Turning Brain Drain into Talent Retention: Sweden’s Opportunity
The new U.S. visa restrictions are reshaping global mobility for researchers.
This matters for Sweden. For years, the U.S. has been the primary magnet for ambitious young scientists and engineers. If that door narrows, a major opportunity opens if we act strategically.
At KTH, we see the value of international talent every day. We host international PhD candidates, postdocs, and faculty whose expertise is vital to Sweden’s research and innovation ecosystem. But here is the real challenge: attraction is not the same as retention. Funding packages and recruitment programs attract people, but what keeps them here is a different story.
Read more | | | Johan Håstad honoured with the Royal Society Milner Award 2026
Warm congratulations to Professor Johan Håstad, Division of Algebra, Combinatorics, Geometry and Topology, on receiving the Royal Society Milner Award and Lecture 2026 – one of Europe’s most prestigious honours in computer science. This award recognises Professor Håstad’s sustained and transformational contributions across multiple fields, including circuit complexity, cryptography, parallel computing, and approximate optimisation. His work has shaped the foundations of modern computer science and continues to inspire researchers across the world. Read more | | | | | Professor Danijela Damjanović | | Mathematics Professor Invited as Speaker at ICM 2026
Professor Danijela Damjanović has been invited to speak at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), the world’s largest and most prestigious mathematics conference. Professor Damjanović is one of the few Swedish researchers to receive this invitation, highlighting both her scientific impact and KTH’s strong position in international mathematical research. "For the area of Dynamics, this year there are only 11 researchers in the whole world that are invited to speak at the conference so this is definitely an acknowledgement, both for my career and specifically for the area I work in within my research field", she said. Read more | | | | | Professor Fredrik Viklund | | KTH participates in international collaboration with MIT
Professor Fredrik Viklund from the Department of Mathematics at KTH is among the participants in the newly established Simons Collaboration on Probabilistic Paths to Quantum Field Theory. The goal is to use advanced probability theory to develop a mathematical foundation for quantum field theory – a theory that describes how particles and forces interact.
“I am honored and enthusiastic to begin this collaboration. The hope is that we can contribute to significant advances in mathematics and physics,” says Professor Fredrik Viklund.
Read more | | | | International Internship Program in Informatics at NII in TokyoDoctoral students at KTH can apply to be a guest researcher at the National Institute of Informatics, which is the leading institute for informatics in Japan. This opportunity includes funding to cover living costs. Research visits should extend over two to four months, starting after 1 March 2026. Read more | | | | Join Riksteatern's AI.DENTITY tour as part of KTH's 200th anniversary celebrationsIf you are a researcher at KTH, you now have the opportunity to sign up for a tour on AI technology with Riksteatern in the spring of 2027. The project represents a new model for knowledge dissemination and social dialogue Read more and apply | | | New faces in the FrU programme managementFuture Education at KTH (FrU) has welcomed Professor Karin Odelius as new Assistant Programme Manager and CBH-representative, and Karin Almgren as new Programme Coordinator. Interview with Karin A and Karin O
| | | | | Fika Chat on course design and study techniques for learningHow can student learning be improved? What can teachers do? What can students do? Marcus Lithander and Anna Jerbrant discuss with Lydia Boij (THS) and Sara Naumann (Head of Department, and Programme Director, PA). Find links to Fika Chat podcast #64 | | | | | Find students for your degree projectsThe KTH Degree Project Portal is the easiest way for you to find students for your degree projects. When you post an ad in the portal, it is visible for thousands of KTH students. Be sure to use the correct search terms to make your ad visible for the right candidates for your assignment. KTH Degree Project Portal | | | | Freestanding courses VT26 open for applicationKTH offers a wide range of freestanding courses tailored for professionals. Application for this spring's courses is open on antagning.se/universityadmissions.se until 15 October. See all courses below and let your friends, colleagues, or network know. Freestanding courses VT26 Are you offering a freestanding course? Here are some tips on how to get more students to apply. How to promote your freestanding course | | | Scopus AI is now available for KTH
KTH Library now subscribes to Scopus AI, an AI service within the Scopus database.
Read more about Scopus AI | | | | Workshops with KTH Centre for Total DefenceThe Centre for Total Defence will host a series of workshops in the autumn of 2025, featuring external speakers, alongside KTH researchers, presenting their ongoing projects in research and education. The purpose of the series is to begin shaping the centre as an arena where KTH can strengthen its contribution to totalförsvar. Wed 2025-10-01: Workshop with Daniel Bergström, Trafikverket, Marika Ericson, Swedish Defence University and several KTH researchers Wed 2025-10-22: Kick off with Vice President Annika Borgenstam, Hans de Bruijn, Delft University of Technology, Kjell Engelbrekt, Swedish Defence University and others Fri 2025-11-07: Workshop with Annika Berthold, Region Stockholm, Akademiska Officerssällskapet i Stockholm and several KTH researchers | | |
Open Lecture: Ecofeminist Interventions in AI Systems
Welcome to a lecture that
offering insights into the environmental impact of AI and the invisible labour behind maintaining AI systems.
Organised by KTH Library in connection with Nobel Calling 2025.
Wed 2025-10-08 12:15–13:00 | | | | Data Rescue 2025
What happens to democracy and academic freedom when public data disappears?
Welcome to the seminar series on democracy and academic freedom, a collaboration between KTH’s Faculty Council and KTH Library. Mon 2025-09-29 12:10–13:00, Zoom | | | | Guided tour at KTH Campus
Learn about KTH's activities and zeitgeist by taking a guided tour of art, architecture and history on KTH Campus.The guided tours are for group of guests of employees at KTH and various organizations. You are welcome to join open walking tours or to book a guided tour for groups.
See dates and contact information
| | | | | Operadax 2025
For 20 years, joint concert with singers from Stockholm University of the Arts, Opera and the KTH Academic Orchestra have been a yearly tradition. This year's programme begins with the spectacular overture to The Bat by Johann Strauss Jr. who celebrates his 200th anniversary this year. Read more and book your tickets | | | | | Visit KTH venues during Open House StockholmDuring this years Open House Stockholm, 3–5 October, KTH Campus and some KTH venues will be open to the public, as well as some 80 other buildings and places around Stockholm. Read more | | | | KTH Solid Mechanics Keynote Seminar
Join us for an online seminar with Sandra Loerakker from Eindhoven University of Technology, exploring how computational mechanobiology can open new possibilities in cardiovascular tissue engineering.
| | | | | | Public defences of doctoral theses, licenciate seminars and docent lectures
| - 2025-09-26 14.00
AlbaNova FB51
- Yi Meng Chan: Machine Learning Methods in Reactor Lattice and Nodal
Calculations
| | | On track with campus relocation – KTH prepares for the future
Almost two years ago, the University Board decided that KTH would have three campuses instead of five. The relocation of the operations is now complete, and our campuses in Flemingsberg and near Valhallavägen are busier than ever.
Read Anders Söderholm's blog | | | | Life and Career PlanningKTH's employees are offered the opportunity for life and career coaching in order to stay employable and support personal and career development. Information meetings about the Life and Career Planning programme are given in September and December. Life and Career Planning Register for the information meetings with an email to the coordinator, Jennie Reponen | | |
KTH Work Travel in Europe by Train🚝
In order to reduce emissions, consider booking your
business trip by train instead of flights.
- Why: Trains cut emissions by approximately >99% compared to flying
- Domestic trains can be booked
via the online portal, as well as to Copenhagen and Oslo
- International trains can be
booked via personal service, available through via web
form or telephone
- For instance, Stockholm → Hamburg sleeper, then fast connections
across Europe
- When planning your business trip, read more at: Business
trip step by step
| | | Unite!'s Networking Hub for everyoneAre you looking for new ideas, innovative solutions, or someone to exchange experiences with? The Networking Hub brings academic and administrative colleagues from Unite!'s nine universities together to share, get inspired, and build connections across institutions. Whether you work in teaching, research, student services, mobility, communication, IT, HR, management, or any other field – everyone is welcome. Read more and register | | | | New EU border control system from 12 OctoberFrom 12 October 2025, short stay travellers to the Schengen Area, who are not nationals of EU or Schengen, must provide a facial photo and fingerprints the first time they cross the external Schengen border. This is part of the new Entry/Exit System, which replaces the current manual passport stamping process. Read more on the Swedish Police Authority's website A mandatory pre-travel authorisation system for visa-exempt non-EU nationals, ETIAS, is expected to launch in late 2026, requiring travellers to apply online before entering the Schengen Area for short stays.
Read more on the ETIAS website
| | | | Digital queue tickets at KTH EntréYou can take a digital queue ticket if you are visiting KTH Entré. That way, you can see how many people are ahead of you in the queue. Scan the QR code or click the link below to join the queue. KTH Entré digital queue ticket Read more | | | | Next newsletter
Submit your tips by Tuesday, 7 October at 13.00 | | | | |
