SKERIC: Future Laureates Societal Challenges Programme
Call for Applications
Sweden-Korea Education, Research, and Innovation Collaboration (SKERIC) invites doctoral students and researchers who have obtained their PhD in 2020 or later, to apply for participation in the Future Laureates Societal Challenges Programme. The programme gives you the opportunity to be part of a dynamic interdisciplinary group of early career researchers.
The Future Laureates Societal Challenges Programme gives you the opportunity to be part of a dynamic interdisciplinary group of early career researchers. You will work together and meet regularly for one and a half years (between early fall 2025 and late fall 2026) to discuss and address complex societal challenges. The programme is designed to widen your perspectives, thereby enhancing your CV, facilitate the expansion of your research networks, give added value to your research competence, and guide you in improving your skills in an international collaborative environment.
The groups are already existing and started working together during 2024. New members will be additional to the existing groups.
You apply to participate in one of the following interdisciplinary thematic groups.
Join the programme to
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Deepen your understanding of global challenges and the complex issues facing our world today. Delve into various interdisciplinary approaches to address these.
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Expand your network of contacts and establish relationships with other researchers within a range of disciplines from leading universities in Sweden and Korea.
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Add value to your research skills and investigate new methodologies for tackling complex problems.
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Improve and expand transferable skills, such as intercultural communication, science communication, ethics, and grant writing.
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Apply for mobility funding, to spend between 5-6 months at one of the partner universities in Sweden or Korea
About the Programme
The Future Laureates Societal Challenges Programme bring together around 50 early career researchers from the member universities in SKERIC. Researchers are divided into five thematic groups, each comprising approximately ten early career researchers with diverse academic backgrounds and at least two experienced mentors. At the end of the programme the groups are expected to be successfully established and in the process of preparing a major grant application, publish joint papers and publications or to organize outreach activities about their research.
The researchers will, with the help of the mentors, define the research questions that they want to address and decide how to set up their project and structure their work and meetings. Experienced mentors will provide guidance and expertise to the groups.
Both digital and physical meetings are included in the programme. Once a year a week-long mandatory conference is organized in either Korea or Sweden. In 2025, the conference will be held in Korea between 17-21 November. In 2026 it will be held in Sweden. In between the on-site conferences you will meet digitally with your research group, monthly or as often as the group decides. Seminars will be organized every semester, focusing on specific themes, such as intercultural communication, science communication, ethics, and grant writing.
Expenses
The programme is offered free of charge to selected participants. Each home university will cover the expenses for travel and accomodation during the physical meetings.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants are those currently registered as doctoral students, or who have obtained their doctorates in 2020, or later, and who are employed or registered at one of the SKERIC partner universities. Applicants should have a minimum of 1,5 years remaining on their programme/contract at the time of application. Proficiency in English is essential, as the programme will be conducted in English.