Renova research scholarship

Renova environmental scholarship

You will receive a one-off payment of 100,000 SEK (about 8,900 EUR), which you can spend on your own environmental research, for example on a research trip. The money will be paid directly to you and is tax-free. It comes from Renova, the waste management company in Gothenburg, which has been awarding this prize every year since 2003 to promote research in the field of recycling and waste. Note: The grant is currently on hold, so there is no new call for applications at present.

Who can apply

• Career stage: You are a PhD student or an early-career researcher. Early-career means your doctorate was no more than 5 years ago and you have not yet reached docent level (a senior academic rank above a PhD in Sweden).
• University: You study or work at Chalmers University of Technology, the University of Gothenburg or University West.
• Research topic: Your work focuses on environmental research relevant to Renova’s business activities, such as improved recycling, waste prevention or reducing the environmental impact of waste management systems. Preference is given to research that can be applied in Sweden. Sector-specific waste (radioactive waste, dredged material, mining waste) will not be considered.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, provided they are enrolled at one of the three universities mentioned above.

How to apply

Submit a short written application (max 5 pages, in Swedish or English) through the online portal. The deadline is 23 August. A jury with members from Renova and the three universities picks the winner. The winner is announced at a Renova sustainability event in the autumn and is expected to attend.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is narrowly defined: one scholarship is awarded annually, intended exclusively for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers at three specific universities who are working on a specified topic in the field of waste and recycling. This keeps the pool of applicants small, meaning that a suitable candidate with a project clearly relevant to Sweden has a genuine chance of success. Please note that the award of the scholarship is currently suspended and no new call for applications has been announced.