Anne L'Huillier, member of SISHOT EIC Transition project, wins 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics
- ›Prof. Anne L'Huillier of Lund University, a member of the SISHOT EIC Transition project, won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics.
- ›The Nobel recognised experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light to study electron dynamics in matter.
- ›L'Huillier shares the prize with Pierre Agostini and Ferenc Krausz.
- ›L'Huillier is the fifth woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics.
- ›The award highlights fundamental EU research that is also connected to European Innovation Council supported projects, though commercial translation remains a separate challenge.
Nobel recognition for attosecond science and an EIC project member
On 3 October 2023 the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L'Huillier. The citation credits their development of experimental methods that generate ultrashort pulses of light to study how electrons move through matter. Anne L'Huillier is identified in EIC materials as a member of the SISHOT EIC Transition project and is affiliated with Lund University. She becomes only the fifth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physics.
What the prize recognises
The prize was awarded for methods that produce attosecond pulses of light. Those pulses are short enough to resolve the motion of electrons, which occurs on attosecond time scales. The work recognised by the Nobel is experimental in nature and has opened a new window onto the fastest processes in atoms, molecules and solids.
The European Innovation Council connection
EIC communications note that Anne L'Huillier is a member of the SISHOT project, which is funded under the EIC Transition stream. EIC Transition provides grants designed to bridge the gap between research results and marketable innovations. The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency manages EIC programmes and supports projects that aim to scale and mature technologies. The appearance of a Nobel laureate among EIC-affiliated project members is a visibility boost for the programme and for the broader European research ecosystem.
Who received the prize and for what
| Laureate | Affiliation as stated in EIC communication | Contribution cited by the Nobel |
| Pierre Agostini | Not specified in the EIC item | Development of methods that generate attosecond pulses of light to study electron dynamics in matter |
| Ferenc Krausz | Not specified in the EIC item | Development of methods that generate attosecond pulses of light to study electron dynamics in matter |
| Anne L'Huillier | Lund University and member of the SISHOT EIC Transition project | Development of methods that generate attosecond pulses of light to study electron dynamics in matter |
A gender milestone and historical context
EIC reporting emphasised that Anne L'Huillier is the fifth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physics. Previous women laureates in physics are milestones that underscore how rare female recognition has been at the highest level in this field. The presence of another woman among laureates is notable for representation but it does not by itself resolve the structural barriers that affect participation and career progression in physics and engineering.
Implications and a cautious view on impact
The Nobel recognises a major advance in experimental capability. For policy makers and funders the award is an opportunity to highlight the importance of long term investments in fundamental research. For innovation agencies the link between laureates and funded projects suggests a pipeline from curiosity driven science to potential applications. Observers should remain realistic about timelines. Fundamental advances often require decades of follow up work to yield robust commercial technologies. Scaling, standardisation and integration with industry value chains are non trivial tasks and typically need sustained public and private investment.
Where to follow up
The Nobel award for attosecond science is a recognition of experimental ingenuity that pushes the frontiers of how we observe the microscopic world. The connection to an EIC Transition project underlines the porous boundary between high end academic research and innovation policy. That connection is useful to highlight, provided one keeps expectations about short term industrialisation and economic impact in proportion.