Awarded Proof of Concept grants in the 2026 calls

The purpose of the Proof of Concept grant (PoC) is to bridge the gap from academic research to innovations. The grant gives researchers the opportunity to develop their early-stage discoveries towards validated methods, products or processes and provides the opportunity to carry out activities that validate and accelerate the development of the project and prepare for innovation and commercialization.

Calls in Life Science, in AI, Quantum technologies or ICT and in Materials Science are announced annually.

The KAW Proof of Concept grant is linked to the Wallenberg Launchpad (WALP) mechanism. The first phase of WALP consists of individual coaching sessions for identified candidates, preparing them for the WALP pitch and (potential) grant recommendation. The second phase provides continued support and follow-up meetings from the WALP team during the PoC project.

The grant is paid directly to the researcher's university and the use of the grant must comply with the university's regulations and the specific terms and conditions of the grant as stated by Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.  Eligible to apply are those who have or have had grants from the Wallenberg Foundations and employed at a Swedish university.

A researcher can have maximum two PoC grants parallel at the same time. The same PoC application can be submitted to only one PoC grant call during a given calendar year.

Awarded Proof-of-Concept grants in the 2026 call in life science

Marika Nestor, Uppsala University
NK1R-targeted radiopharmaceuticals for precision imaging and radiotherapy

Gonçalo Castelo-Branco, Karolinska Institutet
Transposome-based Ligase (TbL) for clinical epigenomics

Johan Bylund, Gothenburg University
iCURE – Small Molecule FPR1 Agonists: Boosting the Innate Immune System to Treat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Infections

Sjoerd Wanrooij, Umeå University
A Precision DNA-Based Tool to Switch Off Epstein–Barr Virus Genes in Brain Lymphoma

Tara Stanne, Gothenburg University
New, rapid blood test for improved stroke diagnostics: Toward a ‘Troponin of the Brain’

My Hedhammar, KTH
HA-FN-silk: A viable and GMP-compliant bioink using ECM-mimicking microfibers in a degradable hyaluronan hydrogel

Joan Camunas-Soler, Gothenburg University
A noninvasive molecular platform for early detection of immune-mediated lung disease

Janne Lehtiö, Karolinska Institutet
NEO-SCOPE: NEOantigen discovery at full genomic SCOPE for precision immunotherapy

Ulrika Wilhelmsson, Gothenburg University
Novel therapeutic strategy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Alexandra Teleki, Uppsala University
IntesTiny: A Microfluidic Platform for Predictive Screening of Oral Nanomedicines

Earlier years