Mats Danielsson - KTH Innovation Award 2024

Mats Danielsson , a professor of medical imaging physics at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, receives the KTH Innovation Award when it is presented for the fourth time.

"I am driven by seeing how things are connected. In primary school, I liked all subjects, mostly history and Swedish, but I made a conscious career choice when I started studying technical physics at KTH. Basic research and physics felt urgent from the start," Danielsson says.

At age 25, Danielsson commuted to Cern in Switzerland to work on a five-year project. He later spent two years in Berkeley, California, working on a postdoctoral position in medical X-ray technology. Since then, he has been active in Sweden, co-authoring more than 100 patents and 140 scientific papers. Several of his ideas have led to the formation of successful companies.

His unique X-ray technique is revolutionising health care

Video interview with Mats Danielsson (2.20)

Award committee citation 2024

The 2024 recipient of the KTH Innovation Award has developed technology that has helped patients and doctors across the world. As the founder of several medical technology companies and contributor to over 100 patents, Mats Danielsson has developed and implemented solutions enabling earlier detection of tumors and inflammatory conditions. Mats Danielsson receives the KTH Innovation Award for his contributions to the field of physics of medical imaging, his creativity, grit and courage in going from research to impact, and his endless pursuit improving lives as well as the medical system.

Members of the 2024 Award Committee included KTH President Anders Söderholm, 2023 recipient of the Award Padideh Kamali-Zare, investor Klaus Hommels, Vinnova's Anne Lidgard, and Peter Holmstedt, Eugenies.