On May 18, the Wallenberg Wood Science Center at KTH hosted a visit from representatives of the European Commission. The delegation included Johannes ten Broeke, Head of Cabinet to EU Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, together with representatives from DG CLIMA and the European Commission Representation in Sweden.
During the visit, the guests toured WWSC’s research environments and learned more about ongoing research on sustainable materials and technologies based on forest resources.
The visitors met PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and representatives from research-based startup companies connected to WWSC. Laboratory demonstrations and presentations highlighted how fundamental research can contribute to new materials, industrial innovation, and technologies with the potential to reduce dependence on fossil-based resources and lower carbon footprints.
The visit also included discussions on the importance of long-term funding structures for enabling ambitious and high-impact research. WWSC, established through long-term support from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation together with Swedish universities and industry, was presented as an example of how strategic investments in research can create both scientific advances and societal impact over time.
The visit formed part of an ongoing dialogue on research, innovation, and the role of forest-based materials in the transition towards a sustainable and climate-friendly bioeconomy.
