beginning the journey towards a long-time stronger research environment in the long term,” says Martin Nilsson Jacobi, President of Chalmers. “The program creates conditions for both excellence and responsibility. I see this as a first step towards raising the academic level across the entire university.”

The Chalmers University of Technology Foundation is allocating SEK 100 million per year over a ten-year period to excellence-driven initiatives. In the pilot phase of the program, each researcher receives SEK 5 million per year for five years in enhanced base funding. The initiative also includes individual research support aimed at reducing administrative workloads and giving researchers better opportunities to focus on their core activities.

This marks a fundamental shift in how we support and strengthen the development of our research excellence. The selected researchers are expected to combine excellent research with active engagement in education, supervision and the development of Chalmers as a university.

More secure conditions and a clearer definition of excellence

“Outstanding research is built on freedom, focus and stability. The excellence program provides promising researchers with the basic stability required to conduct ground-breaking and innovative research,” says Susanne Aalto.  “In parallel, we are strengthening the framework for how excellence and potential are identified and followed up, through a more developed and clearer evaluation process.”

Selection for the pilot phase was based on nominations from Chalmers departments and review by a dedicated evaluation committee with both internal and external experts. The assessment was based on scientific excellence, future potential and academic leadership.

The ambition is for the program to grow gradually and, over time, to include a larger share of Chalmers’ research-leading faculty. The excellence program will be evaluated and may be reviewed ahead of the next stage.

Researchers in Chalmers’ Academic Excellence Program