European countries face two urgent challenges: combating climate change and ensuring strategic autonomy. Despite a relatively small size, the Nordics can be envisioned to have an outsized impact by developing and supplying green technologies in the global arena, with their long-standing expertise in communication and power electronics showcased by companies such as Ericsson, Nokia, ABB, and Eltek. Achieving climate goals requires a dual green and digital transition. Wide bandgap (WBG) and ultra-WBG semiconductors are a proven green transition technologies that will undoubtedly lead to further innovation breakthroughs in multiple strategic areas.
WBG and UWBG semiconductors (SiC, GaN, AlN, diamond, Ga2O3) deliver superior efficiency, durability, and performance in high-power/frequency electronic and photonic devices. They are vital for renewable energy, smart grids, electrified transport, quantum systems, and advanced communications, while supporting energy-efficient digital infrastructure.
NextGen-WBG network will unite early-career researchers (ECRs) in the field of WBGs & UWGBs in the Nordics, fostering new collaborations across the full value chain, from material growth to device packaging, connecting research groups, national infrastructure, competence centers, and industries. The NextGen-WBG includes 12 research groups from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Lithuania, involving 20 ECRs, 28 PhDs, and 15 postdocs, with plans to further grow the network. Activities include summer schools, monthly seminars, and short-term exchanges. Stakeholders include companies and industry-relevant competence hubs such as C3NiT Competence Center, the EU Pilot Line for WBGs, the Norwegian Chips Competence Centre, etc.
The network focuses on:
• Building cross-border collaboration & competence;
• Organizing summer schools, monthly seminars, and research exchanges;
• Aligning with existing Nordic and EU WBGs initiatives;
• Acting as a springboard for joint proposals and large-scale projects;
• Engaging stakeholders to strengthen WBGs ecosystems.
The initiative promotes diversity, equal opportunities, and ethical collaboration, with the goal of developing future leaders in WBGs who can help position the Nordics as global frontrunners in green, digital, and resilient technologies. NextGen-WBG will create a platform for ECRs to collaborate, publish papers, and prepare proposals for larger research initiatives, strengthening the regional competence in WBGs.
