INSTITUTET FOR RYMDFYSIK

Their core work

The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) studies the physics of space plasmas, the Sun-Earth connection, and planetary environments from its base in Kiruna, Sweden — one of the world's premier locations for aurora and geospace observations. Their work spans predicting dangerous radiation in near-Earth space, understanding how shock waves accelerate particles in the solar wind, and building instruments for planetary missions. IRF contributes measurement expertise, data analysis, and space-grade instrumentation to large European research infrastructure consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the earlier period (2015–2018), IRF focused on applied space weather — predicting geospace radiation (PROGRESS) — and contributed to atmospheric monitoring infrastructure (ARISE2). From 2020 onward, their work shifted toward fundamental plasma physics (SHARP on collisionless shocks) and broader planetary science infrastructure (EPN-2024-RI). This suggests a move from near-Earth applied research toward deeper fundamental physics and pan-European research infrastructure participation.

IRF is deepening its fundamental plasma physics work while maintaining strong involvement in European-scale research infrastructure networks — expect continued contributions to planetary missions and heliophysics.

How they like to work

IRF participates exclusively as a partner, never leading H2020 consortia — consistent with a specialist contributor role within large collaborative projects. With 91 unique partners across 34 countries from just 4 projects, they operate in very large, internationally diverse consortia (averaging ~23 partners per project). This broad network indicates IRF is a well-connected, trusted specialist that large infrastructure and research projects actively seek out for their measurement and analysis capabilities.

Despite only 4 projects, IRF has collaborated with 91 unique partners across 34 countries — a remarkably wide network driven by participation in large pan-European research infrastructure projects. Their reach spans well beyond Scandinavia into a truly pan-European and likely global network.

What sets them apart

IRF's location in Kiruna — inside the Arctic Circle and directly beneath the auroral zone — gives it a natural geographic advantage for geospace and atmospheric measurements that few institutes can match. They combine hands-on instrument building with deep theoretical expertise in space plasma physics, making them a dual-capability partner. For consortium builders, IRF brings both the hardware (detectors, instruments) and the science (data analysis, modeling) in a single package.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PROGRESS
  Largest single grant (EUR 322,440) and directly addresses the practical problem of predicting hazardous space radiation affecting satellites and astronauts.
• SHARP
  Most recent substantial project (EUR 260,411) focused on fundamental shock physics — signals IRF's current research frontier in particle acceleration mechanisms.