Formas is giving MSEK 18, Vinnova over MSEK 3, and the business sector is contributing the rest. An environmental technology strategy common to Formas and Vinnova lists six areas of special Swedish expertise: sustainable built environment, sustainable transport, environmental protection technology, biological natural resources, lightweight and advanced materials, and energy. The call for applications for research grants referred to all the above areas except sustainable transport.
Intelligent windows
At the Ångström Laboratory of Uppsala University, researchers have developed a new concept for "intelligent" windows that is based on surface coated plastic films that can be used as "window films" on old windows.
Intelligent windows can be programmed to admit or exclude sunshine and solar heat as and when needed. The project is testing promising methods for materials and applications under natural and accelerated ageing conditions.
Recycling and effectiveness
Researchers on fibres and polymer technology at the Royal Institute of Technology KTH are studying how the environment and money can be saved in pulp production. The focus is on how residual products can be used to make degradable plastic products such as linings, coatings, packaging films, superabsorbents and workability agents.
At the Tema Department at Linköping University, researchers want to increase the production of methane without destroying the consistency of the digested sludge. One way of making better use of existing digestion tanks may be to mix in new material that makes the digestion liquor more flexible.