KTH and SU receive 60 million for carbon dioxide reduction
The project “ACCELERATE – Transition to and Scale-Up of bio-CO2 Utilization” will receive a grant of SEK 60 million from the Foundation for Strategic Research, SSF. The Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, will run a multidisciplinary research center together with Stockholm University, SU.
The project leader for the consortium is Christophe Duwig, KTH. The center is affiliated with seven Swedish companies and two industry organizations: Stockholm Exergi, Astra Zeneca, Biofiber Tech, Grimaldi Development, Tekniska Verken i Linköping, Perstorp AB, Nynas AB, IKEM and EnergiForsk. In addition, four international research organizations are involved.
ACCELERATE will develop innovative technologies for safe and sustainable separation and conversion of carbon dioxide, CO2, for chemical-pharmaceutical production, and enable new, sustainable and non-fossil-based value chains. This will be done through research into new functional materials, reactors, processes and systems with advanced methods and tools.
The center will focus on CO2-negative production of high-value chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The research will look at the synthesis and production of products that have a slow turnover in society and that are produced with CO2. Specifically, this applies to solvents, polymers and pharmaceutical building blocks. One example is the development of porous liquids to reduce energy costs and avoid dangerous nitrosamines in carbon dioxide capture.
An expert team from KTH and SU with knowledge in CO2 chemistry, catalysis, process technology, simulations, sustainability assessment, industrial economics, social impact and policy, is participating. They are already involved in relevant projects funded by Swedish authorities and Horizon Europe, and an interim goal is that additional projects funded by such organizations will be linked to the center.
In addition to conducting research, the center will also train doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, which is relevant to Swedish industry.
The center is part of SSF’s ongoing investment in multidisciplinary research centers (MRC). The aim is to stimulate multidisciplinary research between academia, research institutes, industry and society for sharper results and faster application.
The project will start in the period 1 July 2025 to 1 January 2026.
For further information, please contact:
Research Secretary Gergana Hamberg, gergana.hamberg@strategiska.se, 08-505 81 676,
Program Manager Joakim Amorim, joakim.amorim@strategiska.se, 08-505 816 65