Categorification of quantum symmetric pairs I

Abstract: We categorify a coideal subalgebra of the quantum group of $\mathfrak{sl}_{2r+1}$ by introducing a $2$-category `a la Khovanov-Lauda-Rouquier, and show that self-dual indecomposable $1$-morphisms categorify the canonical basis of this algebra. This allows us to define a categorical action of this coideal algebra on the categories of modules over cohomology rings of partial flag varieties and on the BGG category $\mathcal{O}$ of type B/C.