The total investment from the foundation in the area now amounts to SEK 3.7 billion.

“Developments in life science and AI are moving at breakneck speed. The foundation’s investments aim to create competence and know-how in the field, something that is also important for Sweden as a nation,” says Peter Wallenberg, chairman, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

Three years ago, the foundation announced an investment of SEK 3.1 billion in data-driven life science. The foundation’s life science investment included, among other things, the national research program Data-Driven Life Science, DDLS, with 39 powerful recruitment packages to attract internationally leading, young researchers to Sweden, as well as a large research school with hundreds of doctoral students and postdocs.

“The foundation is now investing another SEK 200 million in eleven new recruitment packages as well as SEK 100 million for new microscopy equipment at the Science for Life Laboratory,” says Sara Mazur, executive member of the Foundation.

Alpha Cell

The foundation is also allocating SEK 270 million to “Alpha Cell”, a pilot project that aims to use artificial intelligence (AI) and molecular data in time and space to create a model for the functions of human cells and tissues. The project will be hosted by the Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab and KTH.

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“We see very large synergies between the research program in data-driven life science, DDLS, and our major investments in quantum technology and AI within the WACQT and WASP programs. We believe that these investments in the long term give Sweden a competitive advantage, not least considering that we recruit over 300 internationally leading researchers to Sweden and train more than 1,000 new PhDs in these fields,” says Mazur.

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The Human Protein Atlas

Finally, SEK 30 million is set aside for an extension of the program Human Protein Atlas, HPA, until the year 2030.